Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a stern warning to protesters on Wednesday, emphasizing that destructive behavior will not be tolerated on college campuses in the Sunshine State.
During a speech at the University of Florida, the Republican governor of the second term expressed his concerns about the protestors who have been actively involved in storming and vandalizing campus buildings. He specifically mentioned that these incidents have been occurring at prestigious institutions such as Columbia University and UCLA.
DeSantis pointed out that Jewish students have also faced restrictions in entering campuses. Furthermore, he highlighted that many of the protestors and activists involved in these incidents are not even enrolled as students at the schools.
According to DeSantis, it is important to study the history of the region in order to understand that there has never been a Palestinian state. Over the course of history, the area was under the control of the Ottoman Empire for a significant period, followed by the British mandate. Subsequently, the United Nations proposed a partition plan, which Israel accepted while the Arabs rejected it, leading to a war in which they were ultimately defeated.
According to DeSantis, it is worrisome that individuals who offer support to Hamas have a limited understanding of the situation. Additionally, he expressed his concern about prestigious higher education institutions in the United States producing graduates who lack critical thinking skills.
According to DeSantis, the actions witnessed on campuses in other states are highly disrespectful. Protestors are seen disrespecting the U.S. flag by pulling it down and replacing it with a Palestinian flag.
Governor DeSantis expressed his dismay at the actions of certain individuals who vandalized a statue of George Washington at George Washington University. He questioned the level of disrespect shown towards someone who played a crucial role in shaping America and emphasized the sacrifices made by those who fought and died for the country.
According to DeSantis, the reason behind such incidents is a lack of leadership on these campuses, allowing them to be overwhelmed. He firmly stated that this issue is not occurring in Florida and will not be accepted.
Governor DeSantis emphasized the gravity of the situation when he stated that if a student were to take a janitor hostage like the incident at Columbia University, the only suitable course of action would be to expel that student immediately.