GOVERNOR DESANTIS ANNOUNCES PROPOSAL TO STOP W.O.K.E. ACTIVISM AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN SCHOOLS AND CORPOATIONS
Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (W.O.K.E.) Act, a legislative proposal that will give businesses, employees, children, and families tools to fight back against woke indoctrination. The Stop W.O.K.E. Act will be the strongest legislation of its kind in the nation and will take on both corporate wokeness and Critical Race Theory. The proposal builds on actions Governor DeSantis has already taken to ban Critical Race Theory and the New York Times’ 1619 project in Florida’s schools.
“In Florida we are taking a stand against the state-sanctioned racism that is critical race theory,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We won’t allow Florida tax dollars to be spent teaching kids to hate our country or to hate each other. We also have a responsibility to ensure that parents have the means to vindicate their rights when it comes to enforcing state standards. Finally, we must protect Florida workers against the hostile work environment that is created when large corporations force their employees to endure CRT-inspired ‘training’ and indoctrination.”
“As the daughter of Cuban exiles who fled from Marxist ideology, I am proud to stand alongside Governor DeSantis and support this proposed legislation that will put an end to wokeness that is permeating our schools and workforce,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “This important legislation gives students and employees the resources they need to fight back against discrimination, critical race theory and indoctrination. I’m proud to stand alongside the Governor not only of the free state of Florida but the woke-free state of Florida.”
“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has very publicly adopted new state education standards for English Language Arts, Mathematics, Civics, Character Education and more, and we are modernizing students’ curriculum and lesson plans to match Florida’s new world-class education standards,” said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “However, our classrooms, students and even teachers are under constant threat by Critical Race Theory advocates who are attempting to manipulate classroom content into a means to impose one’s values on students, when instead schools should be empowering students with great, historically accurate knowledge and giving those students and their families the freedom to draw their own conclusions.”
“What I have been inspired by the last year is that there is a new group of people emerging and asserting the authority of the American people: these are American parents,” said Chris Rufo, Senior Fellow and Director of the Initiative on Critical Race Theory, The Manhattan Institute. “It is one thing to have critical race theory in universities; you can ignore it. It is one thing to have critical race theory in the federal bureaucracy. But the fact is, in the last year they have accelerated Critical Race Theory in K-12 public schools and they have done something that no government should do, step between parent and child. Governor Ron DeSantis is not only protecting all of the employees and students in the state of Florida. He is providing a model for every state in the United States of America. Critical Race Theory is wrong; it offers nothing to improve the lives of anyone of any racial background.”
National examples of Critical Race Theory include:
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A Philadelphia elementary school forced fifth graders to celebrate “Black communism” and simulated a Black Power rally to “free Angela Davis” from prison. At this school, 87 percent of students will fail to achieve basic literacy by graduation. More here.
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Seattle Public Schools told teachers that the education system is guilty of “spirit murder” against black children and that white teachers must “bankrupt [their] privilege in acknowledgement of [their] thieved inheritance.” More here.
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San Diego Public Schools accused white teachers of being colonizers on stolen Native American land and told them “you are racist” and “you are upholding racist ideas, structures, and policies.” They recommended that the teachers undergo “antiracist therapy.” More here.
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An elementary school in Cupertino, California forced third graders to deconstruct their racial identities, then rank themselves according to their “power and privilege.” More here.
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A middle school in Springfield, Missouri, forced teachers to locate themselves on an “oppression matrix,” claiming that white heterosexual Protestant males are inherently oppressors and must atone for their “covert white supremacy.” More here.
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Buffalo Public Schools taught students that “all white people” perpetuate systemic racism and forced kindergarteners to watch a video of dead black children warning them about “racist police and state-sanctioned violence” who might kill them at any time. More here.
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The Arizona Department of Education created an “equity” toolkit claiming that babies show the first signs of racism at three months old and that white children become "strongly biased in favor of whiteness" by age five. More here.
National Examples of woke corporate trainings include:
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Raytheon, the nation’s second-largest defense contractor, has launched a Critical Race Theory program that encourages white employees to confront their “privilege,” reject the principle of “equality,” and “defund the police.” More here.
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Bank of America teaches that the United States is a system of “white supremacy,” encourages employees to become “woke at work,” and teaches that white toddlers “develop racial biases by ages 3-5.” More here.
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A Google employee program claims that America is a “system of white supremacy” and that all Americans are “raised to be racist.” More here.
In June, Governor DeSantis joined the State Board of Education meeting to discuss the importance of keeping Critical Race Theory out of the classroom. Find that announcement here.
