This material was originally published by Reform Austin.

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Houston’s Montrose rainbow crosswalk was removed early Monday, October 20, following a strict directive from Governor Greg Abbott ordering cities and counties to eliminate street markings representing “political ideologies”, otherwise they risk losing road funding.

Crews began work before dawn at the intersection of Westheimer Road and Taft Street. Protesters gathered to oppose the removal, resulting in a two-and-a-half-hour standoff with Houston police. Four individuals were arrested and charged with obstructing a highway or passageway, according to the Houston Chronicle .

Ethan Hale, one of those arrested, told the Houston Chronicle he “spent a little under 24 hours in jail that night and was charged with obstructing a highway or passageway.” He added, “I definitely did not plan to get arrested. I think essentially we just planned to protest and eventually towards the end, it just kind of turned into a sit in and one thing led to another.”

During Thursday’s Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County’s (METRO) board meeting, Houston resident David Mendoza questioned the agency’s decision to act quickly. “My primary concern is how quickly y’all allowed this to happen without giving LGBTQ+ Houstonians the time or space to process this removal,” Mendoza said. “Gov. Abbott gave cities 30 days to comply or risk funding, and y’all removed it in 12 days.”

METRO Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock said the agency was complying with the state mandate. “It was something that we had to do because of a mandate, and whether we did it in 12 days or whether we did it in 30 days, we had a responsibility, and we met our responsibility, because at the end of the day, we are a transit authority, and we have to meet our community,” she said.

Installed in 2017, the Montrose rainbow crosswalk was Texas’ first Pride crosswalk, created in memory of Alex Hill, a 21-year-old community member who died in a 2016 hit-and-run near the intersection. The Montrose Center said in a statement , “This crosswalk holds profound meaning for our community,” and expressed “deep concern and sadness following the recent directive from Governor Greg Abbott ordering the removal of rainbow crosswalks across Texas.”

The removal marks the second time in two months that the crosswalk has been erased.