Ron DeSantis Flies To Israel….To Kill Free Speech?

This is really troubling…

Ron DeSantis is Florida’s Governor, do I have that correct?

I mean, I think I do.

But I’m questioning myself because he just flew over to Israel to sign a new Bill into Law.

What is wrong with these Governors and Senators thinking they need to constantly travel overseas?

Ron, sorry bud but perhaps Trump was right about you…..perhaps you are not at all as you seem to those who think you’re great?

I’m starting to have my doubts.

If you want to be Florida’s Governor, you stay in Florida.

You work for Florida.

You really have no business and no need to fly over to Israel unless it’s for a personal vacation.

But this wasn’t a vacation.

DeSanctus flew over there to sign a new Florida Bill into law.

What the heck?

It’s true.

And here’s the worst part: the new law is a MASSIVE violation of American Free Speech rights.

You know, that little thing we like to call the First Amendment.

Laura Loomer explains:

JUST IN: .@GovRonDeSantis just signed HB 269 Into law while in Israel.

Just as I reported he would.HB269 criminalizes speech in Florida & makes leafleting “offensive” flyers punishable with a felony and 5 yrs in prison, along with other acts of constitutionally protected speech. https://t.co/d9MR2UQkAr pic.twitter.com/mC3QK8P48a

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) April 27, 2023

To be fair, Twitter Community Notes added this context:

Still, many are not buying it.

Many do not find the First Amendment “up for debate” (and neither do I):

With his signing of HB 269 without striking the leaflet section, Ron Desantis has lost any possibility of my support.

The first amendment is not up for debate.

— Styxhexenhammer666 (@Styx666Official) April 27, 2023

HB 269 is one of the most DRACONIAN anti-free speech bills I have ever seen in my life.

I have been reporting on this since it was first proposed. And when I did a video yesterday exposing how anti-Free speech it is, the bill co-sponsor @VoteRandyFine BLOCKED me on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/6jWyT4E7uj

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) April 27, 2023

It’s being sold as an “anti-Antisemitism” Bill which is why DeSanctus had to fly over to Israel for a dog and pony show:

JUST IN: @GovRonDeSantis signs HB 269, the strongest bill against Antisemitism in the United States, while in Israel. pic.twitter.com/6Ta2KtRIJ7

— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) April 27, 2023

Many are not impressed with the Bill:

🚨Free Speech in Florida is dead! 🚨

This is the new law in Flordia signed by @GovRonDeSantis #HB269

If you decide to hand out a flyer or leaflet with words the government disagrees with you will go to prison for 5 years for "littering Hate".

If you fly a banner with words… pic.twitter.com/AUEQGCQxW6

— National Identity Awareness (@NationalAware) April 28, 2023

You can read the FULL TEXT of the Bill here.

Andrew Torba from Gab posted a great article on this topic that I’d like to you read here:

This week Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida made a trip to Israel to sign HB 269, a bill that makes it a felony with up to five years in jail for passing out “offensive” flyers or pamphlets. This move has been widely criticized by free speech advocates and legal experts as a gross violation of the First Amendment. The bill states that anyone distributing “any material for the purpose of intimidating or threatening the owner” could be convicted of a felony “hate crime.” While we often write about the “hate speech” rules on Big Tech platforms, this is far worse. This is the state of Florida violating the First Amendment of the United States.

The legislation came about after activists from a group called the Goyim Defense League made headlines for several years for their activism efforts. The Goyim Defense League’s activism takes the form of distributing flyers that contain “uncomfortable truths” about the individuals who control the mainstream media in the United States. These flyers have been handed out across multiple states, including Florida, and have been met with mixed reactions from the public.

Despite the controversy surrounding the flyers, it is worth noting that they contain no threats of violence or threatening language. Rather, they present what the Goyim Defense League sees as a reality about the individuals who control the mainstream media, and invite readers to consider a different perspective. While some might consider this information to be “offensive,” there is nothing inherently threatening or “intimidating” about the distribution of flyers with factual information on them. The flyers even have a statement on them noting that they are “distributed randomly without malicious intent.”

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. This means that individuals have the right to express their opinions, even if those opinions are controversial or unpopular. The government cannot censor or punish individuals for their speech, unless it poses an imminent danger or threat to others.

