Protests and arrests are mounting across Florida as a statewide directive from the Florida Department of Transportation to remove decorative street art meets with resistance from local communities and government officials.
According to a report, three more people were arrested on Sunday after using chalk to color a repainted crosswalk outside the Pulse memorial. The arrests are the latest in a series of conflicts across Florida as the FDOT continues to enforce new guidelines.
In St. Petersburg, two pastors were arrested after they used prayer to block crews from painting over a “Black History Matters” street mural, according to a report by The Associated Press.
In Tampa, the City Council unanimously passed a resolution condemning Gov. Ron DeSantis’s policy, with officials stating they feel “held hostage by Tallahassee” by a rule that could impact their transportation funding. Tampa is set to remove street art from 47 locations in the coming weeks…