FLORIDA DEPLOYS STATE ALL-HAZARDS INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM TO SUPPORT KENTUCKY
Florida has deployed a nine-person State All-Hazards Incident Management Team comprised of individuals from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) as well as Clay, St. Johns, and Flagler counties to Kentucky to support the tornado outbreak response efforts. The deployment team consists of an Incident Commander, Public Information Officer, Liaison Officer, Operations Section Chief, Deputy Operations Section Chief, Plans Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, and two State of Florida Liaisons. The team will be embedded in the Kentucky State Emergency Operations Center and provide operational support to the Kentucky Emergency Management division. The team is anticipating a 14-day deployment.
“Earlier this week, we made it clear that Florida would not hesitate to support states impacted by the devastating tornado outbreak,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “This team is made up of dedicated public servants who are willing to work through the holidays and provide aid to a state in need. I’m proud that we’re able to deploy this team quickly and help impacted areas begin their recovery efforts.”
“Madison, Mason, Mamie, and I enjoyed the opportunity to send off these heroic individuals today,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “We are thankful for their sacrifice during the holiday season and are proud of Florida’s willingness to lend a helping hand to Kentuckians in need. Their service embodies the true Christmas spirit.”
“All-Hazards Incident Management Teams are trained to provide support where it’s needed,” said FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie. “They’re adaptable, qualified, and are always ready to answer the call for help. Through this deployment, we’ll continue coordinating with our emergency management partners and work to fulfill requests for assistance.”
All-Hazards Incident Management Teams are regional, multi-agency teams comprised of local law enforcement, fire and EMS, public health, emergency management, public works, and other public safety partners with standardized training and field experience in Incident Command System positions. Teams are trained to support incidents that extend beyond one operational period and are credentialed to serve in different positions through FDEM.
Recent All-Hazards Incident Management Team deployments include Louisiana in response to Hurricane Ida, Mississippi in response to Hurricanes Marco and Laura, Hawaii in response to a volcanic eruption, and South Carolina in response to flooding.
More information about Florida’s All-Hazards Incident Management Teams is available here.
Earlier this week, Governor Ron DeSantis and FDEM offered Florida’s support in response to the deadly tornadoes that affected nine states in parts of the Midwest and Tennessee Valley. FDEM has been coordinating with the emergency management offices of the nine affected states to identify resource gaps and provide assistance as needed.
GOVERNOR HIGHLIGHTS NEW PREVENTATIVE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS
Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo to announce a new long-acting COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy from AstraZeneca will be available for moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals, such as cancer patients and transplant recipients, at numerous health care provider locations in Florida, upon allocation from the federal government. A one pager about Evusheld can be found here.
“This monoclonal is a new tool for some of our most vulnerable Floridians and we are happy to make this available throughout the state,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Florida has been a leader in advocating for early treatment of COVID-19 and the availability of this new monoclonal is a continuation of the state’s efforts. Florida will continue to use a comprehensive approach to respond to COVID-19 and promote healthy living through Healthier You.”
Governor DeSantis also discussed "Healthier You", the Florida Department of Health’s new initiative which serves as a one-stop shop for Floridians to access resources to promote a healthy lifestyle.
“According to clinical trials, recipients of this new monoclonal antibody therapy saw a 77 percent reduced risk of developing COVID-19,” said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida continues safeguarding vulnerable populations and providing protection options to all. Beyond COVID-19, our "Healthier You" initiative bolsters efforts to improve Floridians' knowledge of how to best support their overall health.”
From staying active to learning new recipes and boosting your nutritional intake, the Florida Department of Health works through Healthier You to educate the public on ways to improve habits and overall health. This is a resource that encourages Floridians of all ages to get active, go outside, improve nutrition, including vitamin D intake, or learn about COVID-19.
FLORIDA'S JOB GROWTH FOR NOVEMBER IS SIX TIMES FASTER THAN THE NATION
Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida’s job growth for November was six times faster than the nation as Florida gained 51,100 jobs (0.6%) while the nation as a whole gained 210,000 jobs (0.1%) over the month. Florida’s economic data reflects Governor DeSantis’ “Freedom First” approach continues to build a solid economic foundation for Floridians to successfully find employment and for businesses to continue to grow. The state of Florida also experienced tremendous labor force growth, adding 42,000 people into the labor force. The state’s labor force has increased by 6.1% over the year compared to the national labor force increase of 0.9% over the same time period. Florida added 470,000 private sector jobs over the year, increasing by 6.4% and exceeding the national private sector job growth by 2.0 percentage points.
Also supporting Florida’s job growth is a business climate that supports the economy. For the fifth year in a row, Florida is ranked number four in the nation in the 2022 State Business Tax Climate Index published by the Tax Foundation and is the only large state in the top 5. Florida’s standing contrasts with other large states that consistently remain in the bottom tier: states like California (#48) and New York (#49) are consistently at the bottom of the State Business Tax Climate Index in the nation. Florida maintains a competitively low top corporate tax rate and has no personal income tax.
