PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) — New art work on Graffiti Bridge in Pensacola is drawing attention to a national movement.

“This is part of a nationwide movement to bring awareness about what’s happening to our National Parks and public lands and kind of stand in solidarity with those public lands and the employees who were wrongfully terminated,” Philip Iversen said.

Philip Iversen is a former biological science technician at Gulf Islands National Seashore. He received an email alerting him of his termination last month. 

Iverson, who volunteered at the park before interning and ultimately working at the park, said the email stated he was unqualified and unfit to do his job, and not performing as he should be. He said his employee assessments said otherwise. 

“It’s really just kind of a kick in the gut after working all this time doing everything I was told was the right thing,” Iversen said.

Iversen is one of about about 1,000 National Park Service employees terminated as part of the Trump administration’s effort to cut federal spending. 

According to the National Park Service, more than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 431 national parks, working to help preserve local history and create recreational opportunities.

“I think that the government does need to be cut back there has been excessive spending and that kind of thing, but I feel like there are ways to do that without compromising our morals and especially compromising something like the national parks and public lands,” Iversen said.

As part of the art on Graffiti Bridge, signs are painted asking for people to speak out to their representatives and to donate to the National Parks Conservation Association. 

As Iverson searches for a new job, he said he will continue to volunteer at the park and hopes to see people continue to stand up for our National Parks. 

“I hope that people go out to the parks this summer. I really do. I hope they go out and support the rangers are still there and support these natural, historic and cultural resources that we have because they are so important to what it is to be an American,” Iversen said.