A Black mother who lost her son before the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement says the removal of BLM Plaza in our nation’s capital is a sign the country is in a bad place.

Ahmaud Arbery‘s mom, Wanda Cooper Jones, tells TMZ … the removal of the BLM mural in Washington, D.C. “feels like a bad omen” and she says it serves as “a reminder of how fragile progress can be.”

Wanda says BLM was never about murals, monuments, or symbolic gestures … it’s always been about accountability, justice and meaningful change — but she doesn’t like the change being made here.

As we reported … Jamie Foxx says Black American social efforts are taking a step back as a result of President Trump pressuring D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to remove the mural under threat of losing federal funding.

Arbery was murdered in February 2020 while out for a run in Georgia … and video of his murder at the hands of 3 white men sparked widespread outrage.

BLM really took off after George Floyd was murdered by a white cop months later, sparking summer protests nationwide … but Arbery’s case remains a big part of the movement … as does Breonna Taylor‘s death. The Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown killings also prompted the early beginnings of the BLM cause.

Lee Merritt, an attorney who has worked with the families of Arbery, Floyd and Taylor, tells TMZ … “Justice isn’t measured in murals — it’s measured in laws, accountability, and protecting Black lives.”

Spike Feresten, a veteran writer in Hollywood, is raising money for students impacted by the Palisades fire … by putting his classic motorcycle on the auction block.

Spike is auctioning off his 1966 Triumph Bonneville T120R … and all the proceeds are going to the Palisades Charter High School Booster Club. We’re told the money will go towards fire recovery at the school.

Much of the Palisades was destroyed in the January wildfire and the rebuilding efforts are underway … but it’s going to take a lot, and Spike is doing his part.

The guy’s famous for writing on major TV shows like “Saturday Night Live,” “Seinfeld,” “The Simpsons” and for David Letterman. Spike’s also been a screenwriter on “Bee Movie” and “Unfrosted.”

Spike has a connection to Palisades Charter High School … his sons are students there.

The auction ends next week and we’re told the winning bidder will have the motorcycle delivered on Spike’s YouTube show, “Spike’s Car Radio,” which he hosts with Paul Zuckerman.

So much for Wendy Williams being able to come and go as she pleases and spend time with her family … because the facility where she is being housed has filed a police report claiming that her niece broke the law by taking her to dinner.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … Wendy’s niece, Alex Finnie, accompanied Wendy on Wednesday from the hospital where WW has been staying for a psychological evaluation back to the Coterie where Wendy has been living for the past 8 months.

After spending time with Wendy at the Coterie, Alex took her famous aunt to an Italian restaurant for dinner. According to sources connected to Wendy and her guardian, the Coterie called NYPD and filed a police report claiming Alex evaded staff by taking Wendy out of the building.

It’s a shocking turn of events, given a letter TMZ received last night from the lawyer representing Wendy’s guardian. That letter said Wendy was free to come and go from the facility as she pleases and no restrictions were placed on family visits. Yet here we are.

At the time of this post, Wendy and Alex are finishing their meal and will return to the Coterie.