HB 269, however, seeks to criminalize speech that is deemed “intimidating” by the state. This is an extremely vague and subjective standard, and it could be used to silence a wide range of speech that is protected by the First Amendment. It is important to note that the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that speech that some may find offensive is still protected under the First Amendment.

This isn’t the first time Ron DeSantis has signed anti-First Amendment legislation while in Israel. Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 741, also known as the “Combating Public Disorder” bill, into law on May 14, 2019, in Jerusalem, Israel. The signing ceremony took place at the David Citadel Hotel, where DeSantis was joined by several prominent Jewish leaders and members of the Israeli government.

The bill aims to protect religious institutions and their members from discrimination and harassment. However, many have argued that it does much more than that, and that it represents a serious threat to free speech and civil liberties.

One of the main provisions of HB 741 is a requirement that all Florida public schools, colleges, and universities adopt a definition of anti-Semitism that includes certain forms of criticism of Israel. The definition in question is the one adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which defines anti-Semitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews” and includes examples such as “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination” and “applying double standards to Israel.”

Critics of HB 741 argue that this definition is overly broad and could be used to stifle legitimate criticism of Israel and its policies. They point out that the definition includes language that could be interpreted as equating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, even though the two are not the same thing. They also argue that the definition is not necessary, as schools and universities already have policies in place to address discrimination and harassment.

Another provision of HB 741 requires law enforcement agencies to conduct training on identifying and responding to anti-Semitic incidents. Many have raised concerns that this provision could be used to target legitimate forms of protest and dissent. For example, if a group of pro-Palestinian activists were to stage a peaceful demonstration outside an Israeli consulate or embassy, could they be accused of engaging in an anti-Semitic incident?

Perhaps most controversially, HB 741 creates a private right of action for people who believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of their religion. This means that individuals who feel that they have been the victim of anti-Semitic discrimination can sue the alleged perpetrator for damages. This is highly likely to be used to stifle free speech and dissent. For example, a professor who expresses a controversial opinion about Israel could potentially be sued by a student who disagrees with them and feels that their religious beliefs have been discriminated against.

The fact that Governor DeSantis flew to a foreign country to sign both of these bills is absurd. Florida is a state in the United States, and its laws should be signed within the state’s borders. The reality that Gov. DeSantis chose to sign these bills in Israel, a foreign country, raises serious questions about his priorities and commitment to upholding the Constitution for the citizens of the United States and his state of Florida.

The implications of HB 269 and HB 741 are deeply troubling. They could be used to silence political dissent, punish those who criticize government officials, or suppress speech that challenges the status quo. In short, it is a direct attack on the First Amendment and the principles of free speech that are so essential to a healthy society.

We must be willing to engage in open dialogue with those who hold different views, and to stand up for our rights even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular to do so.

This means supporting organizations and individuals who are working to protect free speech, like Gab, and advocating for policies that promote openness and transparency in government. It also means being willing to speak out against efforts to silence dissent or suppress speech even when they come from our own political allies.

The defense of our fundamental rights is not a partisan issue. It is a matter of basic human dignity and freedom and it requires all of us to stand up and be counted. We must remain vigilant in the face of attempts to suppress speech and dissent, and be willing to push back against these efforts wherever they arise. Only by doing so can we ensure that America remains free for generations to come.

Andrew Torba
CEO, Gab.com
Jesus Christ is King of kings

In fairness, people who say the Bill is just fine say it relates only to “pamphlets” and only to private property.

Fair enough, but have you people learned NOTHING in life or at least in studying history?

That’s how these things always go…

In fact, it happens so much there’s even a name for it:  Boiling a Frog Alive.

How do you boil a Frog alive?

Slowly.

And that’s what they’re doing here.

“Oh, this is just about protecting Jews and it only relates to physical pamphlets with threats on violence on private property” they say….

Ok.

Until the next version pushes that line just a bit….

Turns up the water temperature just a bit….

The next version maybe drops the “physical pamphlet” requirement.

Then maybe a version in 1-2 years redefines what “violence” means.

And soon enough you’ve got a law that can make a post on Twitter illegal if someone doesn’t like it.

It’s so obvious where this is going.

It’s going to a very scary place, and DeSanctus is leading the charge.