The BLM Memorial Fence was outside the White House from 6/24/20 to 1/30/2021. It was the 2nd tRump fence erected, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, that erupted, because of the George Floyd murder, at the hands of law enforcement.
The fence would eventually become known as the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence. It was an organic community, that sprung up, after protesters would leave their signs behind after myriad protests. Subsequently - individuals from the DMV and around the country, left their messages, voices, stories of their families; photos and art as protest, for the continued mistreatment of BIPoC and resentment to the fence's presence. The fence became a memorial to the victims of police brutality and injustice and a push back, to encroaching fascism, of the tRump administration.
During closures of Lafayette Park, individuals would tend to the fence, ensuring the protest art and artifacts were rehung, after falling due to the elements and/or vandalism. On October, 26th, 2020 - it was made evident that the fence could not be left unattended because of the mass vandalism event, that took place that night.
Nadine Seiler, took it upon herself to be the person, who would protect the fence, and she was joined by Karen Irwin and a small group of individuals, aided by the volunteers, of the William Thomas Anti-Nuclear Peace Vigil. The people holding space with it, were at risk every day from "Christian" tRump supporters; White supremacist militia groups; the city of D.C.; rain & wind, and the threatening whimsy of tRump.
By January of 2021, Seiler, realized the fence would not be taken down for an indefinite period of time, and she could no longer, remain at the fence and she could not bear to leave the protest art, for them to be torn down, once no one was there, specifically to keep an eye on them, so she made the decision to remove the protest art and artifacts.
This project occurred on1/30/21, with the help of volunteer archivists and a few fence angels. They painstakingly removed the items and artifacts and archived them, at a storage facility in Washington D.C.. The Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence Collection remains there to today.
Where is the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence Collection now?
During the process to remove the protest art and artifacts, multiple attempts were made, to invite the museums of D.C. to acquire items, but because of the pandemic and public safety concerns, no representatives were sent. Eventually, contact was made with Howard University's Moorland-Sprigram Resource Center and they acquired some 70+ items from the collection. The Library of Congress also acquired, another 36+ items. A small selection will be a permanent traveling exhibition collection, for the Warrior Goddess and Karen. The rest - approximately 900 pieces, are being stored since being removed from the physical fence.
The fence collection pieces - archived on 1/30/2021 are currently in the process of being digitally, high resolution scanned by the Enoch-Pratt Free Library. Upon completion of the scanning process, the items will be made available online in a partnership of DigitalMaryland.com and digdc.dclibrary.org. We are also in talks with DCPL to acquire some pieces, to go along with the oral history presentation, they currently host, about the life of the BLM Memorial Fence.
Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, will use a high resolution scanner, to capture each UNIQUE item, in the collection. As of today, four batches, thus four - 65 mi trips (110 mi round-trip), from Waldorf/DC to Baltimore, have been made, since April 2021. Countless hours of curation have been volunteered, to prepare each batch. There have been 392 items scanned so far. Another 431 items are in the process to be scanned. An assessment was done, of the remaining items, and IF we can get a vehicle, that can transport a 6'×6' sign, it may just be one more trip (to and fro) needed to complete that phase of the project. Enoch Pratt expects to have the items available for public viewing by fall 2022.
Upon completion of the scanning process, a committee will form, to make decisions how and where the collection is distributed. Preference will be given to African American museums; organizations; spaces and individuals, as they are part of Black history and the want of a full interpretation is desired.
What Does The Fence Mean?
It is a memorial to our fallen Black and Brown neighbors and family, who have yet to see justice in the United States. The digital monument Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence serves as a living demonstration of historical significance - of our American rights to freedom of speech and freedom of protest.
It represents our obligation as Americans - to hold the leaders of our country accountable - when they do not live up to the ideals they claim to stand for. The people who stood with this memorial did so - not only to protect it and its art, creativity, and the memories and voices of the people, they also stood with it - to let the world know we will not be intimidated into sacrificing our values for mere comfort or safety. That we still have hope and love for this country and we still believe in us. The preservation of the fence collection will tell that story, to Americans in perpetuity.
Why We Need Your Support
Due to the ongoing pandemic, both vocations of Karen Irwin (bartending) and Nadine Seiler (home organizing), have been affected. In an effort to preserve the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence Collection, it needs to be in a safe space and readily accessible, to a designated person, in the case of emergency. This means the collection is in a public storage facility. As of today, the monthly fees, have been paid by individuals but there is no committed source, to fund it, until the items are dispersed, in late 2022. Secondly, transportation to and from Waldorf/DC to Baltimore adds up. Additionally, to pursue the fence as a digital monument, we've had to have the expertise of others and financial expenses, to cover necessary purchases including a website; stamp; letterhead and fundraising materials. As of today, we've covered most of those expenses, from our personal income. Instead of us, having to ask, for money each time, the storage fees come due and money for gas is needed, we've decided to set up this GoFundMe instead.
Most of you, were already part of the effort to protect the fence, now we're asking, a li'l bit more, for the preservation of the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence Collection (D.C.) IF you can help spread the word, we would be grateful.
FUEL OUR WORK:
In lieu of donating, you can fuel our work, with the purchase of resistance wares from Subversive Ware -
This way, you can wear your resistance, as you help preserve Black Herstory and support the Warrior Goddess and Karen "Your Voice Now" campaign, where we travel to places like FloriDuh; TexASS and Georgia and speak up, for the voiceless and marginalized.
The national and international printers, like Vista Print and TeePublic are censoring our voices. They both have continually removed my content "Blue Murders Matter" and similar, from their platforms. Wearing your protest, in spite of their continued attempts to silence us, for the status quo, will go a long way, to protect our first amendment rights to protest, audibly and/or silently.
Every bit counts, so just telling others about the fence and spreading the word, will help.
Thank you.
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#AntitRump #ANTIFA #AntiFascist #Antifascism
Organizer
Nadine Seiler
Organizer
Waldorf, MD