Florida Governor DeSantis Orders Removal of Rainbow Crosswalks, Igniting Local Resistance

Governor Ron DeSantis has issued state orders for Florida communities, including Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach, to remove all rainbow crosswalks and street art by early September deadlines.

DeSantis is aggressively implementing a July 1 federal directive from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, requiring governors to identify safety improvements, which he interprets to include these art removals.

The directive has led to the overnight removal of a mural and a rainbow crossing commemorating the 2016 Pulse Nightclub massacre, sparking significant anger among community members.

Fort Lauderdale is holding an emergency meeting on September 3, where a city official plans to propose an appeal against the state's directive, risking loss of state funding.

This move is part of broader political battles by DeSantis and Republicans, with similar rainbow crossings remaining largely unaffected outside Florida, highlighting a state-specific dispute.