HOUSTON, Texas – Four people were arrested Monday while attempting to stop the removal of a rainbow crosswalk in the Montrose neighborhood.
Last week, we reported on a news conference held by several community leaders who disagreed with Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent order directing cities across Texas to remove rainbow crosswalks, including the one in Montrose.
On Monday, dozens of protesters gathered at the intersection of Westheimer and Taft, where the colorful crosswalks have become a symbol of pride and inclusion for the LGBTQ+community.
Protestors believe Abbott’s order is an “attack on local communities” and undermines decades of progress toward visibility and acceptance.
“This is not the place we should be putting our time and resources in. We should be elevating our communities. We should be applying the work that we’re doing here. I don’t think Governor Greg Abbott is in any way representative of the politics that are actually happening on the ground here in Texas,” Protestor Brenda Franco said.
The Texas Department of Transportation supports the order, citing federal guidelines that require standardized traffic markings. But local leaders argue the rainbow design does not pose a safety risk and carries cultural and historical significance.
It’s not clear what, if any, charges the four people who were arrested will face. But Houston police said they were arrested for blocking the roadway.