Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View, voiced her personal frustration over the removal of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) mural in Washington, D.C., calling it “saddening” and “devastating.” Hostin, a vocal supporter of the BLM movement, said she sees the removal as a broader attempt to erase American history, despite the reality that public spaces should not be monopolized for political messaging.
Hostin’s Emotional Response to the Mural’s Removal
Hostin, who has close ties to the BLM movement, particularly with co-founder Alicia Garza, expressed disappointment that the mural—originally painted in 2020—was taken down. She called the movement “the second most important civil rights movement in American history” and suggested that the removal of the mural was driven by political pressures, particularly from Republican lawmakers.
While she did not blame D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, she claimed that the decision was forced by conservatives looking to remove left-wing political messaging from government-controlled public spaces.
Sunny Hostin claims that BLM is “the second most important civil rights movement in American history.”
Laughable.
— Ian Jaeger (@IanJaeger29) March 13, 2025
Political Tensions Behind the Mural’s Removal
The removal of the BLM mural in D.C. is part of a larger debate over how public spaces should be used and whether taxpayer-funded areas should be reserved for ideological statements. Republican lawmakers have pushed back against BLM messaging, pointing to the group’s history of financial mismanagement, its extreme political stances, and its role in fueling anti-police rhetoric. Some proposed withholding certain federal funds from Washington, D.C., unless the mural was removed, reinforcing the stance that government property should remain neutral ground.
D.C. Moves to Replace the Mural
Mayor Bowser has announced plans to replace the BLM mural with a more inclusive “DC’s America 250” project, which will feature new murals designed by students and artists across all eight wards of the city. While this initiative aims to provide a broader historical perspective, Hostin and other BLM supporters see it as a concession to political pressure.
The Bigger Picture: Public Spaces and Political Messaging
Hostin’s emotional reaction highlights the left’s ongoing push to keep political activism embedded in public spaces. However, the removal of the BLM mural aligns with the belief that government property should not be used to promote one-sided political narratives—especially when those narratives have been tied to anti-police sentiment, violent protests, and financial scandals.
The reality is that the American people are growing tired of political messaging dominating every aspect of public life. The removal of the BLM mural is not about erasing history—it’s about restoring neutrality to spaces that belong to all Americans, not just activists pushing a specific agenda.