Attacking Disney and Black Representation, FL Legislature Becomes Free-for-all
Move against Disney World will amount to a tax hike for Floridians, some say
The Florida state legislature descended into extreme partisanship and chaos Thursday as dominant Republicans moved to punish Disney for its opposition to the state’s new “Don't Say Gay,” law, as well as approve a heavily gerrymandered congressional map which would cut Black representation in half.
In for a special session, Republicans shut down WiFi service and cleared the galleries of press, an apparent attempt to push through these measures without debate or dissent.
“So I’m sitting on the floor of the Florida House (not actually on the floor) and apparently in response to my colleagues’ protest of the Congressional maps the Wifi has been disabled and the gallery has been cleared,” tweeted Michael Grieco a Democratic member of the Florida House and a candidate this year for the State Senate.
“Florida Republicans are replicating tactics used by authoritarian regimes to suppress protests and have shut off wifi in the Capitol building to make it harder for journalists to livestream a sit in Democrats are staging against severely gerrymandered congressional maps,” tweeted Thomas Kennedy, a journalist and Democratic National Committee member based in Miami.
Florida lawmakers earlier Thursday voted to revoke Disney World’s special tax status, a step seen as retaliation for Disney’s criticism of the “Don’t Say Gay” law, which bans discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in Florida schools. The move revokes a privilege that effectively allowed Disney to self-govern its theme park.
“BREAKING: WE JUST PASSED A BILL TO ELIMINATE WOKE @Disney’s SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT,” tweeted Republican state Rep. Anthony Sabatini, who is running for Congress.
Photographers and journalists we're rounded up and removed. Meanwhile, there was no debate on Disney move.
“So the @Disney special district repeal bill passed with no debate allowed. Disappointing, as I had a decent speech prepared. References to Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Russia suppressing free speech would have been on the menu,” Grieco added.
The move against Disney’s long-held status will amount to a tax increase on Floridians, several residents of the state pointed out.
“BREAKING: YOU ALSO JUST PASSED ON MASSIVE NEW TAX BILL. Thats right Florida, Disney had paid for all those services (Police, Fire, Street repair, blah blah) but now a new Municipality will have to be created. Your Representatives are genius. I think this is their last term,” said one.
Meanwhile, lawmakers pivoted to approve an extreme gerrymandering of the Sunshine State’s congressional districts, which opponents say will slice Black representation in half.
“These are maps that cut the Black representation in our congressional seats in half … and lock into control Republican dominance for the next 10 years and more,” said Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani.
Among those speaking out is the Sierra Club of Florida.
“The Florida Sierra Club has been a strong opponent of this map and of the practice of racial gerrymandering, as well as a vocal advocate for a free and fair democracy on top of environmental issues for years,” Sierra Club Florida Political Director Luigi Guadarrama said in a statement released by the organization.
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