DeSantis Criticizes Campus Protests over Lack of Historical Understanding and Disrespectful Behavior

During a recent address at the University of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) expressed his concerns regarding the ongoing campus protests across the US. He questioned the motives of the participants, asserting that most of them lacked a clear understanding of the history between Israel and Palestine. DeSantis revealed that the encampment at the University of Florida had lasted only “a few minutes,” and he criticized the behavior of some protesters as “really disrespectful.” He referred to incidents such as replacing the US flag with the Palestinian flag at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and vandalizing a statue of George Washington at George Washington University. DeSantis warned that failure to adhere to appropriate conduct would result in expulsion. The president of the University of Florida, Ben Sasse, praised law enforcement’s efforts to maintain peace on college campuses in Florida and emphasized that police officers aimed to ensure compliance with the law rather than making arrests. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) commended the University of Florida’s approach to handling the protests, stating that free speech is essential, but vandalism and destruction of property should not be tolerated.