The Republican Party of Sarasota County is calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to remove Sarasota County School Board member Tom Edwards from office, accusing him of encouraging the violation of federal immigration law and promoting disruption of law enforcement activities.
Edwards was filmed speaking during an anti-ICE protest on Jan. 10, criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the “murder” of Renee Good in reference to an incident where an ICE agent shot an American woman in the head in Minneapolis. Edwards’ remarks also prompted Board Chair Bridget Ziegler to introduce a resolution meant to reinforce the District’s support for ICE actions taken at Sarasota schools.
In a video shared on Facebook by the Sarasota County School District Transparency Project, Edwards described Good as “a mother of three children — the youngest one just 6 years old — someone who mattered and whose life should never have ended this way.”
“Please know that just yesterday I consulted our Superintendent and our Attorney regarding our rights. As ICE agents entering our schools, they must produce a warrant in order to enter our schools. But judging from ICE behaviors, up to and including this week, Renee Good’s murder, I am positive that cannot be trusted,” Edwards said.
Edwards also serves as Executive Director of Project Pride SRQ, which also previously prompted calls for his removal from office by the Sarasota GOP. Now, the Sarasota GOP’s executive committee says Edwards should be removed from office for speaking to protestors at the rally and relaying “distorted fictional accounts of events that took place in Minnesota between a law enforcement agent and a protester.”
“This is the sort of dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric by political leaders that has led to violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in other states, including Minnesota, Illinois and California,” the county GOP said in a statement issued Sunday.
The GOP statement was issued days after Ziegler criticized Edwards on Facebook on Jan. 13, simultaneously announcing a resolution indicating that Sarasota Schools will cooperate with ICE.
“Our most liberal School Board Member headlined the anti-ICE political rally in downtown Sarasota this past weekend, delivering wild claims that have confused and angered many in our community,” Zeigler wrote.
“Following this political charade, it’s time to set the record straight — clearly and unequivocally: Our school district will ALWAYS cooperate and collaborate with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies — including ICE — to ensure the safety of our students, staff and entire community.”
The Board will consider Ziegler’s proposed resolution during a public meeting Tuesday. It would commit Sarasota County Schools and its police department to full cooperation with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including ICE, and prohibit the adoption of any additional barriers or policies that could hinder enforcement actions on school property. It adds that any Board member, employee, contractor or volunteer who interferes with lawful law enforcement actions could face disciplinary action.
“Any such conduct shall be deemed a violation of this resolution, district policy, and potentially applicable laws, subjecting the individual to disciplinary action up to and including termination, as well as referral for criminal investigation if warranted,” the resolution states.
Edwards told Florida Politics on Monday that calls for his removal are politically motivated and criticized the Ziegler resolution for not meaningfully addressing school safety. He said his comments during the protest were intended to emphasize existing District policies designed to protect students and staff, not to obstruct law enforcement, and he accused Republican leadership of using the topic of immigration enforcement for political gain.
“I think the Board Chair and her husband are toxic in our state and are trying to create wedge issues and culture war issues,” Edwards said. “I think I’m living rent-free in their heads and they’re trying to find ways to advance their own politics when I’m only concerned about student safety and educational outcomes.”
Edwards reiterated that he supports District policies meant to protect students, but stood by criticism of ICE in the face of incidents like Good’s.
“The policies that we have are the very best to protect students, staff and our community,” Edwards said. “But as we saw in Minneapolis — and, frankly, across the country — we’re dealing with a group of deputized vigilantes through Homeland Security that often seems out of control.”
The Sarasota GOP touted Republican support for “law and order and democracy,” and called for Edward’s removal from elected office for his speech. They also called for Republican supporters to show up at Tuesday’s School Board meeting in favor of Zeigler’s resolution.
“As a sitting School Board member, Edwards is actively undermining democracy and the law which makes him a horrific example to students, and he ought to be ashamed,” the GOP wrote in the statement.
“As they often do, Edwards’ radical followers will be at Tuesday’s meeting in hopes of disrupting the lawful business of the Sarasota County School Board. All individuals who believe in following the law and supporting law enforcement should attend the School Board meeting on Tuesday at 10 a.m. to let our Republican majority know we support them in working with law enforcement to keep students and our community safe.”
