Pulse rainbow crosswalk removed in Orlando under federal directive

A rainbow crosswalk that memorialized 49 people killed in the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre was painted over by state workers in Orlando in the early hours of Thursday, following a federal directive aimed at removing distractions on public roadways. The move drew swift condemnation from Orlando’s mayor, LGBTQ advocates, and Pulse survivors, who said the action erases a key symbol of memory and resilience tied to one of the nation’s darkest days for the LGBTQ community.

The Crosswalk, located on Orange Avenue beside the Pulse site, was installed in 2017 as part of the Pulse Memorial. City officials say the crosswalk not only served traffic safety and visibility for the steady stream of visitors to the memorial but also functioned as a visual pledge to honor the 49 lives lost. Mayor Buddy Dyer described the overnight removal as a cruel political act and noted that the crosswalk had been installed by the state and met established safety standards. He emphasized that while the physical mark was removed, Orlando’s commitment to remembering the victims remains intact.

The Department of Transportation’s actions are not without broader context. In June, Will Watts, an assistant...