Have you ever seen someone do something so ridiculously unnecessary and just asked, “But why?” Under Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, the Pulse Memorial crosswalk was removed because he refuses to “allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.” As a refresher, a crosswalk was rainbow-colored as a tribute to the 49 people who were killed in a mass shooting at the Pulse LGBTQ nightclub back in 2016.
That said, the governor and his Republican-run administration are disrespecting the lives lost, claiming that the memorial was nothing more than a political statement. Several notable individuals, including State Senator Carlos Smith and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, have spoken out against the memorial’s removal, saying that it was a huge disgrace. Mayor Dyer called it a “cruel political act,” while Senator Smith says that this is straight-up vandalism. Not to mention, the crosswalk was painted over secretly overnight, without any sort of public notice.
“A disgusting act of betrayal,” the Senator says in disdain in a post on X. “This crosswalk was painted to honor the lives of 49 angels murdered here.” Now, considering that the crosswalk was mainly used as a tribute for those whose lives were lost, it is anything but political. Let’s say the club where the people died wasn’t LGBTQ-related. Any memorial built would be a memorial for the people, needless to say. But since this one involved particular minorities, Republicans and LGBTQ-phobic people have been relentless with the hate they’re spreading online to anyone speaking against the Pulse Memorial’s removal.
“If you’re ‘devastated’ by this, you’re not built for the real world,” remarks an X commenter. “I’m glad they got rid of it,” says another. “Erase the publicity of mental illness!” adds a third. The hate train goes on for countless comments, with plenty of ridicule towards the Florida senator and the Orlando mayor. There are others, on the other hand, who understand and stand by what the memorial stood for. “Bigots don’t want to be reminded that their hatred cost innocent people their lives,” as one Redditor puts it.
Several people have tried to recolor the sidewalk with chalk as a means to protest. Of course, more online users, many of them Trump supporters, have mocked them, saying that the weather will soon wash it off, completely missing the point of the message. Whatever the case, considering how people are being treated these days, especially many immigrants, it’s no surprise that the current administration in power continues to disrespect human decency.
