Crist Campaign Praises Florida Rising, a Group Denounced by Sheriffs and Criticized for Pro-Socialism Beliefs

By Lydia Nusbaum

Published Nov. 7, 2022, 4:04 p.m. ET | Updated Nov. 7, 2022

TAMPA (FLV) – Charlie Crist’s running mate, Karla-Hernandez Mats, praised an organization called Florida Rising, which has been denounced by dozens of sheriffs as an “anti-cop” group.

“Shout out to @FLRising for organizing and advocate for economic and racial Justice across Florida,” Mats said in a tweet.

Who’s ready to #dancetothepolls tomorrow?! Tampa knows how to “Parks to the Polls” and have fun while making sure our people exercise their right to vote.
Shout out to @FLRising for organizing and advocate for economic and racial Justice across Florida. pic.twitter.com/ZNxLxem35h
— Karla Hernández-Mats (@KarlaforFlorida) November 7, 2022

Florida Rising endorses candidates and advocates for policy changes on the state and local levels. Endorsements include Charlie Crist and U.S. Rep. Val Demings. The website says it advances “economic and racial justice across Florida.”

More than 30 sheriffs have called Florida Rising the largest Florida-based “anti-cop” group that endorses Democrats across the state. The group advocates for police-free schools and the removal of all school resource officers.

“Florida Rising is a self-described socialist organization that espouses anti-law enforcement sentiments and believes in defunding the police as the only way to keep our communities safe,” the memo said. “Their hate speech claims law enforcement and the KKK are one and the same and clearly state that school resource officers have no place in our schools.”

30 Florida Sheriffs Denounce Florida Rising for ‘Defund the Police,’ Rhetoric Leading to ‘Unspeakable Violence Against Officers’

The Center for Popular Democracy, which Florida Rising is affiliated with, has a report advocating for the removal of police officers from schools and defunding the police. A report from that organization concludes that Congress “must” defund police.

The organization has also promoted socialism on its social media. In a tweet, Florida Rising said they are going to “fight” capitalism “with socialism.”

“Proudly, we say we’re not going to fight capitalism with black capitalism, but we’re going to fight it with socialism. We’re going to fight (their) reactions with all of us people getting together and having an international proletarian revolution,” Florida Rising said on Twitter in January of 2021.