Pastors Arrested for Blocking Black History Mural in St. Pete
Two pastors were arrested in St. Petersburg for attempting to block FDOT crews from removing the “Black History Matters” mural. Despite repeated warnings, Andrew Oliver and Benedict Atherton-Zeman sat on the mural in protest of FDOT’s order to remove street art across the state, leading to their arrest on charges of obstructing traffic and obstruction. This action comes after the city of St. Petersburg’s request to preserve several murals, including the “Black History Matters” piece, was denied by FDOT, which cited safety concerns related to state traffic control guidelines and the recently signed Senate Bill 1662. Local officials and community members are strategizing their response to the mural removals, while the governor and FDOT continue to uphold the statewide order.
John Q. Hosedrinker