'Turn on off-road mode': Florida politician jokes about driving over protestors
Miami New Times reports a member of Miami-Dade County's GOP Executive Committee joked about running over protesters with his car as people took to the streets for the "No Kings" protests.
In a June 13 tweet, District 22 committeeman Chris Barcenas reposted a video of a man dancing in his car and singing to Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" with the caption, "Driving home from work knowing DeSantis gave permission to the good people of Florida to go car bowling this weekend."
Barcenas added, "Turn on off-road mode."
The post was still available on X on Monday, preceding later posts trying to imply right-wing assassin, Vance Boelter, was a Democrat.
Miami New Times reports Barcenas is a former member of the Proud Boys who protested at the Capitol on January 6 but did not enter the building and was not charged with any crimes related to January 6. He later testified before the U.S. House Select Committee on the January 6 riot, detailing the Proud Boys' involvement in the insurrection and his involvement with the organization and another local right-wing group, Floridians First. Barcenas claims he is no longer involved with the Proud Boys.
Last week, at the onset of anti-Trump protests, Gov. Ron DeSantis reminded Floridians that they do not have to worry about hitting protesters with their cars if they are surrounded and feel threatened.
"We also have a policy that if you are driving on one of their streets and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have the right to flee for your safety," DeSantis said during an appearance on the Rubin Report podcast. "And so if you drive off and you hit one of these people, that's their fault for impinging on you."
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Miami defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh told reporters he was concerned about DeSantis’ message.
“The right to use deadly force in Florida only occurs when you reasonably fear death or great bodily harm; you don’t get free rein to hit protesters just because they are around your vehicle," he said.
Read the full Miami New Times report at this link.
