n Tuesday Evening, Governor Ron DeSantis was bestowed with the Philadelphia Union League’s highest honor, The Union League Gold Medal, sparkling backlash and protests in the city streets.
The League’s motto is “mor Patriae Ducit” or “Love of Country Leads,” and its previous award recipient reflects that. The League gave the first medal to President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, and now Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is honored for his Sunshine State leadership.
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WOW! The Union League of Philadelphia will bestow its highest honor on Florida @GovRonDeSantis tonight. DeSantis will receive the Union League's gold medal, an honor first bestowed on President Abraham Lincoln back in 1863.
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) January 25, 2023
However, not everyone was happy. The choice was met with stiff resistance from some club members and Philadelphians, who feel DeSantis is not worthy of the honor, claiming he promotes election deniers and banning books from school libraries.
The attacks are partially due to DeSantis’s policies of getting sexually explicit material out of school libraries and his crucial endorsements for republicans of all stripes nationwide for the midterms that earned him the medal in the first place.
Some members threatened to resign unless the award was rescinded. State Senator Vincent Hughes was among the protesters who gathered outside of the Union League Tuesday; he cited DeSantis’s recent banning of AP African American history. DeSantis objected to the course because it was politically biased, involved critical race theory, included one-sided advocacy for further racial reparations, and was taught by other history classes.
Hughe’s, however, claimed DeSantis had a different motive, claiming, “Why are you promoting this individual who, in their philosophy, sees so many people, Black and brown folks, LGBTQ+ folks, as secondhand citizens?”
Rev. Alyn E. Waller of the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church chimed in on the matter before the protests started, claiming that opposition to the course mentioned above material was an opposition to African Americans writ large.
“This is a disgrace. It is wrong. It is a smack in the face of the people of this city. How are you going to honor someone in a city that is 44% African American, and he has determined that an AP course on African American history has no educational value? That is not acceptable.”
Some on Twitter have echoed this notion, bashing DeSantis, with one individual even calling him a Klan member.
The Union League of Phila. just awarded " its highest honor" to Ron DeSantis –– the Gov. who banned African American studies in Florida. The award was first given to Abraham Lincoln.
Way to go, Union League.
You just awarded a gold medal to a racist.— Michael (@MichaelBense) January 24, 2023
This is a horrible act against African Americans, members of the Jewish Community , and Catholics who joined the Union League thinking that things have changed. DeSantis getting a freedom medal is so really ugly.
— Larry Kane (@larrykane) January 24, 2023
The City of Sisterly Love/Brotherly Affection rejects this barely disguised KLAN member, Ron DeSantis. Shame on Union League leadership for being OK w/erasing the lives/experiences of Black Americans who are an integral part of our national history. Philly showed up to say #Shame pic.twitter.com/NFaHaRsvTp
— Nina Ahmad (@NinaAhmadPHL) January 25, 2023
Since DeSantis’s resistance to the class curriculum, the College Board has backed down, preferring to edit the curriculum rather than lose Florida students.
JUST IN: After @GovRonDeSantis took a stand and removed an AP African American Studies Course due to it violating new laws about Woke garbage being taught, the College Board has agreed to remove the offending material so the course can be taught. Another victory for Florida! 👏
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) January 24, 2023
However, the protests went on regardless.
Protesters greet Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as he arrives in Philadelphia to receive prestigious award from Union League. pic.twitter.com/PhYSTbdvw2
— Walter Perez (@WalterPerez6abc) January 24, 2023
Ron DeSantis is in Philly tonight to accept the Union League of Philadelphia’s Gold Medal, which was first awarded to President Lincoln.
It led to protests outside of their headquarters on Sansom Street in Philly.
pic.twitter.com/bRAjPBwrHd— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 25, 2023
Multiple members of the Philly City Council attended the protest outside the Union League. All the drugs and murder in Philly isn't that big of a concern. The real problem is a private club giving an award to Ron DeSantis. pic.twitter.com/WKRLCTc0PC
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 25, 2023
The Union League is “honoring” Ron DeSantis today in Philly. 🤮 I stopped to support the protestors.
If you follow me, you know this space is one who supports love, acceptance, peace, equality, justice, progress, and education. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/A4vPobWwmv
— Nicole Michalik (@NicoleisNik) January 24, 2023
One user even reported protestors shouting “shame” at anyone who walked into the Union League building.
Many more police officers here now. Penned in protestors still shouting “shame.” pic.twitter.com/LhpxDZTGSA
— Chris Brennan (@ByChrisBrennan) January 24, 2023
Aaron Bashir, a Republican ward leader in Philadelphia, rejected this attack style, arguing that it’s time for all Americans to accept disagreements without labeling people who share opposing views.
“Whenever you’re trying to come up with something, they always attack you as a racist person, as a person who does not support minority rights. It’s insane.”
Other stories you may want to read:
DeSantis Rejects ‘Woke’ African American College Board Course For Violating State Law
Debate Builds Over African American Course Rejection
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