‘Black Lives Matter’ mural on Third Ward street could face removal under state order

Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media

Stretching across four lanes on Alabama Street, the red and yellow letters of the words "Black Lives Matter” were still across the street from Houston’s Yates High School, where George Floyd once attended, on Wednesday morning. They may not be there by next month.

Under a state order issued on Oct. 8, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), under the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott , gave cities 30 days to comply with a ban on "pavement markings such as decorative crosswalks, murals, or markings conveying artwork or other messages" along roadways.

In Houston, the most attention went toward the rainbow crosswalks in Montrose — which were removed on Monday . But the prohibition is broad and could mean the Third Ward's memorial to Floyd faces