ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Several murals across Tampa Bay were recently removed as part of a directive from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), requiring, in part, that all roadways be cleared of artwork state leaders deemed unsafe or politically motivated.
That included the removal of the Pride and Black History Matters murals in St. Petersburg, prompting protests, demonstrations and some backlash in the weeks to follow.
While Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the decision, St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch said the city would continue to find ways to celebrate the community’s shared values in the public realm…