DC paints 'Black Lives Matter' on road that leads to White House ahead of weekend protests

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - The D.C. Department of Public Works painted the words "Black Lives Matter" on a street in downtown D.C. Friday ahead of what is expected to be one of the largest rallies in the nation's capital in response to the killing of George Floyd.

The painting, in large yellow letters, spans the width of 16th Street and will run from K Street to H Street at Lafayette Park near the White House.

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RELATED: Mayor Muriel Bowser wants federal law enforcement, soldiers out of DC

On Friday evening, President Donald Trump tweeted in response to Mayor Muriel Bowser saying she wants federal troops and police to "get out" of the District.

Tensions between local and federal officials have continued to widen during the protests – and a massive steel fence is now encircling the White House complex and the Ellipse.

In a press conference on Thursday, D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham acknowledged that the department was aware of plans to hold the weekend demonstrations.

"We have a lot of public, open-source information to suggest that the event on this upcoming Saturday may be one of the largest that we've had in the city. We expect that Saturday's demonstration will – like I said – be more of the same. Peaceful demonstrators coming to exercise their first amendment right in Washington, D.C."