Demonstrators chalked two blocks on Central Avenue in St. Pete to protest mural removals.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Communities across Tampa Bay are pushing back against Florida’s order to erase street art.

On Monday in St. Petersburg, demonstrators turned two blocks of Central Avenue into a chalk-covered protest, stretching from 25th Street down to 23rd. They gathered after four of the city’s five street murals had already been removed.

“Anytime there is oppression, anytime there is movements against a culture, it brings people together,” protester Tamara Leigh said.

The group rallied near the Pride mural, St. Pete’s last remaining piece of street art.

“I’m advocating for free speech, and I’m absolutely mortified and really seriously angered that the state of Florida would take away our right to have colorful intersections under the premise that they cause distraction,” Susan Holl said.

In recent days, crews have painted over murals, including the Black History Matters mural outside the Woodson Museum.

“Seeing that banner covered up was heartbreaking for me. Seeing this banner and all these drawings make me hopeful again,” said Rev. Ben Atherton-Zeman, who was one of two pastors arrested for resisting the removals. “I absolutely stand by what I did. It’s ridiculous.”

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The Florida Department of Transportation says the removals are about safety. Governor Ron DeSantis defended the order, saying it’s about ending the use of roads for messaging.

“They had to remove a ‘Back the Blue’ and some other stuff, so it spans different things, but we’ve made the policy decision in Florida that we’re not going to use the roads for that purpose,” DeSantis said.

The Pride mural is expected to be erased next, but for now, chalk-covered sidewalks are keeping the protest alive.

“It makes me feel like there are more with us than against us. It makes me feel like this is just one step,” Rep. Michele Raynor said.

Organizers say they are planning more demonstrations in the coming days while working to find new places to display public art.

The state deadline to remove all murals is Sept. 4. As of Friday, the city of Tampa had only erased one of its 47 murals. A city spokesman said they may ask the state for an extension.