ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has directed municipalities statewide to remove street murals it considers "social, political or ideological." The state agency said the art poses a distraction to drivers.

In St. Petersburg , that includes two well-known ground murals: A rainbow-colored progressive crosswalk in the Grand Central District and the "Black History Matters" mural near the Woodson African American History Museum.

The backstory:

Community groups said the murals aren’t a safety risk but rather symbols of inclusion. Rachel Covello, a St. Pete-based LGBTQ+ travel blogger, described the rainbow street mural as a welcoming sign for visitors.

"This is somewhere where I feel like I belong," she said.

Dr. Byron Green-Calisch, the president

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