'They Don't Say It's Insurrection': DeSantis Calls Out Leftist Capitol Takeovers During Jacksonville Speech

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

During a recent press conference on "Biden Border Crisis" in Jacksonville, Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis was asked about a new policy requiring events at the Capitol to align with state agency missions. DeSantis responded by expressing his support for free speech and peaceful demonstrations, but also spoke out against the takeover of state capitals, which he noted has occurred in other states.

DeSantis went on to criticize what he saw as a double standard in the media's coverage of such takeovers. "It's interesting if they're doing that from the left then the media says that's democracy in action they don't say it's an insurrection if you take over a capital because of that," he said.

The governor went on to clarify that his administration has been supportive of people's right to speak their minds, but not at the expense of hijacking or interrupting the functioning of government. "You don't have a right to hijack and do like a heckler's veto and to stop the functioning of government," he said.

DeSantis concluded by stating that his office would follow up with the reporter who asked the question for more information about the policy in question.

DeSantis' comments come amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. The incident resulted in multiple deaths and injuries, as well as damage to the Capitol building. The event has been widely condemned by political leaders from both parties, with many calling it an attack on democracy itself.

While some on the political left have defended similar takeovers of state capitals by progressive groups as an exercise of First Amendment rights, many have also condemned such actions as disruptive and counterproductive. DeSantis' comments reflect the ongoing debate over how to balance the right to free speech with the need to maintain order and stability in government.