Twitter condemns Ron DeSantis after he snaps at students for wearing 'ridiculous' masks
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis berated a group of college kids during a visit to the University of South Florida on Wednesday because they were wearing masks.
DeSantis – a right-wing extremist and potential 2024 presidential candidate – was taking part in a press conference about increased funding for cybersecurity education. But before beginning his address, the governor stormed past his podium and waved his finger in a student's face.
“You do not have to wear those masks,” DeSantis snarled. “I mean, please take them off. Honestly, it’s not doing anything and we’ve gotta stop with this COVID theater. So if you want to wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous.”
The governor then scoffed and shook his head in disgust as if he had been personally discommoded. As of Monday, more than 70,000 Floridians had lost their lives to COVID-19. Nationally, the death toll has topped 951,000.
Tampa Bay's WFLA News Channel 8 noted:
The governor’s opposition to masks is no secret. He made a series of moves last year to block mask mandates, even signing an executive order withholding state funds from schools that impose them. In February, he endorsed a House proposal to strip $200 million in funding from 12 school districts that defied his order banning mask mandates. Last month, he said parents should be given the power to sue school districts if they have a child who 'was illegally forced-masked this year in Florida.'
Watch the encounter below:
'This is ridiculous': @GovRonDeSantis scolds students for wearing face masks during his @USouthFlorida visit http://bit.ly/3vx0DaJ\u00a0pic.twitter.com/TFeC6t6wL9— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA NEWS) 1646245107
Twitter blasted DeSantis for his inappropriate and pointless grandstanding.
He\u2019s a horrible horrible soulless person and is unfit for office. This was unnecessarily rude and obnoxious.— Jamie Schler (@Jamie Schler) 1646247001
He\u2019s not their peer, but agreed. It was highly inappropriate of him to say this and intimidate them— darkbrainmatter (@darkbrainmatter) 1646247103
I\u2019m a USF professor and I\u2019m appalled that the GOVERNOR OF OUR STATE has come to campus and embarrassed our students over their efforts to follow appropriate public health guidelines (remember, CDC considers Hills county an area of high COVID risk and recommends indoor masking).— Sports are the reward for a functioning society (@Sports are the reward for a functioning society) 1646248038
DeSantis, you have no idea what\u2019s going on with those people or at their home. Maybe they are at high risk or have someone at home who is. It\u2019s none of your business if someone chooses to wear a mask and it\u2019s certainly not ridiculous.— Mary Robinette (@Mary Robinette) 1646248348
"Florida boy gets angry at more mature students for wearing face masks."— Dale Edwards (@Dale Edwards) 1646246320
Verbally berating and physically intimidating (note the finger pointing) children is abuse. Just because it happens in public and on camera doesn't make it okay. \n\nIt is not okay.— (((Sasha Sinclair))) \ud83c\udfa6\ud83c\udfa8\ud83d\udcdd\ud83d\udc9b (@(((Sasha Sinclair))) \ud83c\udfa6\ud83c\udfa8\ud83d\udcdd\ud83d\udc9b) 1646247949
1,000,000 people would disagree...if they could talk again @GovRonDeSantis— Chris Duncan (@Chris Duncan) 1646245372
