PEORIA, Ill. – Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Florida) spoke in Peoria on Friday night about several topics and things his state had done.
DeSantis was the main speaker at the yearly Peoria and Tazewell Counties Lincoln Day Dinner. About 1200 people went to the event, which was full.
In his speech, DeSantis talked a lot about changes to schooling in his state. He said it was important to him not only as governor but also as a father.
One of the changes he suggested was that critical race theory should not be taught in Florida schools.
“We don’t teach children to hate their country or each other. No, DeSantis said, “We’re going to focus on American civics, making sure they know the Constitution and what it means to be an American.”
DeSantis also talked about giving parents more control over their children’s education by letting them decide what is taught in schools and what books their kids read.
DeSantis also talked about banning critical race theory as a way to fight what he calls the “woke mind virus.” Along with making C.R.T. illegal in schools, he also signed a law that makes it illegal for transgender women in Florida to play women’s sports.
“Don’t tell me that babies are born racist, and don’t tell me that guys can get pregnant. “That’s not true, and we won’t go along with it,” DeSantis said. “And because woke is a war on the truth, we have no choice but to fight it.”
DeSantis also gave a long list of other things he has done as Florida governor. He is now in his second term. Some of these are tort reform, safety for babies who haven’t been born yet, getting rid of medical mandates in the state, and strengthening the rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment.
“That is a collection of wins in six months that has never been seen before in the history of Florida. And I would put it up against anyone in this country,” DeSantis said.
It’s also said that DeSantis will run for the Republican nomination for President next year, but he hasn’t done so yet. He did tell the party as a whole what they should do to try to win the White House next year.
“I think that if 2024 is a vote on Joe Biden, his policies, and his failures, he will lose,” he said. “Republicans will win everywhere if we offer a positive plan for moving forward in a better direction,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis warned against focusing on the past or other things that would take attention away from that message. He vaguely referenced a possible political rival and front-runner for the nomination, former President Donald Trump, but didn’t say much about him.
