Protesters chalk streets in St. Pete as murals disappear across Tampa Bay

Описание: Communities across Tampa Bay are pushing back against the state’s order to erase street art.

In St. Petersburg on Monday, demonstrators turned two blocks of Central Avenue into a chalk-covered protest, stretching from 25th Street down to 23rd. They gathered after four of the city’s five street murals had already been removed.

“Anytime there is oppression, anytime there is movements against a culture, it brings people together,” said protester Tamara Leigh.

The group rallied near the Pride mural, St. Pete’s last remaining piece of street art.

“I’m advocating for free speech and I’m absolutely mortified and really seriously angered that the state of Florida would take away our right to have colorful intersections under the premise that they cause distraction,” said Susan Holl.

In recent days, crews have painted over murals including the Black History Matters mural outside the Woodson Museum.

“Seeing that banner covered up was heartbreaking for me. Seeing this banner and all these drawings make me hopeful again,” said Rev. Ben Atherton-Zeman, who was one of two pastors arrested for resisting the removals.
“I absolutely stand by what I did. It’s ridiculous,” he added.

The Florida Department of Transportation says the removals are about safety. Governor Ron DeSantis defended the order, saying it’s about ending the use of roads for messaging.

“They had to remove a back the blue, and some other stuff so it spans different things, but we’ve made the policy decision in Florida that we’re not going to use the roads for that purpose,” DeSantis said.

The Pride mural is expected to be erased next, but for now, chalk-covered sidewalks are keeping the protest alive.

“It makes me feel like there are more with us than against us. It makes me feel like this is just one step,” said Rep. Michele Raynor.

Organizers say they are planning more demonstrations in the coming days while working to find new places to display public art.

The state deadline to remove all murals is September 4. As of Friday, the City of Tampa had only erased one of its 47 murals. A city spokesman said they may ask the state for an extension.