Left-Wing Extremists Vandalize Crosswalk

In Orlando, a crosswalk painted with rainbow colors in front of the Pulse nightclub memorial —installed in 2017 as a tribute to the 49 victims of the 2016 shooting— was erased overnight by the state agency, following a directive aimed at removing political or ideological symbols from public roads. The measure, framed as part of policies on uniformity and road safety, sparked a strong reaction within the community. Activists and local lawmakers such as Carlos Guillermo Smith and Anna Eskamani called the act “cruel” and a form of censorship that undermined LGBT+ visibility at a site of great significance.

In response, nearly 100 people repainted the crosswalk using chalk on multiple occasions, facing repeated overnight removal of the colors.

Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan described the removal of the crosswalk as an abuse of government power and a cruel, inefficient measure, also pointing out that the city had not been notified beforehand. She also criticized the high cost of repainting the crosswalk, estimated at about $2,500 each time, calling it a waste of public money. While expressing her support for symbolic expressions, Sheehan urged demonstrators to act “wisely” to avoid arrests, warning that authorities might attempt to use them as an example.