A visibly annoyed Florida governor Ron DeSantis reprimanded a group of students for wearing masks during an indoor press conference at the University of South Florida in Tampa. The incident, which took place on Wednesday, ensued a debate online.
Just before his speech, he greeted the students telling, “You don’t have to wear those masks. I mean, please take them off.”
DeSantis, who seemed pretty annoyed, said, “Honestly, it’s not doing anything. We’ve got to stop with this Covid theatre. If you wanna wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous.” While a few students removed their masks immediately after DeSantis’s comments, others kept wearing them.
The video, shared by Evan Donovan, political reporter for WFLA, quickly went viral. The video currently has 11 million views.
NEW: @GovRonDeSantis annoyed with USF students—
“You do not have to wear those masks. Please take them off. Honestly, it’s not doing anything. We’ve gotta stop with this Covid theater. So if you wanna wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous.”https://t.co/7j1Pb2hV53 @WFLA pic.twitter.com/ZIOyTHLOh3
— Evan Donovan (@EvanDonovan) March 2, 2022
After the video went viral, the school board for the students also released a statement.
NEW: Statement from @HillsboroughSch Superintendent Addison Davis —
“It is a student and parents’ choice to protect their health in a way they feel most appropriate. We are proud of the manner in which our students represented themselves.”https://t.co/BDDnBpwvRC @WFLA pic.twitter.com/8pe2YWFj9u
— Evan Donovan (@EvanDonovan) March 2, 2022
When a student who was present at the conference was asked if he felt some kind of pressure from the governor to remove his mask, this is what he said, “A little”.
NEW: My colleague @WFLAJustin spoke with one of the kids —
More on @WFLA at 11
WATCH LIVE at https://t.co/cp1CushzTm https://t.co/WaPrqVH1Rd
— Evan Donovan (@EvanDonovan) March 3, 2022
“@GovRonDeSantis asked me to take it off, but I thought about it, and it’s my right,” said Middleton High student Kevin Brown, Jr.
“It’s his choice,” said Kevin’s dad. “And the governor has no right to tell him or anyone they can or can’t wear a mask.”https://t.co/oQt4fO6SWN
— Evan Donovan (@EvanDonovan) March 3, 2022
DeSantis, who is a fierce opponent of virus mask and vaccine mandates, was criticised on social media after the video went viral. “These are MINORS! @GovRonDeSantis bullying kids about protecting themselves during a deadly pandemic is one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever witnessed. Shameful. Your own wife has cancer—don’t you care about endangering others (sic),” a user wrote.
See more comments below:
So proud of the young man who kept on his mask!
— Dilma Arends Geerman (@wilderoosje) March 2, 2022
Nothing says freedom like barking at a group of young people to take their masks off.
— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) March 2, 2022
This is awesome, these poor kids need to know these masks have done absolutely nothing but limit their breathing. Show them the data!
— freedomwins (@MKodiak29) March 2, 2022
It is now politically acceptable to publicly shame kids for wearing masks and protecting everyone’s health. This country is broken. https://t.co/3qeyxXms0E
— Dr. Lucky Tran (@luckytran) March 2, 2022
What’s ridiculous is seeing a manchild Governor berate kids for trying to do what’s right. https://t.co/8miiV3KUUc
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) March 2, 2022
Many disease experts are still wearing their masks and disagree with the new guidelines. DeSantis bullying/berating students who choose to wear their masks in horrible.
There are many people young and old who don’t feel safe without a mask at this point. It’s their choice!
— R.A. Salvatore (@r_a_salvatore) March 2, 2022
Ron DeSantis is yet to comment on this issue.
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism