At a news conference on Thursday, a spectator who accused Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of being responsible for the tragic racist mass shooting in Jacksonville that claimed the lives of three Black people got into a heated exchange with him.
The Jacksonville news conference was intended to emphasize Florida’s defenses against Covid-related mandates. But when DeSantis invited a participant to pose a query, things took a pugilistic turn.
As a veteran himself, the man told DeSantis calmly that while he appreciated the governor’s military service, he believed the governor’s policies had allowed “immature people” to access weapons, which ultimately “led to the deaths of the people who were assassinated a couple of weeks ago.”
You cannot accuse me of engaging in criminal activities, DeSantis said. That’s not something I’m taking.
After some back and forth between the two, the man, who is Black, added, “You gave permission for people to hunt people like me.”
“Oh, you’re being silly. Over murmurings of disapproval from the rest of the audience, DeSantis retorted, “That is such foolishness.
Shortly later, the man was led out of the room. DeSantis proceeded to respond as the guy left the event, telling the audience that his administration’s dedication to public safety was one reason why so many Americans had come to Florida.
In response to a video of the interaction that was released online, the ACLU of Florida reiterated the man’s remarks in a statement.
Using the network X, formerly known as Twitter, the organization wrote, “Gov. DeSantis’ policies have led to Florida less secure for Black people in Florida.”
Many in Florida’s Black neighborhoods and elsewhere retain resentment toward the DeSantis administration’s policies, notably the elimination of diversity initiatives in schools and the development of divisive standards for the teaching of race, which were brought to light by the racist deadly shooting on August 26.
The governor’s statements at a vigil for the shooting victims shortly after the incident drew jeers from the crowd, displaying this outrage. A local official had to halt DeSantis’ speech in order to quell the heckling because it was so loud.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, a DeSantis appointee, addressed the crowd once more to defend DeSantis as the Jacksonville press conference came to an end. Ladapo had already spoken during the event on COVID-19 vaccines and who is Black.
Ladapo referred to the audience member as “crazy” and “insane,” and added of DeSantis, “It’s terrible that people try and tie him into something just because he’s a different color than the poor victims of that tragedy.”
On August 27, DeSantis, a potential GOP presidential nominee for 2024, took a break from his campaigning to head back to Florida and oversee the cleanup from the shooting in Jacksonville and preparations for Tropical Storm Idalia. This weekend, he’s scheduled to start his campaigning in Iowa, where he’ll take part in a bus tour for Never Back Down, the Super PAC that’s backing his effort.