‘Flawed, cowardly’: Florida Democrats outraged over DeSantis’ denial of African American Studies

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – House Democrat Leader Fentrice Driskell and Senate Democrat Leader Lauren Book criticized recent actions from the governor and proposals they expect Florida Republicans to bring forth in the upcoming Legislative Session. 

In a Monday press conference, Driskell slammed the DeSantis administration and the Florida Department of Education for rejecting College Board’s proposed Advanced Placement African American Studies course.

“This sends a clear message that Black Americans’ history does not count in Florida,” she said. “This is based on flawed, cowardly, and the dangerous idea that it’s bad to expose adults in college classes to a diversity of ideas.”

DeSantis’ administration last week called the proposed AP course a “vehicle for a political agenda” that “leaves large, ambiguous gaps that can be filled with additional ideological material, which we will not allow.”

Florida law requires students learn about African American history in K-12 education including slavery, abolition, and the history and contributions of Americans of the African diaspora to society. 

During the press conference, Driskell also attacked Republican Leadership for pushing permitless carry, or what she called “unregulated carry.” 

Permitless carry is the ability of Floridians to carry a firearm without needing any type of government certification. 

“It’s dangerous, it’s unnecessary, law enforcement doesn’t want this, but I’m sure that criminals do,” Driskell said.

Driskell said a potential permitless carry law might negatively affect tourism in the state of Florida and harm the state’s family friendly reputation.

“We are dependent upon our perception by the rest of the world as a family friendly place to bring their loved ones to have a nice vacation,” she said. “And I’m very concerned that if unregulated carry passes that it would have a negative implication on the perception of our state and our reputation as a family friendly place.”

Last month, DeSantis and Florida House Speaker Paul Renner said lawmakers would pass permitless carry legislation. 

“What you don’t want is to have a gun government bureaucrat stymie your ability to exercise your constitutional rights,” DeSantis said whilst expressing support for permitless carry.

The governor drew a hard line on felons and criticisms that permitless carry would make it easier for criminals to obtain weapons.

“Of course if you’re a felon you can’t but you have to go through those checks as a matter of course just to simply acquire the firearm to begin with,” DeSantis said. “The licensing scheme is kind of above that.”

There are 25 other states with constitutional, or permitless, carry laws on the books.

Fresh on the heels of Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Tallahassee in which she spoke about protecting access to abortion, Book slammed DeSantis and Republicans seeking to further restrict abortion in the state. 

“Our governor, leadership likes to talk about freedom, even medical freedom, but that clearly doesn’t translate into a woman’s right to choose,” Book said. “This is dealing with healthcare, this is not about choice.”

Florida Republicans have not enumerated a specific course of action regarding further restriction of abortion past the recently approved 15 week ban which is still making its way through the courts. Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, DeSantis previously said he looks forward to expanding “pro-life protections.”

“Florida will continue to defend its recently-enacted pro-life reforms against state court challenges, will work to expand pro-life protections, and will stand for life by promoting adoption, foster care and child welfare,” DeSantis said.