Four LGBTQ+ rights advocates arrested for using sidewalk chokes at the site of the previous Pulse Nightclub Memorial Crosswalk were released without charges, promoting concerns over the criminalization of peaceful protests and the continued elimination of queer symbols in public spaces.
Protestors, Orestes Sebastian Suarez, 29; Maryjane East, 25; Donavon Short, 26; Zane Aparicio, 39, have been arrested for the past few days by Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers. Official price? “Destroy traffic devices.” Their alleged actions used chokes to restore rainbow patterns, commemorating the lives of 49 people lost in the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting, one of the deadliest anti-LGBTQ+ attacks in US history.
However, on Monday, all four individuals were released without pending charges, prompting questions about the legitimacy of the arrest and whether law enforcement has stepped over its power to restrain peaceful and strange expressions.
Peaceful protest met police
The protest began later Florida Department of Transport (FDOT)acted under the direction of the Trump administration, removing the rainbow crossing on August 21st. W. The colorful intersection on Ester Street and S. Orange Avenue pulsated the victims and served as a very visible tribute to Orlando’s LGBTQ+ symbols of LGBTQ+ pride and revival.
The decision to erase it as part of a broader directive to “eliminate distractions” from public roads was reportedly met with a rapid repulsion. The activists returned to the site with chalk in hand, trying to recreate the rainbow pattern in a temporary, non-destructive way.
Suarez, one of the protesters, told local news station WESH 2 that he was simply walking the crosswalk using chalk on the soles of his shoes. “To be threatened with something so extreme as a felony to protest your fellow people and show love is just crazy in my opinion,” he said.
Although initially accused of tainting traffic devices, the law usually aimed at preventing alteration of electronic signals and hardware, Suarez was released after the judge determined there was no possible cause for his arrest. His legal team argued that chalk is water-soluble and easily washed away, but does not constitute vandalism under Florida law.
Chalk, fees, inconsistencies
Despite the non-permanent nature of the protest, the FHP moved forward with additional arrests over the weekend. After a similar chalk demonstration at the same intersection, East, Short and Aparicio were taken into custody. But none of them face charges.
At a court hearing Monday, the judge found possible causes for the arrest of the remaining three protesters, but the state chose not to pursue the charges. The reason behind the decision remains unknown as both FHP and local prosecutors declined to comment.
Their lawyer, Blake Simons, called the arrest a clear case of overreach. “Water-soluble chalk that is washed away while you’re arrested won’t cost more than $1,000,” he said. Orlando Sentinel.
FDOT estimated that the crosswalk recovery would cost around $1,562. This says critics are bulging and used to justify cracking down on peaceful protests.
Symbol removed and community mobilized
For many in the Orlando LGBTQ+ community, the rainbow crossing was far more than paint. It was a symbol of visibility, memory and love. The sudden removal reportedly took place late at night, and many feelings were erased.
“My friend passed away here. That’s it. This is their monument,” said protester Robby Dodd in an interview with Click Orlando. Others in the demonstration pointed out that police seem uncertain about the laws they are cited, and often retreats when protesters challenge them to explain their authority.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis supports the removal of the rainbow crossing and claims it will provide a distraction for drivers. However, the analysis of Orlando Sentinel Other national studies suggest opposition. Decorative crossings can actually improve pedestrian safety by attracting more attention to intersections.
Continuous repulsion to LGBTQ+ visibility
Chalk protests and consequent arrests occur in the broader climate of Florida’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies. Under Desantis’ leadership, the state has established drastic restrictions on transhealth care, discussion in LGBTQ+ classrooms, drug performance, and comprehensive books in school libraries.
Supporters argue that public art crackdowns like Pulse Crosswalk are part of the same agenda and are campaigns to disinfect public spaces of strange beings.
Source: Gayety – gayety.com
