Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made headlines earlier this year when he used state transportation workers armed with black paint to erase the connections. This brave move represents a new front in his continuing “war on woke.” DeSantis’s administration has begun to remove street art that they deem “non-standard,” including LGBTQ+ symbols and community artworks. By specifically targeting rainbow crosswalks, this decision creates a huge outcry. This campaign aligns with the governor’s previous anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and initiatives, such as the “don’t say gay” bill and efforts to restrict gender-affirming healthcare.
The removal of these vibrant artworks began with the painting over of a rainbow crosswalk outside the former Pulse nightclub in Orlando, a site memorializing the victims of a tragic mass shooting. DeSantis’s administration claims that these art installations are public safety dangers. Studies have found that locations with art can help improve driver behavior. The purge has since moved from Tallahassee to Key West, threatening about 400 pieces of street art throughout Florida.
Cities have reacted with alarm and fury over what DeSantis’s move could mean for cities. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer criticized the removals as a “cruel political act,” while Democratic state representative Anna Eskamani described them as part of a larger menace against vulnerable communities. More importantly, Eskamani emphasized the political motivations behind DeSantis’s moves. Determine to focus his efforts on disrupting local government and self-rule, particularly in cities that oppose him, she indicated.
“It’s trying to control what local governments can and can’t do and an effort to essentially target, harass, bully and potentially even eliminate them,” – Anna Eskamani
Community reactions have demonstrated resilience. Activists and residents of all kinds are reacting to the removals with resistance, reclaiming public spaces with creative forms of pride. Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, captured this spirit of resistance beautifully. She noted that while DeSantis may erase symbols on the streets, citizens are countering by chalking sidewalks, raising flags, and decorating vehicles with rainbow themes.
“DeSantis may paint over rainbows and art, but people are answering with defiance,” – Nadine Smith
Despite the administration’s justification for these actions as a matter of safety, critics argue that they are fundamentally about suppressing free speech and silencing marginalized voices. Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist expressed confusion over the governor’s motives, arguing that murals reflect community values and should be protected. Crist dismissed the idea of the state silencing free speech as “bizarre.”
“It’s hard to understand. We have a right to free speech in this country, and these murals in our cities and our communities reflect the values of those communities and cities,” – Charlie Crist
DeSantis has repeatedly cast his approach as pedagogically beneficial to young Floridians. Instead he tasks students with the old masters painting over of their artwork to distinguish it from a civics lesson about governance and representation. A lot of folks in the community feel that this narrative is a cover for a much larger anti LGBTQ+ agenda.
The response from local leaders goes to show just how important it is to protect community expression in this way. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis was the last of the four to tell residents to hang on. He says the state government is bullying them with an overreaching crackdown.
“Tonight, we must stand our ground. We cannot allow ourselves to be bullied into submission,” – Dean Trantalis
The effect of this initiative has echoed far past the deletion of crosswalks. As such, it has become a flashpoint for the ongoing battles over LGBTQ+ rights in the state of Florida. For many residents, these moves are a manifestation of a growing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and hostility toward LGBTQ+ people and communities.
Despite the fallout, DeSantis is continuing his march toward the GOP nomination. This begs some important state vs. local governance questions on the part of Florida’s government. The friction between his administration and forward-looking, welcoming cities that practice inclusion and attract diversity is symptomatic of larger national dialogues around representation and inclusivity.
“What I would tell kids is we have a representative system of government,” – Ron DeSantis