Florida officials, following instructions from the Trump administration, have paved over a rainbow crosswalk in Orlando that served as a memorial to the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. This action, which occurred overnight and without prior notice, has been condemned by local officials and LGBT+ advocates as a “cruel political act.” The crosswalk’s removal is seen as part of a broader pattern of attacks on the LGBT+ community in the state. Civil rights groups argue that the removal constitutes a dangerous escalation of efforts to erase LGBT+ visibility and censor their history.
Read More
Ron DeSantis paints over Pulse Memorial rainbow crosswalk in the dead of night. When someone chooses to perform an action in secret, under the cover of darkness, it often speaks volumes about their intentions. It suggests a lack of courage and a sense that the act itself is unpopular, something they wouldn’t dare do in the light of day. And that’s exactly what happened with the Pulse Memorial rainbow crosswalk in Orlando. DeSantis himself made it clear this was intentional. It wasn’t a matter of misinterpretation. It was a deliberate act, and the reason given, that it was “political,” is, frankly, a flimsy justification for erasing a memorial to 49 people murdered in a hate crime.… Continue reading
Following the removal of a rainbow crosswalk at the Pulse Memorial site in Orlando, Florida, local residents have taken matters into their own hands. In a direct challenge to Governor Ron DeSantis’ actions, community members were captured on video repainting the crosswalk themselves. The original crosswalk, designed to honor the 49 victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, was removed overnight, prompting outrage. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer expressed his devastation at the removal, calling it a “cruel political act.”
Read More
The state of Florida painted over a rainbow crosswalk in Orlando that was part of the Pulse Memorial, sparking outrage and criticism. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer condemned the removal as a “cruel political act,” emphasizing the crosswalk’s safety benefits and its symbolic importance in honoring the 49 victims of the 2016 shooting. Surviving victim Brandon Wolf echoed this sentiment, calling the act a desecration of the victims’ memories. Governor Ron DeSantis stated that the state would not allow roadways to be used for political purposes, following a directive from the former transportation secretary that stressed roadway markings should be consistent and free from distractions.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood