Miami, FL — Once again, Governor Ron DeSantis is using his office to punish those who disagree with him. This time his target is the Tampa Bay Rays. DeSantis has blocked state funding for the Tampa Bay Rays partly because the baseball team “spoke out against gun violence in the wake of back-to-back gun-related massacres.”
DeSantis has used his office to retaliate against voters, organizations, and even school districts that disagree with his self-serving politics. Last week, DeSantis threatened the Special Olympics with a $27.5 million fine for a vaccine requirement. In April, he signed legislation to attack Disney after they spoke out against his “Don’t Say Gay’ bill. DeSantis also targeted local school districts that implemented mask mandates in February and signed a congressional map that violates Florida’s Fair Districts provisions and silences Black communities who didn’t vote for DeSantis.
It’s no surprise that Floridians are speaking out about stopping gun violence. 2022 has already seen more mass shootings than days this year. Meanwhile, DeSantis supports making it easier for dangerous people to get weapons, including “criminal carry” legislation which has been opposed by law enforcement because it makes it easier for criminals and abusers to carry hidden firearms.
“Gun violence is now the leading cause of death in children, but instead of addressing the issue, Ron DeSantis is focused on punishing anyone who speaks out about stopping it,” said Florida Democratic Party Spokesperson Kobie Christian. “While DeSantis claims Florida is a free state, this is just the latest in a long pattern of Ron DeSantis using his power to retaliate against anyone who speaks out against him – whether it’s a school district or major employer in Florida.”
