On Friday, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office dropped the charges against four people arrested earlier this week during a protest against the removal of the rainbow crosswalks at the intersection of Westheimer Road and Taft Street in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston. The crosswalks symbolized support for the LGBTQ community.
The four people were arrested early Monday morning during a protest at the intersection that had begun Sunday and stretched into the night. The protesters were charged with obstructing a highway or other passageway. They occupied the crosswalks in an attempt to prevent its removal, which occurred later that same morning.
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According to court documents, the charges were dropped by the DA’s office on Friday.
In the short one-page motion to dismiss, Assistant Harris County District Attorney Lauren Elizabeth Byrne said, “after review and evaluation of evidence, this case is dismissed in the interest of justice.”
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) removed the crosswalks to comply with an order from Gov. Greg Abbott, which directed the Texas Department of Transportation to ensure all cities and counties remove political messaging from roadways, including rainbow crosswalks, within 30 days.
The rainbow crosswalks had originally been removed in September due to construction along the Westheimer corridor. The crosswalks were repainted on Oct. 1. Less than a week later, the conservative right-wing X account, “Libs of TikTok,” made a post about the crosswalks, tagging Abbott. Another online conservative voice, State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian), also called for its removal online, ahead of Abbott’s order.
METRO Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock defended the decision to remove the crosswalks on Thursday, arguing the department had no other option.
The Harris County DA’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment for further details regarding the charges being dismissed. Those arrested either did not immediately respond or could not be reached for comment.
Obstructing a highway or other passageway is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a maximum fine of $10,000.
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