Florida Orders Removal of Black Lives Matter, Roadway Murals Threatening Funding

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has issued directives to remove numerous street murals and road art across the state, citing noncompliance with traffic control device standards and safety concerns. In Pensacola, FDOT ordered the removal of a “Black Lives Matter” mural on North A Street, threatening to withhold state funding if the city does not comply; the city has requested that FDOT handle the removal due to resource constraints. Similarly, in Orlando, FDOT mandated the removal of student-designed bike lane art that it had sponsored only months earlier, highlighting a broader state-wide campaign to eliminate street art deemed unsafe. In the Tampa Bay area, FDOT's order to remove dozens of murals—including Black History and LGBTQ pride artworks—has put local infrastructure funding at risk, with Governor Ron DeSantis emphasizing that roads should not be used for political purposes. This sweeping enforcement has sparked debate about the role of art in public spaces and whether safety concerns mask political motives behind the removals. Local officials and residents express frustration at the abrupt reversals and potential loss of culturally significant public art.