DeSantis is hardly heard from as protests flare, Trump tells governors to get tough

During a violent and chaotic weekend marked by demonstrations against police brutality, Floridians did not hear from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis, who for the last two months has spent both weekdays and weekends crossing the state promoting his response to the novel coronavirus, 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.

On Sunday, DeSantis spokeswoman Helen Aguirre Ferré issued a brief statement to the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times bureau in Tallahassee:

“Yesterday, Governor DeSantis activated the National Guard and currently there are 150 guardsmen in Miramar, 350 in Camp Blanding and 100 arrived in Tampa at 4 pm today. Cities may put in a mission request from the Florida National Guard through their county emergency management which is the same process followed for hurricanes. [Tampa] Mayor [Jane] Castor, in conjunction with Hillsborough County, requested Florida National Guard support for critical infrastructure protection and local law enforcement. These specially trained units support law enforcement in various ways such as traffic and crowd control, all that is necessary for preserving the peace and public safety.”

Trump’s call with governors

On a Monday conference call with governors, President Donald Trump urged the state leaders to “dominate” and arrest disorderly protesters during a conference call, according to a recording made public by The Washington Post.

While Ferré 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.”

About 30 minutes after the News Service of Florida published this story late Monday afternoon, the governor’s office released a statement from DeSantis:

“Florida has zero tolerance for violence, rioting and looting. George Floyd’s murder was appalling, and the Minnesota perpetrators need to be brought to justice, but this cannot be used as a pretext for violence in our Florida communities.

“I am in constant contact with state and local leaders, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Florida National Guard and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). We have devoted significant resources, including the mobilization of 700 Florida National Guard soldiers who are specially trained to support law enforcement. I have also worked with FHP to coordinate more than 1,300 sworn Florida Highway Patrol troopers to support local law enforcement efforts. We will continue to do everything necessary to keep residents safe.”

The statement went on to name all the public officials, including President Trump, who DeSantis had spoken with in the past 48 hours.

Criticism mounts

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 GOP leaders speak out

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 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.

Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Chief Mary Ellen Klas contributed to this report.

This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 5:19 PM.