In Dallas, our neighborhoods are more than streets and buildings. They are places where people come to feel seen, safe, and connected. For years, the rainbow Pride crosswalks and Black Lives Matter street markings in Dallas have served as powerful symbols of belonging, especially in communities like Oak Lawn.

Now, those symbols are being removed.

Under a mandate from the Texas Department of Transportation, the city has been forced to erase these crosswalks or risk losing critical transportation funding. Local leaders asked for an exception. They were denied.

This decision is about more than paint on pavement. It is about whether communities have the right to express who they are in their own neighborhoods.

For many residents, these crosswalks were not just decorative. They signaled that people of all backgrounds are welcome, valued, and part of the fabric of Dallas. Removing them sends a different message, one that many fear diminishes visibility and belonging for communities that have fought hard to be recognized.

At the same time, safety matters. Standards matter. But solutions should not come at the cost of erasing identity. Cities across Texas are already exploring ways to preserve these symbols in nearby spaces while meeting state requirements. Dallas deserves the same opportunity to find a path forward that respects both safety and community expression.

This petition calls on the Texas Department of Transportation and Governor Greg Abbott to work with the City of Dallas to allow flexibility, whether through exemptions or alternative solutions that preserve these important cultural symbols. We also call on Dallas city leaders to prioritize community input and ensure these voices are heard in the next steps.

Dallas is strongest when every community feels seen and respected.

We can follow the rules and still honor who we are.

Sign this petition to stand for local voices, community identity, and a Dallas where everyone belongs.