DeSantis: State has ‘zero tolerance for violence’
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered Florida National Guard troops to some areas throughout the state, but he didn’t address the matter that sparked the protests, the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, until he released a statement late Monday.
“Florida has zero tolerance for violence, rioting and looting,” DeSantis said. “George Floyd’s murder was appalling, and the Minnesota perpetrators need to be brought to justice, but this cannot be used as a pretext for violence in our Florida communities.”
DeSantis said he has been in “constant contact” with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida National Guard, and the Florida Highway Patrol. More than 1,300 FHP officers and 700 Guardsmen have been deployed to help police quell the unrest throughout the state, he said.
DeSantis, a key political ally of President Trump, was on a conference call with other governors Monday in which Trump encouraged them to “dominate” violent protesters, but the governor’s statement did not address that discussion.
Protests began Friday in cities throughout the nation, and some turned violent, with looting and property damage, followed by aggressive responses from police that targeted non-violent and violent protesters alike. DeSantis, though, stayed quiet until Monday’s statement.
The Florida National Guard troops are trained in crowd control and protest situations, DeSantis spokeswoman Helen Ferre said.
There were 150 troops sent to Tampa at the request of Mayor Jane Castor, another 140 were sent to a National Guard facility in Miramar to help with protests in South Florida and another 350 were activated at Camp Blanding in the Panhandle.
Ferre said other troops could be made available upon the request of local government officials, but no requests from Central Florida mayors had been received as of Monday.