A rainbow crosswalk that was part of a memorial to the 49 people killed in a 2016 mass shooting at a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., was painted over this week by the state of Florida, raising outcry from city officials and the community.
The removal of the mural outside the Pulse nightclub, a crosswalk that resembled the L.G.B.T.Q. Pride flag, appeared to be in response to a federal directive issued last month, the latest example of President Trump’s crackdown on what his administration perceives as political demonstrations on public land, particularly those that criticize his policies.
The state’s action came as a surprise to city officials and residents, who said they woke up on Thursday to find the mural gone.
Mayor Buddy Dyer of Orlando said in a statement on Thursday that the colorful blocks of the crosswalk had been covered up with black paint overnight.
A video obtained by The Orlando Sentinel showed a road crew painting after 11 p.m. on Wednesday.
“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,” Mr. Dyer said.
The memorial appeared to have been removed by the Florida Department of Transportation, following a letter that the Trump administration sent last month to all the states.
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The post Florida Paints Over Rainbow Memorial for Victims of Pulse Nightclub Shooting appeared first on New York Times.
