ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — All charges have been dropped against two pastors who were arrested in August while protesting the removal of a St. Pete mural, according to court documents.
FDOT crews were painting over the “Black History Matters” mural on 9th Avenue South when police said Andrew Oliver, 45, and Benedict Atherton-Zeman, 59, came and sat down on the mural in an attempt to block the FDOT machinery.
Multiple ‘hoax’ threats reported at Jewish congregations in Tampa Bay, police say
Officers said they asked the men to move, but they refused. Both were charged with pedestrian obstructing or hindering traffic. However, those charges were dropped after the State Attorney’s Office conducted an investigation and concluded “the facts and circumstances revealed do not warrant prosecution,” according to court documents filed last week.
Crews finished scrubbing all pieces of art from Tampa Bay streets in early September after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation mandating their removal. The statewide mandate affected art on sidewalks, roadways, curbs and crosswalks…