On Thursday afternoon, a ‘Save Our Murals’ protest took place at City Hall in St. Petersburg, Florida, organized by the LGBTQ community, NAACP of St. Pete, and The Woodson.
The protest is in opposition to the Department of Transportation’s request to remove road art.
Protestor Gregg Stemm commented, “A community should have the right to decide which values it wishes to represent. St. Petersburg is known for its progressiveness, and our art and values reflect that.”
The FDOT has set a deadline of August 30 for cities and counties to provide a list of road art and murals slated for removal, following directives from the Trump administration.
The Mayor of St. Pete sent out this statement:
Recently, many local residents have raised concerns about a memo from FDOT regarding painted public structures. To address this issue, the city is taking a measured approach by creating an inventory of painted infrastructure, examining the memo’s implications, and assessing if any local artwork might be exempt from removal. No decisions have been made yet, and the city is awaiting further guidance from FDOT before proceeding. Throughout this process, the city is committed to reflecting its cultural values. They emphasize a strategic approach to addressing the matter while backing the community.
Mayor Kenneth T. Welch
“St. Petersburg has always been a welcoming and diverse city, and we’re here to try and protect that and keep it that way,” protestor Rick Nale said.
On X, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted saying, “Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks.”
Some people disagree with that message.
Terri Lipsey Scott, Executive Director of The Woodson African American Museum of Florida, stated, “While you can paint over words, you can’t erase our presence. We’re steadfast and will rise together.”
Stemm expressed his frustration, saying, “This decision feels like an intrusion on the people of St. Petersburg, and we’re united in our opposition to the state’s directive.”
DOT wants all of the art removed by September of next year.
During the council meeting, council members unanimously posted a motion to have a formal discussion committee in September.
