A group of left-wing protesters in Florida staged a sit-in at the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) after the governor signed a slew of conservative legislation.
The group, Dream Defenders, said it was protesting the “entirety” of DeSantis’s governance rather than individual legislation and would not leave his office until the governor spoke with them.
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A group of 14 protesters were arrested Wednesday evening after ignoring warnings to vacate the premises, the Defenders said in a press release obtained by the Washington Examiner. The protesters were given a 20-minute warning and a 30-minute warning and are expected to face a one-year ban from the state Capitol grounds and trespassing charges.
“It is about the entirety of his governance and his attempts to divide the people of Florida by attacking the most vulnerable people,” Akin Olla, a spokesman for Dream Defenders, told the Hill.
“It’s too long of a list, and we’re trying to avoid chasing after each attack but instead unite the people of Florida against DeSantis and his attempts to destroy the remnants of democracy in Florida,” he added.
Authorities cited the “Dream Defenders rule” in removing the protesters. The rule bans overnight stays at the Statehouse. The rule was established after the protesters in the organization occupied the Statehouse in 2013 after the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida.
A lot of loud noises at the Florida Capitol as DeSantis protesters are told they have 30 minutes to vacate. pic.twitter.com/Aw4wFhyjo3
— Douglas Soule (@DouglasSoule) May 3, 2023
Recent legislation out of Florida has included an attempt to limit the scope of education that is taught in public schools, including legislation that bans classroom discussion on gender identity and sexual orientation. The state has also banned abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.
DeSantis also recently rejected the preliminary framework of the College Board’s Advanced Placement African American Studies course, stating the course was “inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.”
Protests against the Florida governor began around 1 p.m. and included speeches, chants, and a human chain that attempted to stop people from entering and leaving the Capitol. Members of the group said they are prepared to protest for days if necessary.
“We are not only asking DeSantis for a meeting; we’re also trying to create a sense of urgency for other people in the country,” Olla said.
“Because he’s not the only governor, this is not the only legislature that’s passing what could be considered extremist policies. There needs to be a national movement to combat people like him, so we’re hoping to spark that,” he continued.
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DeSantis, who won reelection last year in a nearly 20-point victory, is considered a front-runner for the Republican nomination for president should he decide to seek the office.
The governor has not indicated whether he would seek the Oval Office, maintaining that he is focused on the current legislative session, expected to end Friday.
