BREAKING NEWS: Elmhurst residents rally-up upon DeSantis arrival

Last updated: 3:24 pm

Elmhurst residents received an unexpected heat wave after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was announced to be speaking at the Knights of Columbus, located at 537 S York St, where rallies broke out.

The event he is speaking at, called Law and Order Illinois, is invite only, and only open to law enforcement. The event is being promoted by Chicago Lodge 7 of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). 

The FOP is not hosting this event, and the location is currently undisclosed, as it was only sent out to those who registered for the event. This “Back the Blue” event will cover law enforcement and feature active and retired officers. 

An event was also held at Brewpoint until 4 pm today, alongside the Elmhurst Pride Collective (EPC), promoting love.

Photo- Sarah Glees (she/her)

Board President of the EPC Stephanie Wargin said, “When somebody comes to town with hate and division it’s really good to come together and show the other side of what we know to be Elmhurst,” said Wargin. “[Which is] a place of love and inclusion and support.”

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker took to Twitter to express his opinion on DeSantis’ arrival in Elmhurst. 

“Ron DeSantis’s dangerous and hateful agenda has no place in Illinois,” said Prtizker in the tweet. “Banning books, playing politics with people’s lives, and censoring history are antithetical to who we are.”

The tweet continued, “Every candidate hoping to hold public office in the land of Lincoln should condemn this event.”

DeSantis has made controversial moves since he took office as Florida’s governor. During the summer of 2022, DeSantis’ “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill, which targets LGBTQ+ youth and educators, went into effect.  This prevents teachers from discussing LGBTQ+ people or issues, allowing for further stigma to continue. 

DeSantis also signed a controversial bill that allows the expansion of a state program to transport migrants and stop the flow of immigrants coming to Florida. 

He has also chosen to prevent Florida’s public schools from teaching courses on African American studies, stating, “Florida is where ‘woke’ goes to die,” in his inauguration speech for his second term as Florida’s governor.

DeSantis is considering running for president and likely to get into the Republican primary for 2024. Other republican candidates include Donald Trump and Nikki Haley.