Dems circle the wagons to prevent Florida ‘Pride’ crosswalk removal

Some Florida residents and leftists are enraged with Florida’s Department of Transportation because it “vandalized” a rainbow-themed crosswalk by painting over it.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer was among those outraged by the removal of the rainbow crosswalk outside of the Pulse nightclub, where 49 people were killed in a mass shooting in 2016.

Dyer said he was “devastated” by the “cruel political act.”

We are devastated to learn that overnight the state painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk on Orange Avenue. But we know that while this crosswalk has been removed, Orlando’s commitment to honoring the 49 can never be erased. pic.twitter.com/4LdXvLUiom

— Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) August 21, 2025

“This callous action of hastily removing part of a memorial to what was at the time our nation’s largest mass shooting, without any supporting safety data or discussion, is a cruel political act,” the mayor said in a statement. “While this crosswalk has been removed, our community’s commitment to honoring the 49 can never be erased.”

Democrat state Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith also slammed the move in a social media post.

“I cannot believe that the DeSantis administration has engaged in this hostile act against the city of Orlando, that they have insulted the families and survivors of this horrific tragedy, and that they have done this in this way,” he said.

He added that he hoped Orlando “paints these colors back onto their property, and that they sue the state of Florida for vandalizing their property without their consent.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis fired back, asserting that state roads will no longer be “commandeered for political purposes.”

We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes. https://t.co/AXY1qxsZNW

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 21, 2025

The removal of the rainbow colored crosswalk follows the state’s efforts to keep roads distraction-free, following a memo by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued in July.

“The SAFE ROADS national initiative will focus on the non-freeway arterials within your State, including safety and operation at intersections and along segments, consistent and recognizable traffic control devices, including crosswalk and intersection markings, and orderly use of the right‑of‑way that is kept free from distractions,” Duffy’s letter read.

Florida’s proactive efforts to ensure we keep our transportation facilities free & clear of political ideologies were cemented into law by @GovRonDeSantis on June 19 w/ the signing of Senate Bill 1662 & reemphasized in FDOT’s attached memo. Great to now have our federal partners… pic.twitter.com/zmvFJNs8Sn

— Jared W. Perdue, P.E. (@FDOT_Secretary) July 2, 2025

“Roads are for safety, not political messages or artwork. Today I am calling on governors in every state to ensure that roadways, intersections, and crosswalks are kept free of distractions,” Duffy said in a statement at the time. “Far too many Americans die each year to traffic fatalities to take our eye off the ball. USDOT stands ready to help communities across the country make their roads safer and easier to navigate.”

Protesters repainted the crosswalk in defiance of the removal of the memorial.

(Video Credit: Fox 35)

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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