The rainbow colours of the crossing outside the abandoned LGBTQ+ nightclub in Orlando were removed by city officials under a directive from president Donald Trump on 20 August. The memorial honoured the 49 victims of the 2016 mass shooting. Locals used chalk to restore the rainbow colours two days later, but the Florida Department of Transportation repainted the crossing black and white on 24 August. Orestes Sebastian Suarez, 29, was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and interfering with a traffic control device; a judge ordered his release the following morning for lack of probable cause. Three other people were arrested on suspicion of defacing a traffic device and later released without charges.
To be threatened with something so extreme as a felony charge for protesting and showing love to your fellow human, it's insane in my opinion.
to ensure the safety and consistency of public roadways and transportation systems [and] that means ensuring our roadways are not utilised for social, political or ideological interests
We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.
Defacing sidewalk prohibited.
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