<p style="font-weight: 400;">After Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a <a href="https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/memorandum/Governors_Safe_Roads.htm">directive</a> on July 1 ordering all governors to comply with federal standards for “consistent and recognizable traffic control devices including crosswalk and intersection markings, and orderly use of the right‑of‑way that is kept free from distractions,” Florida GOP Governor Ron DeSantis did exactly that, ordering the state to paint over a rainbow-colored crosswalk in Orlando memorializing the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, and enraging critics who contended it was an attack on gay rights.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer called the removal “callous” and “a cruel political act,” adding, “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.”</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith argued, “They did this in the middle of the night because they were scared of the resistance because they know what they did was wrong.”</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“The state transportation agency had been notifying cities around Florida in recent months that they must remove rainbow-colored crosswalks and intersections or they could face the withholding of transportation funds,” the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-lgbtq-pulse-nightclub-desantis-329ebed5d628400afb066d2772c3855a">noted</a>.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">DeSantis issued a blunt and succinct reply to his critics: “We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes. <a href="https://t.co/AXY1qxsZNW">https://t.co/AXY1qxsZNW</a></p>
<p>— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1958583393714667572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Some community members then <a href="https://x.com/jeremy_rodrigue/status/1958670495483592732?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1958670495483592732%7Ctwgr%5E7ac4c6e18c02c61f96b81df762f6b17dcf98525c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsweek.com%2Fflorida-locals-ron-desantis-pulse-rainbow-crosswalk-2117628">rechalked</a> the rainbow colors onto the crosswalk.</p>
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<p style="font-weight: 400;">But DeSantis had plenty of support online, as Twitchy<a href="https://twitchy.com/justmindy/2025/08/22/desantis-painted-over-pride-intersection-carlos-smith-big-mad-n2417681"> documented</a>. Some comments included:</p>
<blockquote>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Good on DeSantis. This should have never been on the sidewalk to begin with. Stop painting sidewalks, crosswalks and roads for any group cause. All it does is make people more irritated with you.</em></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Painting a sidewalk in rainbow colors has nothing to do with the people who were murdered there. People can mourn them in private or go to the cemetery. This is like marking a spot for one group of people. Also, the Governor can do what he thinks is best for all his citizens.</em></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Painting a sidewalk in rainbow colors has nothing to do with the people who were murdered there. People can mourn them in private or go to the cemetery. This is like marking a spot for one group of people. Also, the Governor can do what he thinks is best for all his citizens.</em></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>DeSantis doesn’t play! Florida just painted over the rainbow crosswalk in Orlando and the left is LOSING it.  One senator is literally on-scene crying about a sidewalk… Meanwhile, real Floridians are cheering. 🌴🇺🇸  Common sense &gt; woke symbolism.</em></p>
</blockquote>
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DeSantis Removes Woke Crosswalk, Sparks Backlash From The Left