'We are America' - Florida leaders blast DeSantis at 'Stop The Black Attack' rally

Record ID: 1708107

  • Title: 'We are America' - Florida leaders blast DeSantis at 'Stop The Black Attack' rally
  • Date: 25th January 2023
  • Summary: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 25, 2023) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** (SOUNDBITE) (English) FLORIDA STATE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER, FENTRICE DRISKELL, SAYING: "By rejecting the African American history pilot program, Ron DeSantis has clearly demonstrated that he wants to dictate whose story does and doesn't belong there. He wants to cont
  • Embargoed: 8th February 2023 22:35
  • Keywords: ap african american studies bill desantis florida law legislation
  • Location: TALLAHASSEE, AND JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
  • City: TALLAHASSEE, AND JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: Fundamental Rights/Civil Liberties,North America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA003520125012023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Legislators, teachers with some students, and civil rights attorneys bundled together inside the rotunda of Florida's House of Representatives and Senate in Tallahassee, Florida to speak about Governor Ron DeSantis attacking the constitutional rights of students and trying to "dictate" what is taught in the classroom, on Wednesday (January 25).
    Fentrice Driskell, a member of the Florida House of Representatives, was one of many accusing DeSantis of dictating "whose story does and doesn't belong." Driskell directed her comments to DeSantis, saying, "He wants to control what our children can learn based on politics and not sound policy."
    Others in attendance were American civil rights attorney Ben Crump, joined by three AP honors high school students ready to file a lawsuit against the bill if DeSantis does not reverse his decision.
    "We are here to give notice to Governor DeSantis, that if he does not negotiate with the college board to allow AP African American studies to be taught in the classrooms across the state of Florida, then these three young people will be the lead plaintiffs in a historic lawsuit," Crump said during a press conference.
    Supporters listening to the speakers chanted and raised their fist in the air when listening to Crump and fellow legislators, many resounding the words Driskell said, "He wants to say that I don't belong, he wants to say that you don't belong... But we are here tell him, 'We are America.'"
    The College Board is still scheduled to release an update on the AP African American studies course.
    (Production by: Maria Alejandra Cardona)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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