FDOT Removes Pulse Pride Crosswalk
Overnight the FDOT removed a rainbow crosswalk dedicated to those that died in the Pulse tragedy, which was meant to keep visitors to a memorial safe.
For those thinking that Tallahassee wasn’t getting serious about rainbow or Pride crosswalks, ask Orlando.
Residents woke up to a bare, black-and-white markings on Thursday, where there once was a crosswalk dedicated to those that died in the Pulse shooting tragedy.
The crosswalk was intended to be a part of the memorial and to keep visitors safe. It was first installed at the intersection of Esther Street and South Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando in 2017, a year after 49 people were killed and 53 were wounded at the LGBTQ nightclub.
Its removal comes after the state had warned cities — including Key West — whose leaders refused to paint over their own rainbow crosswalks that FDOT would do it themselves if municipalities didn’t comply.
Long-time Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer confirmed in a statement that the state was responsible for the removal and the city was not notified in advance.
Later in the day, Dyer held a press conference.
“We are devastated to learn that overnight the state painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk on Orange Avenue. This callous action of hastily removing part of a memorial to what was at the time our nation’s largest mass shooting, without any supporting safety data, or discussion is a cruel political act,” said Dyer.
“The City of Orlando’s safety crosswalks were all installed in close coordination with the state and adhere to national safety standards. In fact, the crosswalk that is part of the Pulse Memorial was installed by the state.”
The crosswalks have become the DeSantis and Trump regimes’ latest target in its efforts to “wipe political banners” from public roadways.
Representatives from FDOT did not return phone calls.
Key West City Commissioner Sam Kaufman echoed Dyer’s sentiments.
