DeSantis addresses pro-Palestinian protests at University of Florida

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference in Gainesville on Wednesday.

DeSantis spoke at the University of Florida alongside State University Chancellor Ray Rodrigues and Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Director Dave Kerner.

Speaking over chants of “Free Palestine” and “Shame” at a campus plaza, the officials discussed “Florida’s success maintaining law and order” during so-called “pro-Hamas protests” on college campuses. DeSantis, Rodrigues and Kerner spent much of the news conference discussing pro-Palestine protests at schools in several other states to juxtapose them with Florida.

Despite interruptions of college graduation ceremonies in other states, DeSantis reported that no protestors disturbed Florida’s commencements.

DeSantis announced he will soon approve over $500 million for “safety” at Florida’s K-12 schools. He will also sign off on $20 million for safety and infrastructure improvements at the state’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

University of Florida President Ben Sasse also made a rare media appearance. He described UF as “the most Jewish university in the country” and thanked law enforcement for shutting down on-campus protests, maintaining “law and order.”

None of the officials took questions from reporters.

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