Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is providing law and order leadership for his state in these troublous times. The following is excerpted from “Sheriff Uses Pictures to Explain,” Daily Caller, Sept. 22, 2020: “The sheriff of Polk County, Florida, used visual aids to help explain the difference between a peaceful protest and a riot during a press conference Monday after Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled new legislation to address violent riots and attacks on police officers. Sheriff Grady Judd took the stage armed with three sets of pictures to help reporters, attendees and Floridians differentiate between riots and peaceful protests. ‘I can tell you folks, so that there is no misunderstanding today, this is a peaceful protest,’ Judd said, holding an image of a large group of protesters congregated peacefully in front of a building. ‘This is a riot,’ he continued, holding an image of what appears to be a vehicle on fire amid a pile of rubble. ‘We can tell the difference. The governor can tell the difference. Our law enforcement officers can tell the difference,’ he said. ‘In the event you didn’t get that, let me show you something,’ Judd said as he whipped out a second set of images. ‘This is a peaceful protest,’ he said, flashing an image showing a protester holding up a sign that reads in part protest peacefully. ‘This is looting,’ he continued, holding another image showing a man carrying items while running. ‘If you loot, the next thing you can try to steal is something off of your food tray at the county jail, because you’re going to jail, that’s a guarantee,’ Judd said. DeSantis introduced legislation Monday that would charge anyone involved in an assembly of 7 or more people where property is destroyed or someone gets injured would face felony charges. It also makes it a felony to block roadways and destroy public property, which includes toppling monuments. The legislation would also defund any cities or local government that tries to defund their police department. If a state employee participates in a violent protest or disorderly assembly, they would lose their state benefits under the new legislation.”
(Friday Church News Notes, October 2, 2020, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)