Florida street art ban claims St. Pete rainbow intersection
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The rainbow intersection pictured last week, left, and Tuesday morning, after Florida Department of Transportation crews painted over it. Photos: Kathryn Varn/Axios
Florida Department of Transportation workers early Tuesday painted over St. Petersburg's Progressive Pride intersection.
Why it matters: It's the last of five murals that were slated for removal under Gov. Ron DeSantis' directive to remove street art the state deems political.
- The removal also comes just hours after several hundred people gathered at the intersection Monday to protest the state's action by drawing rainbows and pro-LGBTQ+ messages with sidewalk chalk.
- "My heart hurts," organizer Rachel Covello posted on Facebook Tuesday morning.
Driving the news: Eric Sumpter, who lives in an apartment overlooking the intersection, was woken up about 2:50am by crews with leaf blowers clearing off the intersection, Sumpter told Axios.
- They soon began covering the rainbow stripes with black paint, using rollers and a sprayer, he said.
- They finished the work about 5am, police spokesperson Ashley Limardo told Axios.
What they're saying: "It was more intense than I expected," he said. "When you see them actively putting black on a rainbow, it's like sabotage. ... Freedom of expression is a big deal around here."
- Sumpter is gay and moved to the Grand Central District in part because of its LGBTQ+-friendly reputation.
Catch up quick: Four other installations, including a "Black History Matters" mural outside the Woodson African American Museum of Florida, were removed over the weekend.
- While cities such as Key West and Delray Beach have refused to comply with the state order, St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch said last week there was no legal path for the city to do so without risking millions in state funding.
The other side: DeSantis and state leaders have given varying reasons for the new rules. The initial guidance banned "social, political or ideological" pavement art that "does not serve the purpose of traffic control."
- While the guidance maintains that such artwork is a safety hazard to drivers, state leaders have produced no evidence to back up that assertion.
- The data that does exist shows the opposite.
More recently, DeSantis has blamed the directive on a new law passed this year by the Legislature.
- Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle refuted that and said covering pavement art never came up in the numerous conversations about FDOT's priorities for the coming year, the Sun Sentinel reported.
Between the lines: While much of the targeted street art is Pride-themed, officials also slated a pro-police mural near the Tampa Police Department and school crosswalks with no apparent messaging for removal.
Yes, but: That doesn't make Sumpter feel any better, he told Axios.
- A rainbow representing inclusion and the freedom to love who you want shouldn't be a political statement, he said. He's also seen people online celebrate the removal.
- "There's a disregard for the fact that hateful people feel like this is a good thing," Sumpter said.
The bottom line: "The covering up is a political statement," he said.