Two Religious Leaders Arrested Blocking FDOT Street Mural Removal in St. Petersburg

Two men, Rev. Andy Oliver and Ben Atherton-Zeman, were arrested in St. Petersburg, Florida, after attempting to block Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) crews from painting over the 'Black History Matters' street mural on 9th Avenue South. The men sat on the mural to prevent the removal, despite repeated warnings from police to move. Their arrests were made on charges of pedestrian obstructing or hindering traffic and obstruction. The FDOT's removal of the mural is part of a broader state initiative to eliminate street art deemed inconsistent with state law and the FDOT Design Manual, which prohibits surface markings associated with social, political, or ideological messages. State officials argue that such non-standard markings pose a safety risk by potentially distracting drivers and interfering with automated vehicle technologies. The city of St. Petersburg had requested to keep several murals, including the 'Black History Matters' mural, but FDOT denied these requests, citing traffic safety concerns.