ORLANDO, Fla. — This week, two more people were arrested for allegedly defacing the crosswalk near the Pulse memorial site with chalk.
What You Need To Know
As of Friday, it has been 99 days since FDOT painted over the rainbow crosswalk to align with new state guidelines
People have been at the Pulse memorial almost every day since then to bring back the colors with chalk
At least six people have been arrested since late August and FDOT has returned to the site several times
More than $1,500 has been spent on the FDOT trips, Orlando City Commissioners said the state is paying for it since it was their decision
Back in August, the Florida Department of Transportation repainted the rainbow crosswalk, covering the colorful display with black and white paint to align with state guidelines.
A small but dedicated group continues to return to the crosswalk to chalk, typically at night when they are done with work. It’s been going on for 99 days as of Black Friday, and one man has been out here nearly every day but earlier this week, something different happened.
“Job number two,” said James Houchins as he sets up.
He has a routine at the corner of South Orange Avenue and Esther Street.
“We come out, we refresh the curbs, we freshen up the memorial, straighten up and obviously reclaim the colors that were taken by the state,” Houchins described.
A promise to bring the rainbow crosswalk back led to handcuffs, as troopers arrested Houchins for defacing an official traffic control device.
“It is very obviously a targeted attack and targeted enforcement,” Houchins said.
James Houchins was arrested on Sunday but said he will not slow down in the effort to bring back the rainbow. (Spectrum News 13/Sarah Winkelmann)
The arrest report stated a video showed Houchins “aggressively and purposely grinding chalk onto the crosswalk.”
“What is aggressive chalking? Sidewalk chalk that is made for children 3 and up that is water soluble, it washes off in the rain,” Houchins said.
Since late August, at least six people have been arrested and FDOT crews have made multiple trips to the site to wash off the chalk or remove other items from the right of way.
The arrest report stated that more than $1,500 had been spent to repair and wash down the crosswalk during those visits.
Orlando commissioners said the state is paying that cost since it was their decision.
“Now is our time to stand up and speak out and show them that we are here,” Houchins said. They are loud and proud to show the love in their community.
“So being able to come out and fight, not only for visibility but for freedom of speech but what the crosswalk represents and the 49 lives that were taken again from the community,” Houchins said of the victims of a terror attack at the Pulse nightclub in 2016.
To reflect, remember and recognize the LGBTQ community, that is what keeps them going, even if the rainbow crosswalk never returns.
“Then we never stop fighting,” Houchins said.
Spectrum News 13 reached out to the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Transportation to get clarification on why someone might be arrested for chalking out here and how often they come back out there, but has have not heard back.