Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Orlando's Rainbow Crosswalk Removed, Sparks Outrage
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Orlando's Rainbow Crosswalk Removed, Sparks Outrage. A rainbow crosswalk in Orlando, built to honor the 49 victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, has been painted over by Florida's Department of Transportation. Orlando's mayor called the removal a "cruel political act," saying the crosswalk was both a safety feature and a tribute to lives lost. State senator Carlos Guillermo Smith accused the agency of illegally erasing the colors overnight, without city approval. Governor Ron DeSantis defended the move, writing on X that "state roads will not be commandeered for political purposes.” The removal comes amid wider controversy over rainbow crosswalks across Florida. Officials have warned cities they could lose funding if they don't comply, saying surface art tied to social or political messages doesn't belong on public roads. The Pulse memorial remains, but its symbolic rainbow path is gone — reigniting debates over LGBTQ visibility and state control.
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Keywords: Current affairs & Politics,Orlando,rainbow crosswalk,Pulse nightclub shooting,49 victims,Florida Department of Transportation,removal,political act,tribute,safety feature,Carlos Guillermo Smith,illegal erasure,no city approval,Ron DeSantis,state roads,political purposes,Florida controversy,funding threats,surface art ban,public roads,Pulse memorial,LGBTQ visibility,state control
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