Byron Donalds demands FSU denounce student group’s pro-Hamas demonstration

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., denounced a demonstration on Florida State University’s campus where a pro-Hamas student organization advocated for “Palestinian resistance.”

Students for a Democratic Society engaged in a protest against Israel’s militaristic response on Hamas as they shouted and yelled “shame” at pro-Israel counter-protesters Wednesday. Pro-Hamas protesters shouted, “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win.”

“I fully expect FSU to denounce this pro-terrorist pathetic use of the First Amendment on the campus of my alma mater, @FloridaState,” Donalds said as he commented on Florida’s Voice social media post.

“These silver-spooned snowflakes don’t represent the Garnet & Gold or the Red, White, & Blue,” he said. “They represent the scum in our society.”

The Students for a Democratic Society’s president, Joel Nunez, told Florida’s Voice that the violence caused by Hamas is a “direct result” of Israeli occupation.

“Negotiations haven’t worked and Israel continues to depress Palestine,” Nunez said. “It is a justified response to want to fight back against them.”

Republican Party of Florida Vice Chairman Evan Power also vocally expressed his disapproval of the demonstration.

“As an alumnus of @FloridaState let me say @FSUSDS is an embarrassment to the university and should be condemned and shamed by the rest of the student body,” he said on social media.

Additionally, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said that he continued to see “sickening” reports of pro-Hamas rallies on universities across the state.

“I urge all university leaders to clearly denounce Iran-backed Hamas terrorism and do whatever it [takes] to keep Jewish students safe,” he said.

Donalds previously spoke out against Hamas’ invasion onto Israeli land by expressing his support for the Jewish state.

“The BIG LIE that many in the Democrat Party, the media, higher education, corporate America, and Hollywood keep saying is that Israel is living on ‘stolen land,’” he said. “This is a LIE and propaganda that Hamas is using to justify the barbaric killing of JEWS.”

The representative also called out Biden for taking three days to address the nation on the issue.

“For those 3 days, Americans have been stranded in Israel without answers,” he said. “50+ of my constituents remain in Israel at this hour and Americans are being held hostage. Where’s the evacuation plan?”

“It’s time to activate the Civil Reserve Air Fleet and get our people home,” he said.

Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., is another lawmaker who has been strongly advocating for Israel to suppress the terrorist attack and protect their citizens.

Mills personally traveled to Israel to help evacuate 32 American citizens from the war-torn communities.

“I went in [and] was very thankful [to be] helping the Biden administration, who has failed to do their job,” Mills told Fox Wednesday. “They have no plan, they have no strategy to get these Americans out – who are trapped [and] left behind.”

The congressman told Florida’s Voice that he intends on going back and helping more Americans.

Editor’s Note: Florida State University has not responded to Florida’s Voice in regards to their statement on the pro-Hamas campus demonstration and Rep. Byron Donalds’ comments.