Overview

• FDOT crews repainted the Pulse memorial crosswalk black and white again on Sunday after protesters repeatedly restored the rainbow with chalk under a round-the-clock law enforcement watch.
• Troopers at the site told demonstrators chalk was permitted if traffic was not blocked and warned that anyone using paint would be arrested, according to local reports.
• The crackdown follows a July 1 directive from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy calling for elimination of non‑uniform, potentially distracting pavement markings under updated federal guidance.
• Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the actions, stating state roads will not be used for political purposes, while FDOT letters to cities set a Sept. 4 deadline and warned of billing for removals or withholding transportation funds.
• Municipal pushback is growing: Fort Lauderdale set an emergency meeting for Wednesday, Key West officials plan an appeal, Miami Beach leaders dispute the safety rationale with crash data, and Coral Gables began painting over a rainbow crosswalk at the state's direction.