ORLANDO, Fla. — Three protestors were arrested at the Pulse Crosswalk on Sunday.
The protestors Zane Aparicio, Mary Jane East, and Donavon Short’s arrests came after troopers arrested 29-year-old Sebastian Suarez Friday night. He was visiting from Georgia for his birthday.
Aparcio, East, and Short were arrested for defacing a traffic control device, the same reason Saurez was arrested.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) posted signs warning demonstrators at the crosswalk.
Orlando-based lawyer Blake Simons represented Suarez. He’s now representing the three people arrested Sunday.
“It’s astounding,” he said, pointing out the fact that the Sunday afternoon rain washed the chalk away. He also said. “A crosswalk is not a traffic control device.”
That’s the same defense he used for Suarez. The judge dismissed the charge and Suarez was released. Simons said the same thing will happen Monday when the three arrested Sunday face the judge.
He did say the state can obtain a supplemental affidavit from the troopers with extra evidence to counter his argument, but then asks, “what additional evidence?”
“They’ve already laid it out that they damaged a traffic control device in excess of $1,000, trying to make it a third-level felony,” he said.
Since that didn’t happen with Suarez, he doesn’t see that happening this time either.
FDOT had released a statement saying in part, “Vandalizing state property and/or disrupting traffic in any way is unsafe and illegal. These illegal actions will not be tolerated and will be fully enforced by law enforcement.”
The other protestors who were out there Sunday said more protests are coming Monday morning.
“Starting tomorrow, we are taking this to city hall,” Chris Blem said. “We’re inviting Mayor Buddy Dyer and everybody to City Hall to come and chalk with us because the First Amendment right is what we’re fighting for.” on
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