During a violent and chaotic weekend marked by demonstrations against police brutality, Floridians did not hear from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis was quiet as thousands of protesters flooded city streets in various parts of the state, seething over the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd, a black man killed in police custody under a white officer’s knee.
In Miami, squad cars were damaged and police fired tear gas at a crowd of protesters. In Tallahassee, the driver of a pickup truck plowed through a street packed with demonstrators, just blocks from the state Capitol building.
In Jacksonville, Sheriff Mike Williams said protesters “attacked several police officers,” including one who was hospitalized after being “slashed at the neck.” In Fort Lauderdale, a police officer was suspended after he was caught on video aggressively pushing a kneeling woman to the ground.
It wasn’t until Monday afternoon that DeSantis’ office issued a statement, which only made mention of law enforcement efforts.
“Last weekend, he deployed special units of the Florida National Guard to Tampa and South Florida in support of local law enforcement efforts to do all that is necessary to ensure the peace and public safety in our communities,” Helen Aguirre Ferre, a spokeswoman for the governor, said in the statement.
The statement came a few hours after President Donald Trump urged state leaders to “dominate” and arrest disorderly protesters during a conference call, according to a recording made public by The Washington Post.
While Ferre confirmed DeSantis took part in the call, she declined to comment on the call’s contents.
But Trump was clear on his message to governors. He told them to use force against demonstrators and that people arrested at protests should serve between five and 10 years in prison, according to the recording.
“We have to get much tougher,” Trump said. “If you don’t dominate, you’re wasting your time. They are going to run over you, and you’re going to look like a bunch of jerks.”
On the conference call, Trump also urged states to deploy the National Guard “in big numbers.” DeSantis activated the guard on Saturday, according to Ferre.
“Currently, there are 150 guardsmen in Miramar; 150 in Camp Blanding & 100 arrived in Tampa. These especially trained units support law enforcement in many ways i.e. traffic & crowd control, all to preserve the peace & public safety,” Ferre tweeted Sunday afternoon.
As of Monday afternoon, the move to deploy the National Guard was the only announcement the state had made about its plans to respond to protests.
But the governor’s public schedule on Sunday suggested DeSantis talked with state police on how to respond.
For example, DeSantis met Sunday morning with Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen in the Capitol, according to the schedule. The details of what was discussed have not been disclosed.
The governor’s office and FDLE did not immediately respond to questions Monday from The News Service of Florida.
Susan MacManus, a longtime political-science professor at the University of South Florida, said that historically in times of crisis “people want to see leaders in the community, the state and the nation come out and ease their concerns and reassure people.”
“The longer you wait to make a statement the more people begin to question why,” she added.
DeSantis’ quiet response drew criticism from Democrats.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the only Democrat elected statewide, said DeSantis’ silence was “deafening.”
“Unless I missed it — Gov. Ron DeSantis has said NOTHING about protests against police brutality happening across the country & state this weekend. He activated Florida’s National Guard so is definitely aware, and yet NO statement,” Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, tweeted Sunday night.
Other Florida Republican leaders, meanwhile, have commented on the protests, looting and Floyd’s death.
“The killing of George Floyd was heinous & jarring. Americans have the right to make their voices heard & protest peacefully. But violence against law enforcement & our communities are not the answer. We must come together as a state & a nation, not tear each other further apart,” U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, Florida’s former two-term governor, tweeted on Saturday.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., on Monday tweeted that he was concerned about anti-government “extremists who are online calling for attacks on police.”
“Sadly, instead of focusing on the core issues raised by his (Floyd’s) tragic death, the focus is on the violence & lawlessness at protests,” Rubio tweeted. “That must end.”
State Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Howey-in-the-Hills, made headlines for a tweet that featured a camouflage AR-15 and a warning to protesters in Lake County, part of which he represents in the House.
“Attention potential ‘protesters’ coming near Lake County, FL. This is an AR-15 — this will be a very common sight upon illegal entry at any Lake County business — FYI!” Sabatini tweeted on Sunday.
Rep. Cindy Polo, D-Miramar, filed a complaint Monday against Sabatini with House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, arguing the tweet violated the rules of the House for exhibiting “behavior that is contrary to good order and discipline.”
“Especially during times of crisis, people look to our elected officials for leadership and guidance. By intimating that protesters would be met with an AR-15, Rep. Sabatini is openly calling for violence,” Polo said in a statement.
–Ana Ceballos, News Service of Florida
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David S. says
What do you expect from DeSantis he could care less about this state except the Trump supporters. Trump told him to keep his mouth shut…
Fuggetaboutit says
Yup, horrible shame the good people of Florida didn’t vote in Desantis’s Democrat opponent, Andrew Gillum. Now there’s a class act!
Steve says
Sabatini and Desantis ars both cowards. Hiding someplace safe imitating tbe wannabe bully in chief who runs and hides at the first sign of a commotion. No leadership at the top and shit rolls downhill. If this clown is still your boy so be it. I see a scared confused overwhelmed Elected official watching his reelection push go up in flames. See you in November
starryid says
Silence is sometimes golden…..
