The following Letter to the Editor was published in The Daily Sun on June 24, 2023.
Recently, Neo-nazi groups waving swastikas and other banners with hate-filled messages, gathered outside of Disney World to object to Disney’s support of LGBQT citizens.
Several members of the group displayed “DeSantis 2024” flags. As in past similar situations, Governor DeSantis failed to criticize the Nazi protesters.
DeSantis was, however, outspoken at a campaign engagement in North Carolina where he said “I also look forward to, as president, restoring the name of Fort Bragg to our great military base in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It’s an iconic name and iconic base, and we’re not gonna let political correctness run amok.”
Now named Fort Liberty, the military facility was one of 10 installations named after confederates. A Commission of U.S. Military leaders recommended the name “Bragg” be changed to “Liberty.”
General Braxton Bragg served in the confederacy; a cause grounded in the institution of slavery. Historians agree that Bragg was not an effective leader. To name a fort after a man who advocated the overthrow of the United States is a travesty only recently corrected.
Failing to denounce Nazis, while praising leaders of the confederacy, tells us a lot about DeSantis, his values, and qualifications for higher office.
Jane Merriam, Punta Gorda
Image Credits: Fran Dance/Charlotte Dems
