Photo: AFP

Two Florida pastors were arrested after peacefully protesting the removal of a “Black History Matters” street mural in St. Petersburg.

According to Fox 13 Tampa Bay , Rev. Andrew Oliver of Allendale United Methodist Church and Rev. Benedict Atherton-Zeman of the Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg were arrested after sitting directly on the mural to block Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) workers from painting over it.

Police said both men were repeatedly warned to move before being arrested and charged with pedestrian obstruction and hindering traffic.

The protest came after Senate Bill 1662 was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in June, prohibiting any form of political expression, including street murals, on state-controlled transportation fac

See Full Page