Four people arrested after restoring Pulse memorial crossing’s rainbow colours
The Pulse nightclub memorial crosswalk was erased by the Florida state government. (X/Twitter/Getty)
The Pulse nightclub memorial crosswalk was erased by the Florida state government. (X/Twitter/Getty)
At least four people have been arrested for restoring the Pulse memorial crossing’s rainbow colours.
The rainbow colours of the crossing outside the abandoned LGBTQ+ nightclub in Orlando, Florida, 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.
Just two days later, locals used chalk to restore the rainbow colours. However, the it didn’t last long because the Florida Department of Transportation repainted it black and white on 24 August.
Orestes Sebastian Suarez, 29, was arrested on Friday (29 August) and charged with criminal mischief and interfering with a traffic control device. A judge ordered his release the following morning after finding no probable cause for the arrest, according to Central Florida Public Media.
Maryjane East, 25, Donavon Short, 26, and 39-year-old Zane Aparicio were also arrested on suspicion of defacing a traffic device, according to The Orlando Sentinel. All three have now been released without being charged.
‘It’s insane’
Suarez told local news outlet Wesh 2: “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.”
Since the arrests, police officers have put up a sign that reads: “Defacing sidewalk prohibited.”
A spokesperson for the Transportation Department previously said the rainbow colours were removed because there was a duty “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”.
And Florida governor Ron DeSantis wrote on X/Twitter: “We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.”
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
