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

Record ID: 1689142

  • Title: 'DeSantis is a coward' -Mass. official blasts governor for migrant flights to Martha's Vineyard
  • Date: 15th September 2022
  • Summary: EDGARTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 15, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MASSACHUSETTS STATE REPRESENTATIVE (DEMOCRAT), DYLAN FERNANDES, SAYING: "Well, look, you see it. I mean, the outpouring of support has been incredible, has been remarkable. We're, you know, we're turning away volunteers. We've set up areas for people to get immigration help. We set up a play area for children. We're, you know, we are going to support these people. And we always have. This is an immigrant community. We had a huge jump in people from the last census, almost entirely immigrants. Our school district here on Martha's Vineyard, it's a third non-white. And a big portion - over 20 percent of people, of the students - are English as second language speakers. So, this is a community that has always welcomed immigrants. We still will. And we're going to do everything we can to make sure that the people here are comfortable and feel welcome."
  • 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: LVA004562415092022RP1
  • 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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