SALISBURY, Md. -- What many people view as a symbol of inclusivity in Downtown Salisbury is being paved over. Repaving work on Market Street began on Monday, and with it will come the demise of the rainbow crosswalks on South Division Street, which are expected to be gone by Tuesday.
Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor announced the repaving of Downtown Salisbury’s rainbow crosswalks and their repainting with a neutral pattern last week. The decision has since received backlash from elected officials and neighbors.
"It's demanding the erasure of a community that can't be erased," said Councilwoman Michele Gregory.
Mayor Taylor first announced his intent to change the crosswalks’ design in July of 2024, arguing the design was not inclusive of all political leanings.In May of 2025, Taylor saidthe crosswalks would be replaced with rotating artist-designed patterns to avoid any political or ideological affiliations in keeping with a previous Supreme Court ruling and federal Department of Transportation standards.
"We're going to keep our walkways neutral like most municipalities do," said Taylor.
Taylor's reasoning for returning the crosswalks to their pre-painted days has drawn the ire of Gregory and former Salisbury Mayor Jake Day.
Following the city's announcement on Friday, Day took to Facebook and made a post that read "Lotta words just to say you're a bigot...".
Gregory used nearly identical vocabulary during our interview with her on Monday.
"It's unfortunate that, that kind of bigotry is leading our city and I just don't agree with it," said Gregory.
Taylor bucked back against those claims and told WBOC the crosswalks are only being paved over to align with federal mandates and to keep moving forward with the city's Urban Greenway Initiative.
"It's unfortunate that he[Jake Day] would use that kind of language because he knows that not to be true," said Taylor.
In 2018, LGBTQ+ organization PFLAG says the city approached them about implementing a community mural which would go on to become the Pride Crosswalks. After Taylor’s announcement this past May, PFLAG pushed back on the plans to change the crosswalks, saying the effort was discriminatory.
On Friday, Nov. 7, Mayor Taylor all but quashed any doubt that the rainbow crosswalks would be eliminated, and that the original plan to have rotating artist designs would not be pursued.
“A rotating art program was proposed to reflect the character, history, and artistic vibrancy of Salisbury without aligning with any political or ideological movement,” Taylor said in an open letter on Friday. “Unfortunately, that effort did not achieve the broad participation we had hoped for.”
Taylor goes on to say that the solution would be to implement a neutral design that complies with both Federal guidelines and the city’s commitment to neutrality.
Earlier on Friday, city officials announced roadway repaving on Market Street from South Division Street to Main Street would begin on Monday, Nov. 10. Officials said no road closures are expected and flaggers would be on site throughout the duration of the work. Repaving and restriping are expected to be completed by the end of the week.
“I appreciate the passion and engagement this issue has inspired in our community,” Taylor said. “Let us continue working together to build a city that honors every voice while remaining true to the principles of fairness and inclusion.”