–Jesse Mendoza, Florida Politics
Laurel says
They are not the GOP, and they are the ones who are politically motivated, after they referred to Edwards as “Our most liberal school board member…” and his “radical followers.” That’s pretty damned obvious.
They claim to be the supporters of “law and order,” while kowtowing to the Felon in Chief! When are these people ever going to grow a spine? I don’t think I have ever seen more ass kissing in my life!
Okay, start making the same old, tired excuses, then go home, stay off the streets and be good little boys and girls who never question the demons.
Just remember, that’s not what our country is about. USA is supposed to be “Land of the free, and home of the brave.” Not the land of conform or die.
Maria D. says
You must be one of the radical liberals. He has no place on a school board influencing the young minds. He is disruptive and obnoxious. When he doesn’t get his way he walks out. He’s not an adult.
Not sure why you had to bring Trump up as most liberals do. He has nothing to do with this school board member.
Pierre Tristam says
Trump has everything to do with the fascist tactics, the violence, the terror ICE goons have unleashed on our streets, in our workplaces, in our schools, in our courts. The question isn’t Tom’s demonstrating. It’s why you’re not–why you’re here cheering goons and justifying terror. Of course your calling it the “Democrat” party tells us all we need to know.
Don’t throw stones says
Ice is doing a great job, all while radical left continue to attack them, but even worse the radical left storm into a church a place of god, and your complaining about this. So sad !!
Capt Bill Hanagan says
“When he doesn’t get his way he walks out” .. sounds vaguely familiar to somebody wanting to invade Greenland based on a perceived Nobel prize snub but maybe i am getting things mixed up ..
Laurel says
Maria D: Actually, yes Trump does have something to do with school boards. They are infiltering local communities. Why else would this board want the Governor, a political higher up, remove a board member who had been duly elected by the people? Elections don’t matter?
You have a Hispanic name. Make sure you have your papers on you at all times.
Concerned Citizen says
Laurel, that’s a pretty repulsive comment to make and further demonstrates the ignorance so many Trumpers seem to have to navigate life with.
Pierre Tristam says
Nothing repulsive about it, especially since Laurel meant it snarkily. I mean it literally when I say the same to my son-in-law. Unfortunately, it won’t matter in this society where no one ought to have to carry papers to start with, get picked up, beaten up or killed either way, and regress us at every step toward a barbaric society. The only thing your precious trumpers are willingly navigating is our way to barbarism.
Dusty says
Good for them then.
R.S. says
So much for First Amendment rights in the GOP-State of Florida.
Bo Peep says
Hey got to say what he wanted to say didn’t he? There are still consequences for doing so…
R.S. says
Bo Peep, freedom with governmentally imposed CONSEQUENCES, is a contradiction in terms! In the free marketplace of ideas, such a notion is too much of a damper to allow new ideas to emerge or wrong ideas to be righted.
Jim says
In Trump’s America, you are only allowed to protest against the left and woke. Anything else is considered anti-American and you must be censured, removed from any office held and banished from society. But Trumpers can be coarsely vocal and hateful about anything that they don’t like and can get physically violent with those they oppose.
I’m sick of this one-sided version of “democracy” and I think most reasonable people feel the same. MAGA, enjoy it while you can. As Trump says, retribution is coming in November!,
Maria D. says
Are you kidding me? Storming churches and rioting and destroying property is the liberal agenda. The truth is that many Americans put virtue signaling above public safety.
The activist judges, the Democrat party, and a compliant media are working together to construct yet another false narrative in their insane attempt to harm Donald Trump – if they would only expend this kind of energy on making sound policy proposals.
Kennan says
I’m sorry Maria.
Trump and his party have no policies, and they are not interested in governance.
Boy do they have an agenda though! That agenda doesn’t include you though.
Greg says
Wow, I’m a republican, but I thought speech was free as long as it was not slanderous. Welcome to China?
Pierre Tristam says
Welcome to Florida, rather.
KK says
Shouldn’t Ms. Zeigler be out scouting the bars for her next menage a trois? She has no business “setting an example” for children.
