Rainbow crosswalk removed from Miami Beach amid protests Kim Wynne, NBC South FloridaOctober 8, 2025 at 12:36 AM 33 One of the most iconic symbols in Miami Beach is gone after crews with the Florida Department of Transportation removed the rainbow crosswalk from Ocean Drive on Sunday night.
- - Rainbow crosswalk removed from Miami Beach amid protests
Kim Wynne, NBC South FloridaOctober 8, 2025 at 12:36 AM
33
One of the most iconic symbols in Miami Beach is gone after crews with the Florida Department of Transportation removed the rainbow crosswalk from Ocean Drive on Sunday night.
The removal comes just days after the city lost its appeal to keep the crosswalk, following an order from FDOT to remove pavement art used for social, political or ideological messages or lose state funding.
Now, all of the colorful bricks are gone, covered by black pavement.
To many, including Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez, the walkway was a symbol of pride and resilience.
"This is the story of people's lives. Who've suffered decades of injustice, of inequality of discrimination. Then we overcame that," Fernandez said. "That was the story being told by these bricks. We can't lose that."
The intersection on Monday. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
Fernandez joined more than a dozen people who held signs across the street chanting: "Miami Beach, forever proud. Miami Beach, forever proud."
He said the removal came without warning.
"All of a sudden all these FDOT trucks showed up, an army of workers, heavy machinery. No notice to our city," the commissioner said.
FDOT ordered cities to remove pavement art in August, saying the decision was about safety and having consistent roadways. Crosswalks in other Florida cities, like in Orlando outside the site of the Pulse night club massacre, have also been painted over to protests. Officials did not reply to a request for a statement.
Large crowds gathered around the intersection as the word continued, some angry and others hurt.
"This represents blood, sweat and tears. I literally worked so hard on this sidewalk for so many years and struggled to come here and perform and share my art and craft," performer T.P. Lords said. "It tears my heart to see it go away."
Resident Henry Stolar also had strong words for the removal.
"The gay and lesbian community has contributed so much to Miami Beach over so many years. This is a terrible abuse of power," Stolar said.
The crosswalk in September. (Jen Golbeck / Sipa USA via AP file)
Jaminha Piazzetta has lived in Miami Beach for 35 years and works as a tour guide. She said she was giving a tour at the crosswalk when crews showed up.
"We were like, 'No, no, no,'" she said. "It hurts... I was with four people. I was telling the history and suddenly the trucks arrived."
Rainbow flags were hung above the crosswalk hours before the removal began in protest.
"Miami Beach will forever be proud," Fernandez said. "You can strip away the crosswalk, you won't strip away the values that run in the people of Miami Beach."
Fernandez said the city is hoping to collect the bricks that have been removed so that they can be repurposed.
This story originally appeared on NBC South Florida.
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