Sidewalk Chalk Art Protest Of FDOT's Street Mural Removals Rescheduled In St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A chalk art protest of the Florida Department of Transportation's removal of several street murals in St. Petersburg that was originally set to take place Sunday afternoon has been rescheduled because of rain.

The mural removals notably include the “Black History Matters” mural by the Woodson Museum, which was removed Friday, and the Grand Central District’s and the LGBTQ+ Progressive Pride crosswalk, which hadn’t been destroyed as of Sunday morning.

The grassroots group #StandUpStPete will now host the chalk art event Monday starting at 11 a.m.

People are encouraged to use chalk, which will be provided, to cover the sidewalks along Central Avenue between 23rd and 25th streets, near where the Progressive Pride crosswalk is located, with colorful rainbows, love and support.

Those supporting the artwork can find the donated chalk at The Wet Spot at Cocktail, which is nearby, to add to the sidewalk mural any time on Sunday, Rachel Covello, one of the organizers, told Patch.

When they’re done creating, attendees are encouraged to line up along Central Avenue from 2 to 3 p.m. wearing shirts and accessories with Pride colors or messages of community, love, support, and diversity.

While organizers are keeping an eye on the weather, Monday’s gathering will only be canceled if there’s a downpour or thunderstorm, Covello added.

See Also:

• Street Mural Removals Inspire Chalk Art Protests In St. Petersburg
• 2 Religious Leaders Arrested For Blocking FDOT Street Mural Removal In St. Pete
• Community Rallies To Save St. Pete LGBTQ+, Black History Street Murals

“Tomorrow’s rain or shine unless [there’s a] downpour again,” she said. “And then if anyone wants to stop at The Wet Spot to get some chalk and leave their mark in between, they can do that as well.”

Street murals in St. Petersburg and other Florida cities after the state threatened to withhold funding to municipalities over street art that’s inconsistent with state law and the FDOT Design Manual.

In a June 30 internal memo, Will Watts, FDOT’s chief operating officer and assistant secretary, called for municipalities to remove “non-compliant traffic control devices and surface markings, including pavement art installations.”

This includes “pavement surface art that is associated with social, political, or ideological messages or images and does not serve the purpose of traffic control.”

State officials claim that the removal of the street art is a safety issue.

“Non-standard surface markings, signage, and signals that do not directly contribute to traffic safety or control can lead to distractions or misunderstandings, jeopardizing both driver and pedestrian safety,” Watts wrote in the memo. “Furthermore, uniform and consistent application of pavement surface markings is critical for the overall effectiveness of automated vehicle operation, as automated vehicle technologies rely heavily on consistent traffic control devices.”

Studies, including the 2022 Asphalt Art Safety Study from Bloomberg Philanthropies, show the opposite, though.

The Asphalt Art Safety Study found that areas with street art, including intersection murals, crosswalk art, painted plazas, and sidewalk extensions, saw a 50 percent drop in traffic crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists, a 37 percent drop in crashes leading to injuries, a 27 percent increase in drivers yielding to pedestrians with the right-of-way, and a 17 percent decrease in total crashes.

Many activists in St. Petersburg feel that the murals are being targeted because of the communities they represent and have been vocal about their opposition to their removal.