Governor Ron DeSantis declared that during the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida will be illuminated in red, white, and blue as a patriotic display.
This decision signals the cessation of the bridge’s lighting for various other occasions, such as a week in June dedicated to LGBT “Pride” Month.
The bridge serves as a gateway to Tampa Bay.
Jared Perdue, the Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, revealed the “Freedom Summer” lighting initiative on X.
“As Floridians prepare for Freedom Summer, Florida’s bridges will follow suit, illuminating in red, white, and blue from Memorial Day through Labor Day! Thanks to the leadership of @GovRonDeSantis, Florida continues to be the freest state in the nation,” he wrote on X.
The DOT directive will also affect the decorative lighting on other bridges owned by the state, such as the Acosta Bridge in Jacksonville and the Ringling Bridge in Sarasota.
Despite complaints from certain groups, Manatee County Commission Chairman Mike Rahn stated that the authority over lighting decisions should remain with state officials since they are the owners of the bridges.
Rahn’s stance against illuminating the Sunshine Skyway Bridge for Pride Month and National Gun Violence Awareness Day resulted in the decision to exclusively use red, white, and blue lighting.
“My concern is if we’re going to do it for one group, we have to do it for all groups, no matter what their political stance is,” Rahn explained.
“I feel, personally, that the bridge is being politicized by different organizations.”
The Governor also announced a series of events to celebrate the Summer of Freedom.
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