Florida DOT Repaints Pulse Crosswalk Black and White Amid Ongoing Tensions

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has repainted the rainbow-colored Pulse nightclub crosswalk in Orlando back to black and white twice, despite ongoing efforts by supporters to restore the rainbow colors as a memorial to the 49 victims of the 2016 shooting. Protesters have used chalk to redraw the rainbow, but rain and state repainting efforts have repeatedly erased their work. Law enforcement, including the Florida Highway Patrol and Orlando Police Department, are monitoring the site closely, which advocates have described as an intimidation tactic. FDOT claims the removal of the rainbow colors is a procedural matter, aligning with state directives to remove pavement art linked to social or political messages, with warnings issued to several Florida cities about potential funding cuts if they do not comply. The actions have sparked criticism and concern from community members and advocacy groups, who emphasize the memorial's importance for communal healing and remembrance. State Representative Anna Eskamani and others have criticized the expenditure of resources on the enforcement and removal efforts, highlighting the tension between state officials and LGBTQ community supporters.