While Tampa, St. Pete Cave on Street Murals, Locals Fight Back

ST. PETERSBURG — Governor Ron DeSantis is currently directing the erasure of nearly all street murals across the state of Florida. He has justified this using a new law that does not mention street art. While some Florida cities have fought back against this strange new state initiative, Tampa and St. Petersburg quickly caved.

Many people believe DeSantis is targeting rainbow murals associated with gay pride, including State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith. “He’s inventing excuses to defend the indefensible,” said Smith. “He wanted to punish LGBTQ visibility and wanted to make an example out of the rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclub.”

Perhaps to prevent equal protection lawsuits, the state has removed many other murals in addition to rainbow crosswalks. That includes just-finished murals in neighborhood intersections that were painted by local children. It also includes the “Black History Matters” mural outside the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in St. Petersburg.

Local pastors Andy Oliver and Benedict Atherton-Zeman kneeled and prayed over the Black history street mural while FDOT crews attempted to paint it over. Both pastors were arrested. After the mural was painted over, an anonymous person — presumably a local resident — repainted the mural in simple outlines overnight.

City governments, seeing the outrage of local residents, responded. The Tampa City Council unanimously passed a resolution condemning the mural removals. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch made a statement opposing state politicians who “attempt to usurp our local values and priorities,” and he sent information to the state showing that murals have increased safety on local streets. But both cities stopped short of taking legal action like South Florida cities Delray Beach and Key West.