On Saturday, MSNBC host Joy Reid took to Twitter to call Governor DeSantis a “segregationist” for warning looters in the aftermath of hurricane Iain that Florida is a “second amendment state” and that they may be risking their lives.
The governor stated on Saturday, standing against looting and affirming his commitment to law and order, even under chaotic circumstances.
“We want to make sure we’re maintaining law and order. Don’t even think about looting, don’t even think about taking advantage of people in this vulnerable situation”
DeSantis continued, saying, “local law enforcement is involved and monitoring that. You can have people bringing boats into some of these islands and trying to ransack people’s homes.”
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He then laid out his warning to looters that Reid took such issue with.
“I can tell you in the state of Florida, you never know what may be lurking behind somebody’s home. And I would not want to chance that if I were you, given that we’re a Second Amendment state.”
Florida is a law and order state.
Looting and lawlessness will not be tolerated. pic.twitter.com/8Ma9RuSlPq
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 1, 2022
At no point did DeSantis mention separating or segregating anyone. What’s more, the Florida governor did not reference race. Reid, however, stretched to connect the dots to race, referencing a similar anti-looting statement made by a segregationist in the 60’s.
“When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”—segregationist Miami sheriff Walter E. Headley, 1967
Didn’t take DeSantis long to return to form.https://t.co/8FJKyzQY1G https://t.co/uS5jbrx29S
— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷 (@JoyAnnReid) October 1, 2022
Suffice it to say, this Hitler-had-a-dog argument did not convince Twitter users of any wrongdoing by DeSantis and backfired on Reid.
What is racist about warning people not to take things that don’t belong to them?
Be specific.
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) October 2, 2022
Joy Reid, apparently pro-looting! https://t.co/RCkLcnnJdI
— Rational Policy (@ratlpolicy) October 1, 2022
These are not serious people https://t.co/YK77lHtpmw
— Evan Power (@EvanPower) October 2, 2022
One Twitter user noted that crackdowns on looting have long been a bipartisan affair, referencing the strict orders of Democratic governors in 2005.
Or, you know, Democratic governors in 2005 saying looters will be shot https://t.co/GPdRrPGZot
— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) October 1, 2022
It should be noted, however, that DeSantis didn’t even issue these kinds of orders, describing the risks associated with gun-carrying individuals, not threatening law enforcement.
The bulk of the blowback was on Reid for the obvious racial implications of her statement. In making the stretch to accuse DeSantis of “segregationism,” some Twitter users claimed Reid was the racist for assuming looters would be black.
Damn… you automatically assumed black people would be looting? Sad of you to think so lowly of blacks.
— Barrington Martin II (@_BarringtonII) October 2, 2022
Why does Joy Reid automatically assume that looters are black?
Isn't that racist? pic.twitter.com/bSnImwHDGP— Leftism (@LeftismForU) October 2, 2022
Just when I thought you couldn't get any lower. Are you implying that black and brown people are looters, cause that sounds pretty racist to me. https://t.co/SRb0Owztqn
— Scott Coleman (@bandphan) October 1, 2022
What is racist about warning people not to take things that don’t belong to them?
Be specific.
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) October 2, 2022
Joy Reid says Ron DeSantis is racist for warning against looting in Florida. Why does she assume the looters will be black? She must be the racist.
— First Words (@unscriptedmike) October 1, 2022
It's the essence of who she, and far too many black democrat women are in 2022.
— HipHopThinker♦️ (@HipHopThinker) October 2, 2022
Reid has not yet responded to the controversy.
Additional stories you may want to read:
Dark Money Funds Corrupt Legacy Media Like Palm Beach Post
Democrats Politicize Hurricane Ian-Bash DeSantis
