On June 26, fourteen members of the human rights group Dream Defenders and other activists were arrested when they occupied the office of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in order to protest a spate of controversial conservative laws. The protestors had initiated the sit-in so as to force a meeting with the governor and gain a platform for their grievances. Dream Defenders was founded by Black women in 2012 after the fatal shooting of African-American student Trayvon Martin. This most recent protest lasted several hours, however, DeSantis remained intransigent and refused to interact with the activists. Consequently, Florida law enforcement charged the peaceful demonstrators with misdemeanor trespass.
While the demonstration began as part of a planned national campaign, the protestors redirected their focus to address various policies within the state. Specifically, they targeted measures promulgated by a conservative-dominated legislature that discriminate against various marginalized communities. For his part, Governor DeSantis has gained notoriety for his support of the “Dont Say Gay” law that restricts discussion of gender and sexuality issues in public schools. DeSantis has also overseen the approval of a bill that bars Florida universities and colleges from expending public funds to support diversity, equity, or inclusion programs. The legislation also enables the firing of tenured staff. Such legislation has led to outcry from the academic community in Florida and across the United States.
The Legalization of Discrimination
Besides gutting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, Governor DeSantis has also overseen the passage of several other bills that demonstrate a palpable antipathy towards minority rights. DeSantis has signed a bill banning abortions after six weeks, restricting health care access for undocumented immigrants and targeting drag shows. The latter provoked accusations of homophobia and transphobia from the LGBTQ community. Beyond these measures, DeSantis has also implemented legislation that requires returning felons to pay legal debts before regaining their right to vote. This move earned DeSantis and others accusations of voter suppression and drawing comparisons to Jim Crow-era tactics in the state.
Dream Defender Protests Gain Media Attention
The protest by Dream Defenders and other organisations was noteworthy for its focus on several key issues relevant to Florida. The activists demanded the overruling of several bills and challenged DeSantis’s prioritisation of wealthy donors and political allies over the needs of minority communities. Despite the arrests, Dream Defenders has called the protest a limited victory and has insisted that the national community must oppose “extremist policies” in Florida and throughout the United States.
Democratic Representative Carlos Smith threw his support behind the protestors, taking to social media to lament the lack of regard Florida authorities appear to have for the constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech. The largely peaceful protest received widespread media attention, with several news outlets covering the demonstration as a part of a larger movement to oppose further alienation of minorities by the conservative government of Florida.
Governor DeSantis’s spokesperson as well as other staff members reportedly ate cake as they monitored the situation from behind a receptionist’s desk. Dream Defenders continues to focus its actions on achieving equity across race, gender, sexuality, and economic status and has vowed to continue protesting such policies until they no longer exist in the state of Florida. For Dream Defenders and its supporters, these policies contradict their belief in a durable, equitable democracy premised on the protection of all its citizens.
