After almost eight months the boards covering storefronts in downtown Madison are slowly coming down.
Many windows had been covered with plywood after violent demonstrations.
More than 75 businesses on State Street were damaged and looted after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
In some cases, the plywood protective barriers were transformed into murals with messages of hope.
The January 6th storming of the US Capitol and fears of possible protests on President Joe Biden’s Inauguration Day kept them up.
When Wednesday remained peaceful, Madison started thinking about a return to normal life.
