On Friday night, Aug. 29, two religious leaders, Ben Atherton-Zeman and Andy Oliver, were arrested in St. Petersburg for defending the Black History Matters mural near the Woodson African American Museum of Florida. Their protest and subsequent arrest followed a state order from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to remove all street art.

Reverend Andy Oliver of Allendale United Methodist Church called the mural deeply symbolic” “Each letter was painted by a different, diverse artist … you are talking about the erasure of black history.”

While Mayor Ken Welch had publicly insisted that no one interfere with the FDOT crew, Oliver protested anyway, explaining: “I trust that the mayor believes he is leading the best strategy. That doesn’t mean I’m not called also to do my work as a pastor … to be there to kneel and to pray. An approach by the city government and a show of dissent and civil disobedience – I believe they can coexist.”

The protest sparked criticism from some BIPOC leaders. JC Pritchett II, the first Black president of the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club, dismissed the dissent as “performative.”

On social media, Pritchett stated: “Leading on the murals issue is different than laying on the murals.” Thanking the mayor for planning ahead, Pritchett warned: “The privilege of dramatic displays by a few are temporary emotional rushes that distract from governing and broader collaboration away from cameras.”

Pritchett’s sentiment was seconded by Esther Sanni, President of NAACP – St. Pete, who commented: “It’s easy to ‘take a stand’ when you know the system was never built to break you.”

Reverend Ben Atherton-Zeman of the Unitarian Universalist Church acknowledged that critique. “I think caution about the savior complex is well taken.”

But Atherton-Zeman elaborated on his reason for continued protest. “I live in a state where books are banned for teaching accurate Black history,” he said. “Now they want to erase a mural that says ‘Black history matters.’ As a Unitarian, my theology is anti-racist. I couldn’t not do something.”

Despite criticisms, many expressed appreciation – notably, Terri Lipsey Scott, executive director of the museum: “Rev. Andy and Rev. Ben, words will never be able to describe the debt of gratitude I owe you for STANDING while KNEELING!”

The two reverends both stated that they walked out of police custody, determined to amplify underrepresented voices, even as some question their role. “Terri [Lipsey Scott] said it best: ‘The Police did their Job. FDOT did their job. And we did our job,’” Atherton-Zeman added, citing Scott.

The reverends paid $500 to make bail, and supporters have offered to cover their legal expenses, but Oliver and Atherton-Zeman are urging people to direct that generosity elsewhere: the Woodson Museum.