Maria D. says
I hope DeSantis boots him from the school board. We don’t need activists on school boards. He is a big mouth and a trouble maker and he polarizes board meetings with his Rhetoric. He has been encouraging violations of federal immigration law and promoting disruption of law enforcement activities. His actions are overly political for a school board role. He is encouraging violation of federal immigration laws and his comments are inappropriate for an elected school board member.
Kennan says
Maria??
You are pushing the political wedge points you say you are against.
The only persons breaking immigration laws is ICE itself.
PAY ATTENTION.
Don’t throw stones says
Ice is wonderful stop protecting gang members and ALL the illegals that Biden let pour into this country. Better yet have respect and stop storming churches !!!
CH says
Well I wouldn’t want my children around that woman and her dirty sex games.
Dusty says
Yeah, because everyone knows he is an idiot now.
R.S. says
The governor? Yup! You got that right!
Susan says
Retaliation is the name of the game. James comey, bolden, news stations. Kidnapping kindergarten kids at their graduations by masked men. Remember when republicans deported a us citizen child with cancer or when they shot a mom in the head or abused people in detention and claimed amnesty. When will the republican terror end?
Kennan says
It’s amusing to read all the hate filled, fact, redacted, intellectually absent, and most of all politically motivated lies that I’ve seen so many try to sell.
Well, all of this would be amusing if it wasn’t so sad. So depraved.
Even the most masterful spinster of lies and deceit couldn’t win a case in court defending ICE. Defending masks. Masks used for anonymity. Brutal force used on citizens documented or not. Changing narratives like the wind. First, it is murders and rapists, now it’s accents and/Or skin color. Creating chaos to somehow try to justify pepper balls, broken windows, broken ribs, Eye sockets, and finally murder. There will be more.
I am really ashamed for this country. You never initiate para military action, and threaten military incursion into American cities unless there is a problem. We have a president that creates a problem in cities all over the country, then use his force to correct said problems. Blue cities only.
We have a president that pardons 1,675 January 6, insurrectionists That attacked the capital, threatened to hang the vice president, wiped feces on the walls and threatened to kill democratic members of Congress. Oh, last we forget the 150 + Police officers, injured, and named that faithful day of January 6, 2021.
We have a president that pardons a Nicaraguan drug smuggler while lying about Venezuela bringing fentanyl into our country in order to attack it for oil. No congressional oversight. Nothing. The president now thinks it is his right and necessity to take Greenland. And attack on NATO. We have military presence there already. We need Greenland? At the end of the day nobody knows why until Donald J Trump tells them why. This is authoritarianism 101.
What I am saying now has everything to do with what is happening in small communities and counties in Florida and around the south in particular.
Wake up and follow the breadcrumbs, Hansel. These are the kind of events that poison the water supply with a runoff that affects local governments and school boards with not just lies, but acceptance of the unacceptable and defense of the in defensible.
Trump‘s irresponsibility and reckless actions could get us all killed. He is going out of his way to lay the groundwork for at the very least……. A global trade war, and at worst World War 3! this is not hyperbole.
Mark my words MAGA. If America is lucky enough to survive Trump, when the smoke clears all of you that thought this Was OK, will have a hell of a time getting dinner reservations, or going to the store, or a little league game with your kids! you wanna know why? People are gonna know who you are. people are gonna know that you were so stupid that you thought all these bad things only happen to Black people,Brown people, and immigrants. no dummy! These things happen to anyone that is not in line with a fascist. Anyone wearing the wrong colored shirt. Anyone making eye contact with certain people for too long.
What’s happening to our country is happening to school boards that don’t understand that a man’s humanity has nothing to do with his job, and the community he serves. That’s political! The same political moniker you gleefully throw around anyone’s neck you disagree with.
These things are all related. I’m so sick and tired of how fucking stupid this country has become. How unserious, how blatantly hateful and racist so many of you are.
Beyond hope. Beyond help. That’s what so many of you are.
JML says
At this present time, Trump and ICE are the best things that could possibly happen to The United States of America. God bless the agenda to rid the country of the filth.
Kennan says
Must of hit a nerve.
Now we know who’s who. Showing your colors as well as YOUR filth.