2 pastors arrested, accused of blocking FDOT crews from painting over mural

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg police have arrested two men for allegedly trying to block FDOT crews from painting over the “Black History Matters” mural on Friday night around 8:15 p.m.

Both men are pastors. They are Rev. Andy Oliver, 45, of the Allendale United Methodist Church and Minister Benedict Atherton-Zeman, 59, from the Unitarian Universalist Church.

The mural on 9th Avenue South was painted on the road in 2023 outside the Woodson African American Museum of Florida.

Police say both men sat down on the mural to try and block crews from painting over it, and they were told to move, but they refused.

Both of them were later arrested.

They are facing charges of obstructing or hindering traffic.

FDOT crews have been painting over street murals across the state as part of a recent directive.

Others in Tampa Bay, as well as Orlando’s Pulse crosswalk and Daytona’s checkered crosswalk, have also been painted over.