Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is pressing forward with his administration’s plan to remove Pride murals, memorial crosswalks, and other roadway art across the state.

Florida

Governor Ron DeSantis has reinforced the removal of street art, including Pride-themed crosswalks, throughout Florida. State officials cite a new law and safety standards as the basis for eliminating over 400 murals and crosswalks, regardless of previous approvals. The Florida Department of Transportation is enforcing the law statewide, with plans to withhold funding from local governments that do not comply.

The removals have drawn criticism from LGBTQIA advocates and some lawmakers, who argue the actions are politically motivated and not neutral. Notably, the repainting of the rainbow crosswalk outside Orlando's Pulse nightclub has become a focal point of protest. Local governments such as Key West and Delray Beach continue to resist the directive, while supporters of the murals pledge to keep creating visible symbols of inclusion.

DeSantis doubles down on Pride crosswalk removals

here tonight to our cover story and the fight to keep street art across Florida. The fight has sparked outrage all over the state. And tonight we're listening to your voice. I just think it got out of control and a lot of different groups were taking advantage of public space that shouldn't have been. They don't bother me. They're noticeable and I think that's a good thing. State officials claim that they are removing that street art for safety reasons. And today, Governor DeSantis doubled down, saying he is ordering the removal of more street murals. Why the sudden war on color? Capital reporter for Saunders explains the state's argument. Whether it's in Delray, Tampa or Orlando, roadway murals are getting marked for elimination this summer, stirring up mixed feelings amongst Floridians. I think that's crazy. Why is the state making this decision? What's it based on? My opinion is you shouldn't be writing on the street streets to begin with because it affects drivers and such like that. I think it's more than just the colors in the D. O. T. Safety. It means more to the community and where the rubber meets the road. Well, good morning. Insisting Florida's streets should only serve one purpose. People, not politics. The Florida Legislature passed the law. That was very clear that I signed into law. We're not doing the commandeering of the roads to put up messaging. Florida's Department of Transportation says more than 400 locations across the state were I. D. For removal, including pride theme murals, back the blue tributes, even crosswalks designed with F dots prior approval. Anything you can bring up from the past essentially is irrelevant now because we have a new law and we have a new standard and we're simply implementing that standard and it's across the board. You know, pavement art is not allowed and we're removing everything that's not compliant with state federal standards. Critics say the removals are not neutral at all, especially after F dot painted over the rainbow crosswalk outside Orlando's Pulse nightclub, the side of the 2016 massacre that left 49 dead. You're good over here. Police now guarding the intersection after activists continue to recolor it with chalk. It prompted lawmakers like L. G. B. T. Q plus state Senator Chevron Jones to sound off in an MSNBC op ed. The removal, he said, was not a quote neutral act of urban planning, but a calculated move, noting the cited law lacks specifics. It gave the Florida Department of Transportation the ability to enforce compliance when it came to traffic control standards and devices had nothing to do with crosswalks. So the governor is hiding behind the law to justify a absolute political decision. Orlando State Rep on Ask Amani calls the controversy silly, saying Florida shouldn't be wasting time and taxpayer money trying to prevent something these communities clearly want. Everyday people cannot afford basic essential needs like housing and food, health care utilities. And meanwhile, our governor is spending more time freaking out about rainbows on a road. The fight over Florida's roadways isn't ending soon. F dot says enforcement continues next week, threatening to withhold transportation funding from holdouts who failed to comply at the Capitol Forest. Sanders Tampa Bay 28 local governments like Key West and Delray Beach are still resisting the repaint. The state says it has all the legal tools to make them comply, though. Meanwhile, advocates say more rainbows will appear whether that's through chalk, paint or other crosswalks.

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