Rainbow Crosswalk Repainted Outside Pulse as Florida Troopers Stand Nearby

ORLANDO, Fla. – Once a vibrant rainbow crosswalk, the area outside the former Pulse Nightclub has been repeatedly redone, now displaying black and white hues and appearing to be under close watch.

On Sunday morning, Florida Highway Patrol troopers observed individuals using chalk to color the sidewalk beside the crosswalk located at S Orange Avenue and W Esther Street.

Robby Dodd said even though he was told by the troopers to stay on the sidewalk, he still wanted to make a statement.

“My friends died here. That’s it. This is their memorial. This is theirs,” one individual expressed. “They instructed me to color on the sidewalk without causing any trouble. So, I’m on the sidewalk, yet I’ll continue to color.”

Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, took to social media stating that troopers were stationed there to intimidate people with arrest threats for using chalk on the crosswalk, a practice ongoing since Thursday when the state was found to have painted over it overnight.

“You would think our state has bigger problems to solve but NOPE this is what they’ve committed public dollars & time towards,” Eskamani said.

[VIDEO: Rainbow crosswalk near Pulse Nightclub in Orlando removed overnight]

Orlando initiated the crosswalk’s installation in 2017 after receiving approval from the Florida Department of Transportation. Over 2,000 people signed an online petition urging the city to install the rainbow, commemorating both the victims and the survivors’ resilience from the Pulse shooting, according to the petition website.

The FDOT organized for the tribute’s black repaint approximately two months after a directive from the Trump administration, mandating the removal of what was labeled as “distracting” road art. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy advised all 50 governors to eliminate roadway markings or messages not directly related to traffic or pedestrian safety.

“Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks,” Duffy said in a statement on social media. “Political banners have no place on public roads.”

[PAST COVERAGE: Rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclub site could be removed under new directive]

Not only was the rainbow crosswalk at Pulse among the very first of these removal projects in our area, but when FDOT later sent the city of Orlando a letter outlining a list of 18 street art locations deemed non-compliant with state design standards and slated for removal, Pulse was not included.

[WATCH: Florida officials sent Orlando a list of crosswalk art to be removed. Pulse wasn’t on it]

Responding to the story on social media, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday, “We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.”

Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan called the state’s actions a slap in the face.

“If they are so proud of it, why did they do it in the middle of the night?” Sheehan said.

We spoke with Chris Blem, who was also at the Pulse site on Sunday.

Chalk in hand, Blem said it’s a protest at this point.

“It’s pointless. It’s going to keep happening,” he said. “Whether it’s today, whether it’s tomorrow, whether it’s a week from now, people are still going to be out here making their voice heard.”

News 6 has reached out to FHP, Orlando police and FDOT to confirm why law enforcement was present Sunday morning. We are waiting to hear back.

The statement that FDOT shared earlier in the week is as follows:

As the state highway department, it is the duty of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to ensure the safety and consistency of public roadways and transportation systems. That means ensuring our roadways are not utilized for social, political, or ideological interests.

Earlier this year, the Department completed a months-long process of updating the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) with input from representatives of state and local governments. This update included a prohibition on non-uniform traffic control devices, such as pavement markings on state and local roads.

In June, FDOT notified all local governments of these updates and revised provisions of Florida Statutes that give the Department authority to withhold state funds for noncompliance. This was followed by similar policy updates from USDOT Secretary Duffy.

Last week, local governments not in compliance for local roads began receiving notifications to bring their roadways up to state standards to ensure locals govern themselves accordingly.

In addition to ensuring all local governments comply, FDOT completed a review of all state-maintained roadways and is now correcting pavement markings not in compliance. That includes street art previously installed on state right of way, such as the intersection of Orange Avenue in question.

Transportation infrastructure is for the movement of people and goods. In this case, while the crosswalk has been restored to its proper form, local efforts are underway to construct a permanent memorial on adjacent properties funded by the State of Florida. Any attempt to suggest otherwise is false.

Florida Department of Transportation