The rainbow crosswalk outside Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub, commemorating the 49 victims of a mass shooting in 2016, was painted over by the state, leading to public outrage. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer expressed disappointment, labeling the act a “cruel political act,” and emphasized that the commitment to honor the victims remains. Florida Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith criticized the erasure of the tribute, while Brandon Wolf, a survivor, condemned the removal as an attempt to erase solidarity. The Florida Department of Transportation has ordered cities to remove such “surface art,” stating it does not serve traffic management purposes. This directive follows a broader trend of disallowing political or ideological messages on public roads. Despite the removal, city officials are planning to establish a permanent monument in memory of the victims.
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