• The rainbow crosswalk honoring Pulse victims was removed by Florida transportation officials.
• Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer labeled the act a "cruel political act."
• Local citizens have pledged to restore the rainbow crosswalk despite state opposition.
• Governor Ron DeSantis' administration has faced backlash for the removal.
• The crosswalk served as a memorial for the 49 victims of the 2016 Pulse shooting.

The Florida Department of Transportation controversially painted over a rainbow crosswalk outside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, which commemorated the 49 victims of the 2016 mass shooting. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer expressed his devastation over the removal, declaring it a "callous" and "cruel political act" that disregards the memorial's significance. "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," Dyer noted on social media, according to latimes and cbsnews.

The state’s action of removing the memorial crosswalk occurred amidst orders for different cities in Florida to remove similar rainbow decorations or risk funding cuts. This directive follows a memo from the Florida Department of Transportation prohibiting "surface art" associated with "social, political or ideological messages or images," according to bbc. Additionally, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reaffirmed that roads must be kept "free from distractions" in a letter addressed to all state administrations, emphasizing that taxpayers expect their money to fund safe streets, not political statements, reported huffpost and newsweek.