Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) strongarmed criticism from the left, refusing to allow the cancel culture to overpower him.
During an interview on Fox & Friends, DeSantis commented on his recent Chelsea Piers speech where protestors lined the sidewalk, chanting “Shame,” “Shame,” “Shame,” and “Boycott Chelsea Piers.”
“These are leftists,” the governor began, “And the fact of the matter is they are having a spasm about me because we’re winning in Florida. They see that, and they don’t like that. So, they would find something to be able to pitch a fit about, but you know what? I am not going to let them cancel me,” DeSantis said. The governor added, “Honestly, I was a little disappointed. I was hoping to have more protesters,” with a chuckle.
The governor’s criticism came on Sunday from Democrat politicians and LBGTQ activists because of his involvement at a Jewish Leaders Confereracne in New York. The protestors opposed him signing the Parents Parental Rights in Education into law.
The critics said he should not be allowed to speak at the event, organized by the Jewish group Tikvah Fund, over the law he signed to protect the most vulnerable among us – kindergarten thru third grade – from sexual orientation and gender identity indoctrination.
New York officials called on the Manhattan venue to cancel DeSantis’ speech at the Jewish Leaders Conference over the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, primarily because the event takes place in June, labeled Pride month, and because it’s in a neighborhood central to LBGTQ history.
The 43-year-old politician didn’t let the brunt of the protester’s disapproval bother him. On the contrary, according to the New York Post, he relished the controversy as he began his speech.
“You know I saw that there was a little bit of opposition to me coming here. All I can tell you is this: when the left’s having a spasm that just tells you that in Florida, we are winning on the issues that matter,” DeSantis said. “And that’s why I wasn’t gonna let some protest deter me from coming to speak in front of a lot of Florida, future voters of the state of Florida,” he added.