ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) \u2014 The Florida city of St. Petersburg, long a bastion of LGBTQ+ rights and mindful of its racially segregated past, is considering approval of two flags recognizing those issues after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered similar street murals erased because of supposedly political messages.<\/p>\n
The St. Petersburg City Council is set to vote Thursday afternoon on the flags, which were designed by an artist who did one of the main erased street murals. The resolution\u2019s sponsor, council member Gina Driscoll, said the goal is to assure residents and visitors that the city remains committed to diversity and inclusion.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs with most art, these flags and their colors have a meaning to each person that is as unique as we are,\u201d Driscoll said before the vote. \u201cFlags are a reflection of a city\u2019s identity, and these flags will go a step further in representing the people of St. Petersburg \u2014 all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
One flag is dubbed \u201cHarmony\u201d and includes the city seal with a rainbow design. The city has long been known as a welcoming place for LGBTQ people and each year hosts one of the largest gay pride celebrations in the country. It also is a city where colorful murals are painted on buildings everywhere.<\/p>\n
The other flag, dubbed \u201cHistory,\u201d is a nod to the Black experience in St. Petersburg, which was once heavily segregated. In one example, Black police officers for years were prevented from arresting white people north of the Central Avenue boundary that cuts through downtown. A federal judge eventually overturned that practice.<\/p>\n
The flags are in reaction to a decision by DeSantis to erase street art around the state \u2014 the governor contends many are inappropriate roadway political messages \u2014 including at least five murals in St. Petersburg. One of those painted-over intersections was designed by artist Andrea Pawlisz, who also gave the flag designs to the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecent events have erased art from our city. Censorship of expression,\u201d Pawlisz said in an email. \u201cIt was important to design these flags to recognize all people and to validate artists as a part of our city,\u201d<\/p>\n
DeSantis spokeswoman Molly Best said Thursday the flags are unnecessary because \u201cwe already have a flag that represents everyone.\u201d She did not specify in an email whether that was the state or U.S. flag, nor whether the governor might challenge the St. Petersburg flags.<\/p>\n
The flags would be hoisted on city property at \u201cappropriate times,\u201d according to Driscoll\u2019s resolution, which would most likely include Pride month in June and Black History Month in February.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe city should fly variations on the official flag to represent a shared sense of local identity, fostering a spirit of unity and belonging,\u201d the resolution says.<\/p>\n
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