Floridians have the right to drive away if they find themselves surrounded by protesters, Florida Gov. Ron Desantis told pundit Dave Rubin.
In a video that has now gone viral, DeSantis said motorists will not be held criminally liable if demonstrators are hit in situations where they are encircling vehicles.
“We also have a policy that if you’re driving on one of those streets and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have a right to flee for your safety,” he told Rubin.
Reacting to demonstrations over the Trump administration’s immigration policies in cities like Los Angeles and elsewhere, DeSantis said Florida will take a different tack.
“You drive off and hit one of these people — that’s their fault for impinging on you,” he said. “You don’t have to sit there and just be a sitting duck and let the mob grab you out of your car and parade you through the streets. You have a right to defend yourself in Florida.”
DeSantis said demonstrators have the first amendment right to protest, but can’t be allowed to veer into unlawful behavior.
“Florida’s policy is very simple,” he said. “You have every right to exercise your first amendment rights to protest and demonstrate. The minute you cross that line, you are going to be met with serious pushback and consequences.”
DeSantis said looting and attacks on law enforcement will not be tolerated by Florida law enforcement agencies.
“They tried to do a little protest in Florida and they actually just held signs, which is fine,” he said. “But that’s as far as it goes here.”
Asked about his position on large groups of people massing and overtaking active roadways, DeSantis said Florida has a “zero tolerance” policy.
“You have no right to commandeer streets,” he said. “That has huge impact on people’s quality of life. You may have parent needing to go pick up a child from daycare, from a camp, or from school. You may have someone who has a medical issue. What, you’re going to clog all the roads? So we have absolutely a zero tolerance policy.”
