ORLANDO, Fla. — Many are reacting to the removal of the Pulse memorial crosswalk.
The federal government started cracking down on public buildings and streets being used for political statements. But many in Orlando say the Pulse Memorial crosswalk is a remembrance of the 49 people who died.
“Just fixing what shouldn’t have been painted in the first place.” Dallas Perdue uses chalk to color a rainbow in a crosswalk, to remember those who died at Pulse.
“It’s heavy, one of those things how many times you gonna wake up doom scroll it click for me.”
By 4p.m. the color was washed away by the rain.
Local leaders quickly arrived to the crosswalk this morning. Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith said, “I’m angry, I’m in a state of shock.”
According to Mayor Buddy Dyer, the state painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk, never notifying the city that they were going to do it. He released this statement: “We are devastated to learn that overnight the state painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk on Orange Avenue. 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. The City of Orlando’s safety crosswalks were all installed in close coordination with the state and adhere to national safety standards. In fact, the crosswalk that is part of the Pulse Memorial was installed by the state. This crosswalk not only enhanced safety and visibility for the large number of pedestrians visiting the memorial, it also served as a visual reminder of Orlando’s commitment to honor the 49 lives taken on June 12, 2016. While the state works to erase the memory of the victims of the Pulse tragedy by painting over the crosswalk, our community’s commitment to honoring the 49, and completing the memorial, will never waver.“
Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan says she worked to make sure the rainbow crosswalk was in compliance. “This is done to say no to diversity, equity and inclusion. This is done just to say no to decency. This was done to say no to these lovely people that were killed here.”
“I think there are appropriate places to memorialize people. I don’t think the street is a place.” While U.S. Rep. Randy Fine says he had nothing to do with the crosswalk being painted over, he says the Trump administration has been removing political statements from public buildings and streets all over the country. “Taxpayer money should never be used for a woke agenda and I’m grateful for the administration to clean up our streets.”
Dallas Perdue says she’ll keep coloring the crosswalk, “We’re not hurting anybody, not harming anything not defacing anything it’s washable. If it takes me being out here every single day. Then so be it.”
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