Florida Governor Ron DeSantis traveled to New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois on Monday, February 20, 2023, to promote tougher laws on crime and push his “law and order” policies.[0] The final stop of the day included a speech that was merely promoted (not hosted) by the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the city’s largest police union, at the rental hall of the Elmhurst Knights of Columbus, 537 South York Street in Elmhurst.[0] People protesting either in favor or against Ron DeSantis assembled on either side of the road.[1] Neither the City of Elmhurst nor the Elmhurst Police Department were associated with the event.[1]
DeSantis told a group of police enforcement officers on Monday: “If you’re disenchanted, if you don’t think things are going to turn around wherever you are, not only in New York or anyplace, just know that there’s a state that’s doing it right. There’s a state that will value your service, it has been said.”[2]
Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ announced plans to visit Chicago, which caused backlash and harsh criticism from Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker who labeled him as “homophobic.”[3] Pritzker said, “There is simply no place in Chicago for a right-wing extremist like Ron DeSantis, and I am disappointed in FOP leadership for inviting him to speak to officers. DeSantis’ record of trying to erase the LGBTQ community, banning books on Black history and much more is not in line with my values, the values of our community, or the values of the rank and file police officers who I believe have no interest in getting swept up in culture wars and national Republican Party politics.”[4]
Mayor Eric Adams preempted DeSantis’ speech by highlighting the most controversial aspects of the Florida governor’s record.[5] He tweeted, “Welcome to NYC, @GovRonDeSantis, a place where we don’t ban books, discriminate against our LGBTQ+ neighbors, use asylum seekers as props, or let the government stand between a woman and health care.[6] We’re happy to teach you something about values while you’re here.[7]
0. “Blue State Democrats trip over themselves to denounce DeSantis visit” The Capitolist, 20 Feb. 2023, https://thecapitolist.com/illinois-democrats-trip-over-themselves-to-denounce-desantis-speech-even-before-he-delivered-it/
1. “Demonstrators Support, Denounce Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at Chicago FOP Hosted Speech in Elmhurst” Arlington Cardinal, 21 Feb. 2023, https://www.arlingtoncardinal.com/2023/02/demonstrators-support-denounce-florida-gov-ron-desantis-at-chicago-fop-hosted-speech-in-elmhurst/
2. “NYC Mayor Adams chides Florida Gov. DeSantis for lax stance on gun laws” Yid Info, 22 Feb. 2023, https://yidinfo.net/nyc-mayor-adams-chides-florida-gov-desantis-for-lax-stance-on-gun-laws
3. “DeSantis speaks to Chicago police officers in Elmhurst” CBS Chicago, 21 Feb. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/ron-desantis-chicago-fop-speech-police-officers
4. “DeSantis gets caught up in Chicago police politics” NBC News, 20 Feb. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/desantis-gets-caught-chicago-police-politics-rcna71741
5. “During NYC visit, Gov. DeSantis complains about ‘woke’ politicians, avoids thorny issues like abortion, book bans and …” Brunswick News, 21 Feb. 2023, https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/national_news/during-nyc-visit-gov-desantis-complains-about-woke-politicians-avoids-thorny-issues-like-abortion-book/article_59a328aa-ad86-5e54-9eca-ea9b4170e9f5.html
6. “Governor DeSantis Blasts NY’s Bail Reform Law On Staten Island” 710 WOR, 21 Feb. 2023, https://710wor.iheart.com/content/2023-02-21-governor-desantis-blasts-nys-bail-reform-law-on-staten-island/
7. “DeSantis makes stops in New York, Philadelphia to promote tougher laws on crime” WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale, 20 Feb. 2023, https://wsvn.com/news/politics/desantis-makes-stops-in-new-york-philadelphia-to-promote-tougher-laws-on-crime/
