'DeSantis is a coward' -Mass. official blasts governor for migrant flights to Martha's Vineyard

Record ID: 1689141

  • Title: 'DeSantis is a coward' -Mass. official blasts governor for migrant flights to Martha's Vineyard
  • Date: 15th September 2022
  • Summary: NICEVILLE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 15, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) FLORIDA GOVERNOR, RON DESANTIS, SAYING: "Yes, if you have folks that are inclined to think Florida's a good place, our message to them is: we are not a sanctuary state, and it's better to be able to go to a sanctuary jurisdiction, and, yes, we will help facilitate that transport for you to be able to go to greener pastures." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) FLORIDA GOVERNOR, RON DESANTIS, SAYING: "And all those people in DC and New York were beating their chests when Trump was president, saying they were so proud to be sanctuary jurisdictions, saying how bad it was to have a secure border. The minute even a small fraction of what those border towns deal with every day is brought to their front door, they all of a sudden go berserk, and they're so upset that this is happening. And it just shows you, you know, their virtue signaling is a fraud, ok? They-- (applause)." EDGARTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 15, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MASSACHUSETTS STATE REPRESENTATIVE (DEMOCRAT), DYLAN FERNANDES, SAYING: "We have a governor of one of the largest states in the country not spending his time working for the people of Florida on the many issues they have there - and there are many issues in the state of Florida - and instead spending his time hatching a secret plot to use women, children, families as political pawns, herding them onto airplanes. You know, I've talked to attorneys who say this is human trafficking, all so he can get on Fox News and jump on Tucker Carlson and beat his chest about how strong he is on immigration. He's a coward. Governor DeSantis is a coward. It's not-- using woman and children for your own political gain is cowardice. And the real courage here is the island community that jumped into action to help support these people. And that's what this community is all about. And that's what the best of this country is all about."
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2022 21:10
  • Keywords: Florida Governor Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts State Representative Dylan Fernandes Ron DeSantis immigration migrants
  • Location: VARIOUS
  • City: VARIOUS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics,United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA002562415092022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Massachusetts state representative Dylan Fernandes on Thursday (September 15) blasted a move by Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to fly dozens of migrants to Martha's Vineyard, calling him a "coward."
    "Using woman and children for your own political gain is cowardice," he said. "The real courage here is the island community that jumped into action to help support these people."
    DeSantis took credit for the two flights, which originated in San Antonio, Texas, according to data from flight tracking website FlightAware. Geoff Freeman, the Martha's Vineyard airport director, said the flights were carrying around 50 migrants, mostly Venezuelans.
    The high-profile move comes as DeSantis seeks re-election in November and has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2024. It mirrors campaigns by the Republican governors of Texas and Arizona to push responsibility for a record number of border arrivals to Democratic strongholds across the United States, including Washington, D.C., New York City and Chicago.
    But unlike those other destinations, Martha's Vineyard is a small island in Massachusetts - south of Boston - and best known as a summer retreat for affluent Americans, including former President Barack Obama, a Democrat who owns a multi-million dollar vacation home there.
    Fernandes said he was heartened by to see locals stepping up to help the new arrivals.
    "We're going to do everything we can to make sure that the people here are comfortable and feel welcome," he said.
    (Production: Vanessa Johnston)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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