Remember The Rainbow Crosswalk Honouring Pulse Massacre Victims? Florida Has Painted It Grey
A rainbow crosswalk outside the former Pulse nightclub in Orlando has been painted over in grey by crews from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The crosswalk formed part of the city’s memorial to the 49 (mostly Latino and LGBTQIA+) people killed in the June 2016 mass shooting. City officials say they were not notified before the work began.
Pulse Memorial's rainbow crosswalk removed by the state overnight in Orlando, FL #NOH8 pic.twitter.com/nyw9TNJddy
— NOH8 Campaign (@NOH8Campaign) August 21, 2025
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer expressed his dismay on social media, labelling the removal a “cruel political act,” particularly as it was done without supporting safety data or public discussion. He explained the crosswalk served a dual purpose. “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 honour the 49 lives taken,” Dyer said.
The community’s response was swift. In a temporary act of defiance, residents recreated the rainbow with chalk, though it was later washed away by rain. A large group also gathered on Orange Avenue, holding signs and banners to protest the state’s decision.
UPDATE | Volunteers including State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith colored in the Pulse Memorial rainbow crosswalk after it was removed overnight.
— WESH 2 News (@WESH) August 21, 2025
Full story: https://t.co/YnnJU58kBJ pic.twitter.com/rk6sE2xdei
Not for political purposes.
The administration of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis defended the action as a matter of policy. In a direct response to Senator Smith’s video, DeSantis wrote on X, “We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes”. His office declined further comment when contacted by the BBC, referring back to the governor’s social media post.
This action is part of a broader, statewide policy. The Florida Department of Transportation, or FDOT, has been warning cities that they could lose state transportation funds if they do not remove rainbow-coloured crossings. An FDOT memo specifies that its 2025 design manual prohibits surface art on travel lanes and crosswalks. The department has the authority to enforce these standards by withholding state funding from non-compliant agencies. Earlier this month, FDOT sent similar letters to Delray Beach and Key West, demanding the removal of their rainbow crosswalks by September 3rd.
In the dead of night, Ron DeSantis ordered the rainbow crosswalk at the Pulse memorial painted over — defacing a sacred space in the heart of Orlando that honors the 49 lives stolen in one of the deadliest massacres in U.S. history. pic.twitter.com/7YiIQ2TFbL
— Equality Florida (@equalityfl) August 21, 2025
More than just paint on a road.
For those directly affected, the removal is a painful symbol. Darylise Torres, who survived the Pulse attack, expressed her disappointment. She noted that if a promised permanent memorial had already been built, the crosswalk’s removal might not feel like such a significant blow. Torres believes the state is using Pulse to advance a different agenda.
The quiet erasure of a memorial under the cover of night feels like more than just enforcing a traffic code. It leaves many asking, what is the purpose of a public road if not to serve the public, including its memory and its grief?
