Authorities in Pensacola have erased the "Black Lives Matter" mural from the city streets, action taken by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) crews.

The City of Pensacola has seen the removal of its "Black Lives Matter" mural on A Street, with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) taking charge of the operation. The mural, painted in 2020, was located between Gadsden and Jackson Streets, not on a major thoroughfare.

The decision to remove the mural was made by the City of Pensacola, citing concerns over vandalism and community safety. The FDOT, however, ordered the removal, stating that it was in violation of FDOT's traffic control device standards.

FDOT crews began the removal process on Friday morning and completed the task within approximately 30 minutes, finishing around 9:30 a.m. The street is now freshly painted and open to traffic. The FDOT had requested that the city complete the removal of the mural by Sept. 4.

In a move to avoid city costs, Mayor DC Reeves of Pensacola stated that he would ask FDOT to do the work of removing the mural, instead of the city. However, the exact removal costs are currently unknown.

Mayor Reeves also stated in late August that the City of Pensacola's role is to follow federal and state law, and not to take sides on the issue. This stance was echoed by several other cities in Florida, including Gulf Breeze and DeFuniak Springs, which were also ordered to remove their murals and street paint.

Derrick Scott, chair of the Escambia County Democratic Party, believes the state's decision to remove the mural is purely political. As this is a developing story, updates will be provided.

RC Drone Pros Inc. captured a photo of the mural in its original state, providing a visual record of the artwork that once adorned A Street in Pensacola, Florida.