Miami Beach Rainbow Crosswalk Removed by FDOT, Sparking Outrage

Removal of Iconic Rainbow Crosswalk

• 🌈 The iconic rainbow crosswalk on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, a symbol of welcome for nearly 7 years, was removed brick by brick over the weekend.
• ⚠️ The removal was carried out by state transportation workers without prior notice to the city, leaving residents and the LGBTQ+ community shocked and heartbroken.
• 🚫 City officials had fought to keep the crosswalk, but their appeal was denied just this past Friday by the state.

State's Policy on Roadway Messaging

• 📜 The action stems from an FDOT memo issued a few months prior, which banned any road signs tied to social, political, or ideological messages.
• 💔 Despite the state's directive, many residents felt the crosswalk was not distracting and did not bother anyone.

Community Reaction and Future Plans

• 😔 Residents and community members, including drag queens from the Palace Bar, gathered to witness the removal, expressing sadness and calling the action "very painful" and a waste of taxpayer dollars.
• 🎨 City officials, led by Commissioner Alex Fernandez, saved all the colorful bricks with the hope of repurposing them into a piece of art overlooking the former sidewalk location.
• 🚩 In response to the crosswalk's removal, rainbow flags were placed by city officials as a continued symbol of inclusivity.