Orlando, Fla. — An Orlando restaurateur on Monday turned over 49 parking spots outside her eatery for artists to color as a protest against a state mandate removing rainbow-colored crosswalks and other art on Florida streets, including one outside the LGBTQ-friendly nightclub where 49 people were killed in 2016.

Se7en Bites owner Trina Gregory said she received 1,000 applications for the event dubbed “Parking Space for Pride — A Rainbow Connection,” after she put out word that the parking spaces would be open for coloring as a salute to diversity and artistic expression. The parking spots are on private property and not under government control.

The idea came in response to the administration of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' enforcement of a state code which prohibits “surface art” on c

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