Florida’s Ron DeSantis was brutally whistled from the podium at a vigil he attended for three black people killed in a racist mass shooting at a Dollar Store.
The 44-year-old governor was called out by city council members before taking the mic himself, and was met with overwhelming negativity from the crowd – one heckler shouted: “Your policies caused this!”
The vigil, at which DeSantis spoke, was held next to the Dollar General on Sunday, where three black residents were killed by a gunman – who had no criminal record.
Ryan Palmer, 21, armed with an AR-15 covered in Nazi swastikas, shot dead three people before turning the gun on himself in a racially motivated attack in Jacksonville just days ago.
The victims were 52-year-old Angela Michelle Carr, 19-year-old Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr., and 29-year-old Jarrald De’Shawn Gallion.
The governor was taken to task by local councilors before taking the mic himself and being met with overwhelming negativity – one heckler shouted, “Your policies caused this!”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attends a prayer vigil the day after a white man armed with a high-powered rifle and handgun killed three blacks at a Dollar General Store
Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman called for better government funding before DeSantis took the stage: “Let’s face it, we’re not getting the money we should be getting.”
“But if I ask for some money this week, we’ll get it.”
Pittman then addressed community officials in the audience, including Sheriff TK Waters, who called Saturday’s shooting racially motivated.
The councilwoman added: “I’m proud of what you did yesterday.” Because guess what, you called a spade at a spade.
“We can’t hide behind it any longer.” We can’t let someone from another county come and shoot down this community. It’s not a black-on-black crime. It’s a hate crime.’
Pittman then turned to DeSantis, who was sitting in the crowd, “Governor, I know you here.” “To make a difference, you have to experience it up close.”
DeSantis walked to the podium and began to speak – but his presence was greeted with boos.
He was harassed at the vigil before the councilwoman stepped in to tame the crowd
The vigil at which DeSantis spoke was held next to the Dollar General on Sunday, where three black residents were killed by a gunman – who had no criminal record
Palmer, wearing a tactical vest, shot and killed 19-year-old Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr. and 29-year-old Jarrald De’Shawn Gallion at the store
Ryan Palmer, 21, was seen opening fire in front of a Dollar General in Jacksonville on Saturday
He said, “Counsellor, I understand, don’t worry about that.” We’ve already been looking for resources to help one: security at Edward Waters College.
“We will not allow these institutions to be targeted by humans…”
The governor was silenced as the councilwoman tried to silence the crowd’s negativity by saying, ‘Today is not about parties.’ A bullet knows no party.’
DeSantis then continued, “We’re going to be announcing a few things tomorrow morning that I think will not only help with safety, but as an attempt to help these families.”
“What he did was totally unacceptable in the state of Florida.”
“We will not allow people to be targeted because of their race.” “We will stand up and do what we must do to ensure evil does not prevail in the state of Florida.”
Sheriff Waters said of the shooter, “There was no criminal record, nothing,” adding that the only record on record was a domestic violence call to his brother. “There were no warning signs.”
Noting that the shooting occurred on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, Joe Biden added, “As we continue to search for answers, we must make it clear that white supremacy has no place in America.”
The President said he and his wife mourned the victims.
Victims Jerrald Gallion, 29, and Angela Michelle Carr
“On Saturday, our nation celebrated the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington — a pivotal moment in our history and in our work for equal opportunity for all Americans,” he said in a statement.
“But this day of remembrance and remembrance ended with another American community being hurt by an act of gun violence reportedly fueled by hateful hostility and carried out with two guns.”
He said a federal civil rights investigation had been opened and officials considered the shooting a possible hate crime and an act of domestic violent extremism.
“As we continue to seek answers, we must state loud and clear that white supremacy has no place in America,” he said.
“We must refuse to live in a country where black families who go to the store or black students who go to school are afraid of being shot because of the color of their skin.” Hate cannot have a safe haven. Silence is complicity and we must not remain silent.”