Miami (AP) – a Rainbow Crosswalk is intended to celebrate the history and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community in Miami Beach. It was removed from the city’s iconic Ocean Drive Entertainment District about two months after Florida officials ordered the removal of all street art throughout the state.
Workers with the Florida Department of Transport began tearing the colorful pavement Sunday afternoon just two days after learning that Miami Beach officials had lost their appeal against the state order. By Monday, the intersection was paved with asphalt.
Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez said city public works employees have collected all deleted pavement stones for reuse in the future.
“This represents decades of people who endured housing discrimination, banishment from the military, discrimination in the workplace, stigma of HIV and AIDS, the battle for equal marriage, all the hard-working battles that have now become unaltered,” Fernandez said.
Miami Beach Crosswalk – Where to See for Multiple Tourist Guides – Is Savino & Miller Design Studio It was installed in 2018. It features multi-colored Terrazzo Pavers arranged in Art Deco patterns. history In the city.
Fernandez said the crosswalk was designed according to federal guidelines and is one of the safest intersections in the region and has a half-crash as the closest intersection to the south since 2018.
Under the Ministry of Transport Republican Governor Ron DeSantis By early last month, it ordered the community to remove crosswalks and other street art, threatening to withhold state transport funds for violations.
Critics say it is the latest attack on the LGBTQ+ community by the DeSantis administration and Republican-controlled Congress, including restrictions on gender-affirming care and Florida measures.
DeSantis previously explained him Theoretical rationale for administration: “I think street art is out of hand. I think it would be much better to use crosswalks and streets for the intended purpose.”
Not all street murals were tapped for removal. It pays homage to historically marginalized groups. a “Back the Blue” mural It was painted outside the Tampa Police Department headquarters.
The first thing I went was rainbow colours honoring the victims of the rainbow 2016 Massacre 49 people died outside the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. Worker I drew it in the middle of the night In August, we’ll just see the state’s transportation department crew repainting black and white, angering community members who have recovered their rainbow colors.