Steve says
Especially when one doesn’t have anything constructive to say
Jim says
If you break the law you get arrested. If you hurt someone then expect to be hurt yourself. There is no reason what so ever for protesters to get violent. If so, the police and law abiding citizens need to protect themselfs. If your vechicle is being blocked and attacked I have no problem with putting the pedal to the metal
Concerned Citizen says
As a white male in an inter-racial relationship. And having a background in Law Enforcement and Fire Rescue Mr. Floyd’s death is inexcusable. And justice needs to be served. Our Law Enforcement officers must conduct themselves professionally at all times. And realize that they have an oath to uphold.All officers present at that scene need to be charged. No one did anything to stop what was happening. And that makes all present accomplices.
I understand the frustration in the African American community. I have seen the discrimination first hand myself. And it has no place in todays society. However violence and destruction are not the answer.
Looting that store or burning a future housing development does not accomplish anything. I for one cannot understand how knocking out a store windoww and emptying it can be justifiable for anything. And then there’s all the assualts and shooting going on. You demand change yet you’re doing the same thing.
Things have to change and fast. But violence isn’t the answer to the solution
Roy Longo says
Well said Concerned Citizen.
CB from PC says
Thank you for your insights. The poor people of all races who actually live and had neighborhoods and small businesses that were damaged or destroyed will be left holding the bag long after the rioting stops.
Mr. Floyd did not deserve to die, and these Officers have set back police and community trust decades.
The politicians in these cities are also to be held responsible for the riot losses by pulling a David Dinkins move.
Tom Doyle says
All the sheep are following !!
Fuggetaboutit says
The “protesters” I’m watching on television this week are clearly winning over the hearts of all Americans! Keep up the good work!
Percy's mother says
Regarding DeSantis,
1. He’s a military veteran.
2. He is very highly educated.
What have you people done with your lives?
Concerned Citizen says
@ Percy’s Mother
1.) Military Veteran. 16 years with Active and Guard. Honorable Discharge on my DD214. Three deployments overseas with several decorations and numerous ribbons.
2.) 18 years of Public Safety retiring as a Lieutenant from Fire Rescue.
3.) Current Emergency Services Volunteer and Amateur Radio Operator with tons of deployments for emergency relief efforts.
And I don’t care for the current Governor at all. But respect him for his service
That’s just a snippet of my life. Since you’re being so critical what have you done?
Paul says
I’m a veteran, highly educated, and I guess by your standards, a good human being. DeSantis struck my wife and I at the beginning as an aberration to the republican party. He seemed genuinely concerned about education, the environment, and people in general. Thank God he finally has returned to burying his head up Capt. Bone Spurs’ ass and restored the unnatural order.
Richard says
Perhaps Percy’s Mother can fill us in on exactly what DeSantis did in his military career as a naval legal officer, that qualify him? I read that he was a prosecutor at Guantanamo while torture there was still happening, and a legal adviser during some of the more dubious episodes in Iraq. The records also show that DeSantis’s duties included a physical fitness coordinator, a recruiting officer, an assistant urinalysis coordinator, and an awards officer.
Darryl says
The looting and rioting is being insinuated by law enforcement along with white supremists mingling in with the blm crowd. Police have been caught breaking windows at autozone in minneapolis, dropping off pallets of bricks in several major cities to be used as projectiles. They have been seen helping a woman vandalize and have left bait cars to burn. DONT BE FOOLED AMERICA. This is a play for your freedoms.
Gary R says
@Darryl – only one being fooled is you! A video posted online appears to show several officers breaking windows during the weekend protests, but SPD says it’s misleading. https://patch.com/washington/seattle/spd-responds-video-showing-cops-breaking-window
VERIFY: Fact-checking claims about pallets of bricks in protest spots. People have taken photos and videos of bricks near protest sites across the country, but at least some have been there since before protests began.
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/verify/bricks-protests-fact-checking/507-9cb2c41b-ee24-4373-ac38-9d46a130b334
BLM Protesters, Local Militia, Police and a ‘Happy Ending’ in Redding https://anewscafe.com/2020/06/03/redding/blm-protesters-local-militia-police-and-a-happy-ending-in-redding/
Where are you getting your lies from?
Concerned says
I think people are also embracing protests as an opportunity to let off steam after sheltering in place from virus and this tragic event transcends urgency to mitigate spread with social distancing. Violence and looting can’t be tolerated and do not represent those who want to be heard in a positive way. We are better than this as a nation. So many being endangered by this…
Sherry says
DeSantis is NOTHING but a complete cowardly trump sycophant who has no idea how to lead, mush less inspire. Best he keeps silent, as he has nothing intelligent to say! trump will send him some more idiotic words soon. . . unfortunately.