Jason Delgado
A heckler interrupted Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday evening during a COVID-19 press conference with Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
Moments after the incident, Thomas Kennedy of United We Dream, an immigrant youth-led organization, claimed responsibility for the rant.
“I just interrupted a press conference in Miami-Dade to let Governor Ron DeSantis and Mayor Gimenez know they are an embarrassment to FL and that their incompetence and lack of planning has resulted in the current public health crisis,” Kennedy said. “4,381 people have died so far in FL”
I just interrupted a press conference in Miami-Dade to let governor @RonDeSantisFL and @MayorGimenez know they are an embarrassment to FL and that their incompetence and lack of planning has resulted in the current public health crisis.
4,381 people have died so far in FL pic.twitter.com/q6SozHfT8o
— Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) July 13, 2020
Kennedy interrupted DeSantis during his opening remarks.
“Shame on you,” Kennedy yelled at the pair. “You are an embarrassment. We are getting record breaking cases everyday and you are doing nothing. You are falsifying information and misleading the public.”
Kennedy also yelled for the Governor to resign and accused him of blaming the rise of COVID-19 cases on recent protests.
“You guys have no plan and are doing nothing,” Kennedy exclaimed while citing the state’s COVID-19 deaths.
In late June, DeSantis entertained a possible correlation between the waves of protests and the rise of COVID-19 cases among young people. He stopped short, however, of claiming it as fact.
“I certainly have not had my Department of Health substantiate the claim that protests are driving the figures with younger people,” DeSantis said.
Kennedy was escorted from the room in less than a minute and continued his rant while being directed out of the room.
“Social distance,” Kennedy told his escort. “Don’t touch me.”
According to his Twitter bio, Kennedy is the Florida State Coordinator for United We Dream, whose Twitter page boasts the hashtags #AbolishICE and #DefundHate, among others.
Kennedy’s personal Twitter says his experience includes work with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the Florida Immigrant Coalition and Service Employees International Union.
“Working to defeat Trump in Florida,” his bio reads. “Another world is possible.”
12 comments
Sonja Fitch
July 13, 2020 at 7:02 pm
Thank you!
S.B. Anthony
July 13, 2020 at 7:06 pm
Good for you, Tom Kennedy! You spoke truth to power.
Clare Chapuis
July 15, 2020 at 12:20 am
AMEN TO THAT ALL FLORIDIANS NEED TO VOTE HIM/TRUMP OUT
MJ
July 13, 2020 at 7:36 pm
Just another clueless liberal spreading their hate.
Clare
July 15, 2020 at 12:22 am
Really? Do you know what is going on in Florida? the virus is bipartisan
MJ
July 13, 2020 at 7:36 pm
Just another clueless liberal spreading hate
LINDIESUE
July 13, 2020 at 7:55 pm
Protestors were screaming, yelling, spitting in the faces of attendees, law enforcement (just ask LAPD; they’ve had several PD positive cases of those officers who were on the front lines at the protests), and reporters faces as well. So, that’s not spreading the virus? Give me a break. The idiot above is another example of out of control behavior in an effort to make Repubs look bad. Rather than debating issues in a reasonable manner, they scream and shout and make a scene. Crazy.
Valerie Sprieser
July 13, 2020 at 10:14 pm
Thank you Mr. Kennedy there is a chorus behind you that would love to get the opportunity to break Desantis out of his comfortable bubble and hear the truth that his lack of leadership and incompetence is causing death and destruction for all Floridians lives!
Clare
July 15, 2020 at 12:23 am
YUP DeSantis/Trump need to go how many people must suffer?
Palmer Tom
July 14, 2020 at 3:08 pm
I think a lot of Republicans make themselves look bad without anyone’s assistance.
Clare
July 15, 2020 at 12:24 am
SO TRUE!
Ian
July 15, 2020 at 7:55 am
The news media should not give coverage to hecklers. It just encourages more heckling.
Comments are closed.