The rainbow crosswalk outside Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub was more than paint–it was a memorial to the 49 people killed there in a mass shooting in 2016. On Aug. 20, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) removed this symbol of remembrance, concealing it with a standard crosswalk.
The FDOT mandated the removal on the grounds that street art causes distractions and poses a potential risk to roadway safety. This reasoning mirrors their justification for ordering the removal of a mural at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
This action left many in the community confused and angered, questioning why this particular memorial was targeted over other street art in Florida. Brandon Wolf, a survivor of the shooting, accused the state of attempting to erase a vital gesture of solidarity…