“Our job growth rate is six times faster than the rest of the nation because we’ve worked hard to keep Florida open and protect the jobs of individual Floridians,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Because we have protected their livelihoods, Floridians are confident in finding work and operating their own businesses. We will continue to focus on our state’s foundation of freedom to ensure that Florida remains a leader in economic growth and Floridians are able to succeed.”
Florida continues to see significant increases in labor force, growing by 607,000 over the year, as more Floridians continue to be confident seeking opportunities in the state’s job market that, in turn, results in meaningful employment.
“Governor DeSantis continues to make strong investments and create policies that drive confidence in Floridians and businesses,” said Secretary Dane Eagle of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. “Ensuring the economic success and prosperity of our state and residents is our number one priority, and we stand with Governor DeSantis as he continues empowering Florida businesses and Floridians to create and find meaningful employment.”
Data in the month of November indicates that there continue to be many job opportunities available for Floridians throughout the state, with more than 513,000 jobs posted online. Floridians in search of work and new job opportunities are encouraged to turn to the CareerSource Florida network for help. Floridians can find guidance to register with Employ Florida and search listings of available local job openings. Career seekers also can improve their employability by taking advantage of resources for perfecting resume writing, interviewing skills, establishing career goals, and pursuing customized career training. These services are provided at no cost to job seekers.
Florida Economic Indicators for November 2021 include:
- Unemployment rate is 4.5%, down 0.1 percentage point over the month.
- Labor force was up 42,000 over the month, bringing the November 2021 total up to 10,632,000.
- Florida’s labor force growth represents a 6.1% increase over the year compared to 0.9% nationally.
- Florida businesses gained 46,700 private-sector jobs over the month.
- Florida’s private-sector employment increased by 470,000, or 6.4%, over the year, higher than the national rate of 4.4%.
- Florida’s over the month private-sector job growth rate was 0.6%, higher than the national rate of 0.2%.
Private-sector industries gaining the most jobs over the month were:
- Professional and Business Services with 13,400 new jobs
- Leisure and Hospitality with 11,600 new jobs
- Construction with 8,200 new jobs
- Education and Health Services with 6,000 new jobs
- Manufacturing with 3,600 new jobs
Attorney General Ashley Moody released the 2021 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide during a news conference in Osceola County. The guide aims to help protect holiday shoppers from online scams, recalled products, charity fraud and more. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, it is important to be mindful of how and where purchases are made to avoid falling victim to nefarious schemes. Attorney General Moody encourages consumers to take a close look at this year’s guide to help ensure a safe shopping experience. This year, supply chain shortages are affecting holiday shopping, with goods such as toys and clothing expected to dwindle from store shelves. Financial analysts are suggesting that consumers may want to shop earlier to purchase wanted items.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “With national supply chain shortages threatening scarcity of some items, many Floridians are rushing to finish their holiday shopping lists early. But don’t let the rush blind you to scams or deceptive trade practices. During the hustle and bustle of the season, it is important to watch out for scammers looking to exploit the frenzy to prey on unsuspecting shoppers, especially online. Our new guide provides consumers with simple steps to help spot and avoid potential threats. There is also a list of recalled items to help shoppers spot defective or unsafe gifts and tips to avoid charity scams.”
The 2021 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide includes a list of items recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In addition to information on 2021 product recalls, the guide features tips for online and in-person shopping, as well as tips to avoid charity scams, such as:
- Use a credit card, instead of a debit card, when shopping online. Credit cards allow consumers to dispute a charge more easily if an item never arrives or a fraudulent charge occurs.
- Keep receipts and be sure to understand retailers’ return polices and periods so any unwanted items can be returned for a full refund.
- Before agreeing to a store’s layaway plan, be sure to ask whether the retailer charges a fee for its program and whether payments and fees are refundable if the purchase is canceled or returned.
- Research before donating to a charity. Be aware of how much the donation will actually go towards charitable programs as opposed to administrative expenses.
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Do not provide credit card or bank account information to someone who called or emailed unsolicited. For more tips and information, access the full 2021 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide here.
To view the guide in Spanish, click here.
For a complete list of all product recalls, please visit CPSC.gov.
Unity - We need to stand together.
As we approach the 2022 mid-term elections and the 2024 presidential election, and in light of the abject failure of the Biden administration, we know that the very survival of our republic depends on the outcome of those elections. Therefore, we must stay unified. Never lose sight of who our political opponents are… the progressive left Democrats who are taking our country off a cliff with the active help of Big Tech and the old-line national news media. Our fellow Republicans are not the enemy!
HAPPENINGS
