Orlando officials have denounced the removal of a rainbow-colored crosswalk outside the Pulse nightclub. The crosswalk, a tribute to the 49 victims who died during the 2016 mass shooting, was painted over overnight. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer on Thursday called it a "cruel political act" by Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration. State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an openly gay Democrat, described the action as cowardly. The Florida Department of Transportation had warned cities to remove rainbow crosswalks or face funding cuts. A top state transportation official said in June that any art on streets must be devoid of political messages.
