DeSantis offers Harris to meet, ‘set the record straight’ on African American standards
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis invited Vice President Kamala Harris to return to Florida so he could “set the record straight” on the state’s new African American history standards.
In an open letter addressed to Harris, DeSantis explained how he would host her in Tallahassee so she could have a conversation with him and Dr. William Allen, one of the curriculum contributors who was “instrumental in the development” of the “impressive new standards.”
“I am prepared to meet as early as Wednesday of this week,” DeSantis said in the letter. “But of course want to be deferential to your busy schedule should you already have a trip to the southern border planned for that day.”
Harris reportedly responded Tuesday afternoon, declaring at an Orlando speech “there were no redeeming qualifies of slavery.”
“I’m here in Florida and I will tell you there is no roundtable, no lecture, no invitation we will accept to debate an undeniable fact: there were no redeeming qualities of slavery,” she said.
Harris recently visited Jacksonville to attack the DeSantis administration’s new standards for African American history.
“These extremist so-called leaders should model what we know to be the correct and right approach, if we really are invested in the well-being of our children,” she said during her remarks. “Instead, they dare to push propaganda to our children.”
“Our state pushed forward nation-leading standalone African American history standards,” DeSantis said in the letter. “One of the only states in the nation to require this level of learning about such an important subject.”
“One would think the White House would applaud such a boldness in teaching the unique and important story of African American history,” he continued. “But you have instead attempted to score cheap political points and label Florida parents ‘extremists.’”
“In Florida we are unafraid to have an open and honest dialogue about the issues. And you clearly have no trouble ducking down to Florida on short notice,” he said.
DeSantis’ strong stance defending the new education standards came with pushback amongst certain Republican politicians. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump, spoke out against the new standards.
Donalds said that the new standards were “good, robust, & accurate,” but any attempt to “feature the personal benefits of slavery is wrong & needs to be adjusted.”
Jeremy Redfern, the press secretary for the governor, along with Florida Education Comissioner Manny Diaz Jr., called Donalds a “supposed conservative” for siding with Harris.
The Vice President is expected to speak in Orlando at the African Methodist Episcopal 20th Women’s Missionary Society Quadrennial Convention on Tuesday.
“What an example we could set for the nation,” DeSantis closed the letter with. “A serious conversation on the substance of an important issue! I hope you’re feeling up for it.”
