PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and other community leaders pushed back on the state’s recent order to remove street murals.

In a news conference Monday morning, Welch said the targeted murals are an integral part of St. Petersburg, but he also said that the city will comply with their removal.

What You Need To Know

In a news conference Monday morning, St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch said the targeted murals are an integral part of St. Petersburg, but he also said that the city will comply with their removal

The murals in question are at the intersection of Central Avenue and Fifth Street, a Pride rainbow at Central Avenue and 25th Street, a USF crosswalk at the St. Pete campus on Sixth Street South and Black History mural at Ninth Avenue South near 22nd Lane

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The murals in question are at the intersection of Central Avenue and Fifth Street, a Pride rainbow at Central Avenue and 25th Street, a USF crosswalk at the St. Pete campus on Sixth Street South and Black History mural at Ninth Avenue South near 22nd Lane (which previously was a Black Lives Matter mural).  

“While these specific art murals will be removed, the spirit of what makes St. Pete a special place can’t be suppressed by legislative fiat, and we will find meaningful ways to express our shared values,” the mayor said earlier on social media.

Multiple Florida cities are now facing state deadlines in the coming days after being ordered to paint over or remove so-called rainbow crosswalks, brightly colored street crossings meant to celebrate pride and minority rights.

The issue has been simmering since a July 1 directive from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who gave U.S. governors 60 days to identify what he called safety improvements.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday amplified those comments, saying on X: “We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.”

Welch encouraged the public to visit the murals and share on social media before they are removed. He added that any protests about their removal be peaceful and obey all laws.

He said the murals will live on in other city properties and private property, on flags and banners.

Because the city of St. Petersburg is allowing FDOT to remove the murals, instead of using city crews, the city of St. Pete will reimburse the state for the work. No timeline has been released on when the state will remove them.

“We made it clear that these murals are more than paint on pavement,” Welch said during Monday’s news conference. “They are expressions of our community, identity and values. But through meetings and correspondence, FDOT made their position clear in the U.S., and they have the authority, backed by the governor and the U.S. Department of Transportation. And they threatened penalties that would jeopardize millions of dollars in state transportation funding and potentially tens of millions more in broader state funding in other areas.

As mayor of our city, I will not risk these essential investments in a fight that I don’t believe we can win. That would be irresponsible leadership and detrimental to our city in the long run. But make no mistake, this is not the end of the story. Our response will be strategic, not reactionary. It may not be as emotionally satisfying as a street brawl.”

Welch went on to say that the murals will live on in new ways.

“The state can remove the paint from our streets,” Welch said. “They can remove those symbols but they can not bind the spirit of St. Petersburg or silence our voice.

“When we say ‘We Are St. Pete’ that means all of us and we will stand by that.”