Frankel Believes Jacksonville Shooting is Consequence of DeSantis' Rhetoric

After a white supremacist shot and killed three black people at a Dollar General in Jacksonville on Saturday, Florida leaders and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle released statements regarding the horrible act of senseless violence. However, Representative Lois Frankel’s (D-FL) statement indicates that she believes the tragedy was a consequence of Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R-FL) actions.

“Tragedies like we saw on Saturday in Jacksonville are the consequence when elected officials--including our Governor--spread hateful ideology, fail to speak out against white supremacy, attempt to falsify our nation's history, and allow weapons of war to remain on our streets,” wrote Rep. Frankel on X.

She would go on to mention, “Thoughts and prayers are not enough; we must pass an assault weapons ban. Our Republican colleagues can either join us or sit back and allow our communities to be torn apart by gun violence again and again.”

In a more tame and less accusatory form of rhetoric, Representative Sheila-Cherfilus McCormick stated that her heart goes out to those lost loved ones caused by the “vile act of violence.”

“Three innocent Black lives were senselessly taken today. My heart goes out to those who lost their loved ones in this vile act of violence and to the entire Jacksonville community…While the incident is under investigation, it has become undeniable that this killer was motivated by a deep and malicious hatred of Black individuals. Today’s shooting was a repugnant hate crime and a direct attack against Florida’s Black community,” said Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick.

Additionally, Congressman John Rutherford (R-FL) provided feelings toward the horrendous event.

"I join the Jacksonville community in grieving the tragic loss of innocent lives at the hands of a deranged person. My prayers are with the victims' families, our local law enforcement, and all residents of Northeast Florida as we come together to cope with this tragic loss that has been suffered,” said Rep. Rutherford.

Rep. Frankel was first elected to Congress in 2012. She defeated Laura Loomer (R) by 20 points in 2020 and Dan Franzese (R) by 10 points in 2022. She represents Florida’s 22^nd District.