Giant poop emoji statue arrives in Washington

A giant poop emoji statue has arrived on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. And, yes, you read that sentence correctly.

The satirical statue is meant to “honor” Jan. 6 insurrectionists, and it will be on the Mall until Wednesday, the Washington Post reported.

“This memorial honors the brave men and women who broke into the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to loot, urinate and defecate throughout those hallowed halls in order to overturn an election,” a plaque reads on a pedestal below the desk, on which the poop statue is sitting, the Post said.

A controversial installation that has drawn numerous visitors, the desk includes an office phone and nameplate belonging to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who served as Speaker of the House during the Capitol attack, according to a photo gallery in USA Today.

“President Trump celebrates these heroes of Jan. 6 as ‘unbelievable patriots’ and ‘warriors.’ This monument stands as a testament to their daring sacrifice and lasting legacy,” the rest of the plaque said, according to the Post.

Julia Jimenez-Pyzik requested the permit for the statue, the Post said, which the National Park Service granted to Civic Crafted LLC.

When issuing permits, the Park Service “does not consider the content of the message to be presented,” according to the Post.

“As Federal land and America’s premier civic space, the National Mall provides a forum in which citizens can exercise their Constitutional rights of speech and assembly,” Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst said in a statement, the Post reported.

Some visitors to the new installation mistook the poop for an ice cream statue, according to the Post, as the emoji resembles a soft-serve swirl.

People took to the social media platform X to share their thoughts on the new installation.

Welcome to America, where a bronze poop statue honoring the people who tried to break our democracy currently stands on the National Mall. pic.twitter.com/43sSTb1hFB

— Jess Calarco (@JessicaCalarco) October 25, 2024

I’m reporting live from the new January 6th Poop Monument near the U.S. Capitol. It is definitely poop shaped. pic.twitter.com/fyVzvsYdn6

— Claire Schnatterbeck (@claire_e_beck) October 24, 2024

Sometimes you walk into the newsroom and see that there's a giant statue of poop on the national mall and suddenly pursuing journalism feels worth it.

— Gabby Allen (@gabbyreports) October 24, 2024