Austin Mayor Kirk Watson proposes a task force in response to Texas street art removal

Editor’s Note: The above video is from KXAN’s previous coverage on the demonstration at the rainbow crosswalk.

AUSTIN (KXAN) —  Austin Mayor Kirk Watson proposed that the city of Austin create a task force by Oct. 27 on the use of public spaces to assure creative participations continue in Austin.

“I said I would offer a plan,” Watson wrote in a message board post.

“My proposal is that we immediately create a task force on the use of public spaces (including sidewalks and other transportation items) to celebrate Austin’s love, diversity, and creativity.”

This comes after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered cities to remove all political ideologies from Texas streets. That includes displays like Austin’s rainbow crosswalks and the ‘Black Artists Matter’ road mural. 

The task force would include members from the African American Resource Advisory Commission, Arts Commission, Downtown Community, DECA Chambers and more. You can view the full list here.

The proposal comes after Abbott said all counties and cities must remove any and all political ideologies from its streets. Abbott said, in part, the order is to “keep Texans moving safely and free from distraction, we must maintain a safe and consistent transportation network across Texas.”

The city of Austin said it would comply with the new guidelines. Watson reiterates that compliance saying the work “should focus on ideas that do not violate federal or state requirements.”

“Let’s seize the opportunity. There’s more than one way to show our love, our pride, our respect for diversity, our defiance,” Watson wrote.