The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. August 25, 2025 Florida Paints Over Rainbow Crosswalk Honoring the Victims of Pulse Nightclub Shooting in Orlando ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The state of Florida has painted over a rainbow crosswalk that was part of a memorial to honor the 49 people killed at a gay nightclub in Orlando in 2016. At the time, it was the country's deadliest mass shooting. Orlando city officials weren't notified about the removal of the mural. The mayor of Orlando called it a "cruel political act." People reportedly protested the state's move by scribbling the colors of the rainbow over the crosswalk. In a social media post, Republican Governor Ron De Santis said, "We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes." .