DeSantis: COVID was a 'woke' virus because 'experts' said it was 'OK' for BLM to protest

Ron DeSantis joked that COVID must be a 'woke' virus because Democrats thought it wouldn't spread to Black Lives Matter protesters during the summer of 2020, but would affect anti-lockdown demonstrators.

The Florida Governor's favorite word is 'woke,' and he uses it to describe almost everything he disagrees with coming from progressive lawmakers, politicians and corporations.

During a press conference marking the three-year anniversary of the start of 'two weeks to stop the spread,' DeSantis railed against lockdowns, Dr. Anthony Fauci, selective rules and multiple relief packages leading to the current financial crisis.

Just a few months after the coronavirus pandemic swept through the U.S., Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters took to the streets following the police killing of George Floyd.

DeSantis pointed out the hypocrisy in enforcement when BLM protesters were not punished for gathering in large masses during lockdowns but others were. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joked Thursday that COVID-19 must be a 'woke' virus because liberals though it was OK for large groups of BLM protesters to gather during the pandemic but not anti-lockdown demonstrators

'Even though they've gotten hundreds or thousands of people together, that was fine. They actually wrote a letter saying this,' DeSantis said at his briefing on Thursday in Winter Haven, Florida along with the state's Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo.

The potential 2024 presidential candidate added: 'And in the same letter they said it's fine to protest with BLM but that does not mean it's OK to protest against lockdowns or other things that you may [oppose].' 

'So, this was presumably a woke virus,' The Florida governor said to laughs and applause from the crowd while standing behind a podium with a sign reading '3 Years to Slow the Spread.'

DeSantis' comments were meant to suggest that the virus could somehow distinguish between those protesting police – since liberals felt that was OK public discourse – and those protesting lockdowns.

At the same time of these protests, public group activities also remained heavily regulated – like eating out at restaurants or going to concerts. 

The press conference on Thursday marked three years with some sort of COVID-related restrictions still in place in certain areas of the country. 

DeSantis has not yet announced a bid for president in 2024, but his recent activity touring the country and increasing criticism of the current administration has raised the ears of those closely monitoring the primary contest. 

The model '15 Days to Slow the Spread' was first introduced on March 16, 2020 when President Donald Trump was still in office. The proposal was meant to be a two week period where all businesses shut down and people stayed home unless they were going out to buy food to seek emergency care in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 and prevent a full-blown health crisis.

Black Lives Matter protesters gathered in large – many time, close – groups to rally against police in the U.S. after an officer killed George Floyd on video in 2020. They were not stopped from organizing early in the pandemic despite strict lockdowns due to the public health emergency

Those protesting mask mandates and lockdowns were not treated with the same grace as the BLM demonstrators and would face roadblocks trying to gather during the pandemic

In that two-week period, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported approximately 4,000 deaths involving the COVID-19 virus. This means that people with pneumonia and flus and other illnesses that also tested positive for coronavirus were included in this category.

It turned out that the first strain of COVID-19 was highly contagious, but was most dangerous for those with co-morbidities – like obesity or other diseases – and the elderly.

The two weeks, therefore, was not adequate time to slow the spread and lockdowns continued to be extended and expanded to include more restrictions.

Florida, under the leadership of DeSantis, was one of the first states to balk lockdowns and reopen for business.

The Sunshine State also was a leader in fighting back against vaccine mandates and passports when the Biden administration began implementing them in 2021.