HIS ‘CULTURE WARS’ ARE RACIST, UNDEMOCRATIC, AND PERVERT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND PRINCIPLES OF U.S. AND FLORIDA GOVERNANCE!
THE EGREGIOUS LAWS AND BILLS SUPPORTING DESANTIS’S RUSH TOWARD AUTOCRACY ARE IN PROGRESS!
White Supremacist ideology has been FORCED on the people in Florida since 2019 by the DeSantis Administration. As a result, almost daily, a democratic institution serving all Floridians is being assaulted, or an underserved population is being dehumanized with misinformation and abuse of power. Here is a partial list:
White Supremacist ideology has been FORCED on the people in Florida since 2019 by the DeSantis Administration. As a result, almost daily, a democratic institution serving all Floridians is being assaulted, or an underserved population is being dehumanized with misinformation and abuse of power. Here is a partial list:
• ATTACKS on PUBILC and PRIVATE EDUCATION:
• Removal/Whitewash Revision of the AP AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES COURSE: a blatantly racist attack on learning the factual history, culture, and issues of 17% of Florida’s population: (337,159 Black Persons of African Ancestry)
• Individual Freedom Act (Stop Woke Act): banning ‘Critical Race Theory,‘ which refers to an academic examination of institutional racism. A federal judge blocked enforcement of this Act in higher education and workplaces – It was never taught in younger grades!
• HR 1: So-called School Choice (vouchers): A poorly conceived bill deluding low-income families into sending their children to private schools when most of these private schools fail within two years. Costing $4 Billion in taxpayer money, this bill decimates public education.
• Decimation of NEW COLLEGE: This highly ranked liberal arts college was attacked when DeSantis fired its president, loaded its board of directors with his cronies, and insisted on a Christian-based curriculum.
• BANNING BOOKS IN K-12: There are hundreds of books banned or being reviewed for banning. Classics, like “The Bluest Eye,” are being denied. Anything dealing with LGBTQ+ is being excluded. DeSantis still doesn’t seem to understand that if you are born LGBTQ+, a person can’t be groomed for it. Schools and librarians that don’t remove or cover up all books in the classroom face criminal charges. I wonder how many teachers we’ll lose over this when we already have a severe shortage of teachers. This book banning is so “1984”, wholly undemocratic.
• ATTACKS on WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE CHOICES: criminalizing abortion options, e.g., mifepristone; eliminating methods of contraception.
• Attacks on the LGBTQIA+ population: Communities are constantly afraid of reprisals, e.g., employment opportunities; transgender healthcare needs.
• House Bill 1557 (Don’t say Gay): banned instruction on gender identity and sexual education in K-3 and restricted teaching in higher grades; Banning transgender students from athletic teams. The GOP is persecuting LGBTQ+, especially Trans people.
• Attacks on Gun Safety: Permit-less Carry – Makes concealed weapons available without permits (eliminates background checks, training, fingerprinting, and obtaining a license); not banning assault weapons.
• Immigration: Deceptive and cruel treatment of Venezuelan immigrants used as political props.
• Voting Suppression: DeSantis’s Voting Police Force falsely threatened imprisonment of more than 20 Black and Brown persons who Tallahassee itself misled!
FLORIDA NOW REACTS:
Debbie Deland, FLNOW President, said, “How can any of us be silent? With more to come, these things are not freedom, are not American, don’t respect the first amendment, and kill the value of our public and private school systems from K-12 through College and post-college work. It is a disgrace. This man can’t be allowed to continue. He is a shameless racist.”
CALL TO ACTION:
Know the facts and speak out clearly; educate others, vote informed; call/email/visit your legislative leaders and let them know the weight of your concern; participate in demonstrations; write letters to the editor, and more. We must stop this downward spiral toward tyranny. Never be silent.
Florida NOW: is an intersectional grassroots organization that promotes feminist ideals, leads societal change, eliminates discrimination, and protects the equal rights of all women and girls in all aspects of social, political, and economic life. It is the country’s largest civil rights organization fighting for women’s rights.
