Ron DeSantis supports a bill preventing the removal of Confederate monuments and other memorials in Florida

Share
Confederate memorial
Protest against a Confederate memorial on the grounds of Hillsborough County administrative courthouse in Tampa, Florida. By Seán Kinane / WMNF News (27 June 2017).

©2024 The News Service of Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday lent support to legislation that seeks to prevent the removal and destruction of historic monuments from public property.

While DeSantis said he had not seen House and Senate proposals (HB 395 and SB1122) on the issue, he said he is “100 percent against removing monuments.”

He cited a 2021 law that was designed to crack down on protests that turn violent.

“We created some protections when we did the anti-rioting legislation (in 2021), because people were trying to topple stuff. So, we added some penalties there,” DeSantis said. “But I think it’s totally appropriate for the Legislature to say, ‘You know what, we’re going to stop the madness.’”

DeSantis addressed the issue during an appearance in Jacksonville, amid a debate in the city about removing monuments erected to honor the Confederacy.

Mayor Donna Deegan in December ordered the removal of a “Women of the Southland” monument that had stood in Springfield Park since 1915.

“I heard people in Jacksonville want to take down Andrew Jackson,” DeSantis said. “What, are we going to rename the city? I mean, come on.”

The Senate bill would give the governor power to suspend or remove local officials who violate proposed state prohibitions on moving or destroying monuments.

Also, people who approve the removal or destruction could face restoration costs.

In some cases, the state would withhold arts, cultural, and historic preservation funding.

While the House bill wouldn’t give DeSantis the power to remove local officials from office, it would give people and groups standing to file civil lawsuits over monument removals or destruction.

The measure would also direct courts to invalidate local ordinances on displacing memorials.

You may also like

The Scoop: Fri. Oct. 4, 2024, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF

The deadline to register to vote is Monday. While in...

Tampa organization connects residents to mental health support after Helene

One week after Hurricane Helene, recovery efforts are still underway...

Clearwater Beach still recovering after Hurricane Helene

Residents are still recovering after Hurricane Helene brought strong storm...

Port Tampa Bay strike of longshoremen
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard will go to ports where longshoremen are on strike

DeSantis also issued an executive order with additional steps to...

Ways to listen

WMNF is listener-supported. That means we don't advertise like a commercial station, and we're not part of a university.

Ways to support

WMNF volunteers have fun providing a variety of needed services to keep your community radio station alive and kickin'.

Follow us on Instagram

Down n Dirty
Player position: