Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' book “The Courage to be Free” hits bookstore shelves

Record ID: 1713812

  • Title: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' book “The Courage to be Free” hits bookstore shelves
  • Date: 1st March 2023
  • Summary: LEESBURG, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 28, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PILES OF FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS' BOOK ON TABLES (SOUNDBITE) (English) GRIFFITH (NO LAST NAME GIVEN), 76, ORIGINALLY FROM NEW JERSEY BUT NOW LIVES IN LEESBURG, FLORIDA, SAYING: "We saw that he was going to be here. There was not much publicity that we saw and we saw all the books and police officers, I'm a retired police officer. And I like Ron DeSantis and I wanted to see him. And actually, if I get inside, I'm going to get it signed for a guy in New Jersey that loves him and wants him to be president. But we don't want to lose him as our governor." PEOPLE LINED UP OUTSIDE BOOKSTORE AHEAD OF SCHEDULED SIGNING (SOUNDBITE) (English) WYLIE (NO LAST NAME GIVEN), FLORIDA RESIDENT, SAYING: "I love the things that Governor DeSantis is doing. As a parent, I have two kids, and I like his focus on bringing power back to parents to decide how they should educate their kids. If he did run for president, I did vote for President Trump, so I'd be a little torn. But I am 1,000%, you know, proud of what he is doing for Florida. And so if he did run, we don't want to lose Governor DeSantis, but at the same time, our nation needs him as well and he's already served in the military. So I would be happy either way. I'm a huge fan." PEOPLE LINED UP OUTSIDE BOOKSTORE AHEAD OF SCHEDULED SIGNING (SOUNDBITE) (English) JANET (NO LAST NAME GIVEN), ORIGINALLY FROM NEW YORK BUT NOW LIVES IN FLORIDA AND IDENTIFIES POLITICALLY AN INDEPENDENT, SAYING: "I think he's done all the right things from my point of view. I think he's done great for Florida and I just don't know why he wouldn't do great as a president, so that's pretty much it, I mean, I'm a fan." PROTESTERS LINED UP CLOSE TO BOOKSTORE TO PROTEST AGAINST DESANTIS PROTESTER HOLDING PLACARD READING (English): 'TEACH THE TRUTH' PROTESTER HOLDING PLACARD READING (English): 'BAN GUNS NOT BOOKS' PROTESTER HOLDING PLACARD WITH PHOTOGRAPH OF DESANTIS COVERED WITH 'CAUTION' TAPE PROTESTER HOLDING PLACARD READING (English): 'ALL OF OUR KIDS DESERVE TO BE TAUGHT THE TRUTH' PROTESTER HOLDING U.S. FLAG WITH SIGN READING (English): 'BANNING BOOKS IS BULLYING'
  • Embargoed: 15th March 2023 01:25
  • Keywords: Florida Florida Governor Ron DeSantis book bookstore “The Courage to be Free”
  • Location: LEESBURG, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
  • City: LEESBURG, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: North America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001380928022023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's new book, entitled 'The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival,' hit bookstore shelves on Tuesday (February 28).
    Supporters lined up outside a store in Leesburg, Florida, where DeSantis was expected to appear and sign copies of the book.
    "I like Ron DeSantis and I wanted to see him," said 76-year-old Griffith, who lives in Leesburg. He said he would send a signed book to his friend in New Jersey who would like DeSantis to run for president in 2024. Griffith was on the fence about the presidency, though. "We don't want to lose him as our governor," he said.
    Florida resident Wylie said he supported DeSantis' views on education.
    "I have two kids, and I like his focus on bringing power back to parents to decide how they should educate their kids," he said, adding, "I'm a huge fan."
    Janet, an independent, said she was also a fan.
    "I think he's done all the right things from my point of view. I think he's done great for Florida," she said.
    Protesters stood near the bookstore holding placards that read 'Teach the Truth' and 'Ban Guns Not Books'.
    DeSantis is expected to launch a presidential bid after Florida's legislative session ends this spring. He has positioned himself as a leader in the Republican war against the "woke" agenda many conservatives believe liberals are trying to push on public education across the country.
    (Production: Maria Cardona, Jane Ross)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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