Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference this week defending his state’s record of removing books from school shelves. DeSantis branded the characterization of “book bans” as a hoax, claiming that schools are only “removing” books that are inappropriate.
The press conference began with a roughly five-minute video that showed sexually graphic illustrations of minors and masturbation. The illustrations were reportedly found by parents in books that were in school libraries. The images were deemed too graphic by local media outlets which cut away from their live feed as the images were aired.
“I didn’t have to view what you just viewed so I’m glad I didn’t,” DeSantis said as he began his speech talking about the content from the removed books he called “pornographic.” The administration says that 175 books were “removed” across the state, 87% of which were identified as “pornographic, violent, or inappropriate for certain grades.”
Critics of DeSantis’ efforts, such as the Florida Freedom to Read Project, say that the governor is painting a false narrative for political reasons, arguing that the idea schools are filled with pornography is untrue.
“None of the books he is talking about are in the curriculum,” Raegan Miller, a member of the Florida Freedom to Read Project, said in an interview with Fox 13 News. “The governor takes books completely out of context,” she added.
DeSantis, who is reportedly eyeing a 2024 presidential run, is advancing his “anti-woke” agenda in the Florida Legislature ahead of an anticipated presidential announcement in late spring or early summer, according to The Associated Press. Former President Trump who launched his third presidential bid back in November has said DeSantis running for president would be “a great act of disloyalty.”
In a poll taken by Emerson College, Trump held 55% of the vote for the 2024 Republican primary. DeSantis, meanwhile, got the support of 25% of Republican primary voters — notably a decrease from January’s 29%.