Outrage Over Removal of Pride Crosswalk and BLM Mural in Texas

Left-wing activists are expressing strong discontent with Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s directive regarding political murals, claiming it constitutes erasure of LGBTQ+ representation. Abbott has mandated that cities must remove such murals within 30 days, a directive supported by the Texas Department of Transportation for the city of Austin.

The city of Austin has agreed to take down the Pride rainbow crosswalk located on Fourth Street, as well as the Black Lives Matter mural on 11th Street. Failure to follow this order could lead to the loss of state and federal funding.

Local activists are outraged. Austin Pride President Micah Andres commented, “It feels like a slap in the face to the community. I don’t get why this is a political issue. It’s just a rainbow crosswalk, not a safety concern.” He is urging the city to push back against the removal order.

Andres further expressed, “If we’re as progressive as we claim to be, we should protect this. It has every right to stay. Our presence isn’t going anywhere.”

Another Austin resident, Veronica Jones, also voiced her frustration: “This is an outright violation of free speech and our queer history.” Chris Collier, another local, added, “It’s crucial for communities to have spaces where they can express themselves and feel valued. I really don’t want to see this area lose its vibrancy.”

There are similar sentiments regarding the removal of Black Lives Matter murals. Chas Moore, founder of the Austin Justice Coalition, mentioned, “Removing these murals doesn’t erase the feelings or the messages behind them. The truth remains that black lives matter and so do black artists.”

This controversy isn’t isolated; a parallel situation occurred in Florida, where Miami Beach drag queens reacted similarly, voicing their concerns over the perceived erasure of pride. One drag queen, CC Gritzer, lamented, “Our pride is being erased just like that. It really hurts.”