Orlando, FL: We just learned that the Florida Department of Transportation painted over the Pulse Memorial Rainbow Crosswalk off Orange Avenue in the middle of the night. Here is Representative Anna V. Eskamani’s statement in response:
“In the middle of the night, FDOT painted over our rainbow crosswalk at the Pulse Memorial. A place where 49 mostly LGBTQ+ people were murdered. A tragedy that we have worked so hard to find power in pain. A rainbow crosswalk that sparked joy and showed our love for all people.
It was never a political statement, and caring about people of all backgrounds is not meant to be a political statement. And, more visible crosswalks help to increase visibility and safety too.
But what is political, what is authoritative, and what is disrespectful to the 49 lives murdered and our entire community, is sneaking into the city in the middle of the night to literally erase a rainbow crosswalk that was originally established with FDOT approval!
The reality is, Governor DeSantis has no real plan to solve actual problems our community faces, like housing affordability or property insurance — so all he can do is divide us and attack vulnerable communities.
It’s distraction, deflection, and destruction.
It’s also straight-up fascism. And we’re not going to let the Governor weaponize state agencies and erase communities without a fight.”