Protesters Chant “Jews Against DeSantis” & Rush Stage During Ron DeSantis Speech

Protesters from an American-Jewish Group IfNotNow interrupted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ speech at a fundraising event.

“Jews against DeSantis!” shouted two women who rushed the stage before promptly being escorted off.

IfNotNow is an American Jewish organization that claims to be “a movement of American Jews organizing our community to end U.S. support for Israel’s apartheid system and demand equality, justice and a thriving future for all Palestinians and Israelis.”

The organization tweeted extensively on Friday to back up the protestors’ claim that DeSantis can support antisemitism while simultaneously supporting Israeli “apartheid.”

Jewish Americans are one of the Democratic Party’s most reliable voter bases, even though the Republican Party is more enthusiastic about its support of Israel. Many Democrats in recent years have called for conditions on U.S. military aid to the Jewish-majority country – they want future weapons deals between the United States and Israel to be dependent on Israel’s handling of the occupied Palestinian territories.

IfNotNow embodies this sentiment, highlighting their view that being Jewish and a supporter of the Israeli government are not synonymous.

DeSantis brushed off the protesters, joking that “You gotta have a little spice in the speech right?”

He continued, “Why would you want to pay for the ticket to get in just to do that? I don’t know, but different strokes for different folks.”

DeSantis was speaking at the Amos Tuck Dinner, a key fundraising event for New Hampshire Republicans. The governor has been visiting many states outside of Florida recently—a further indication that his expected presidential campaign announcement is coming soon.

DeSantis is the only potential candidate so far that is considered a serious contender to former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination. Recent polling suggests, however, that Trump has pulled ahead substantially in recent weeks.

Other Republicans who have or are expected to announce their candidacy for president in 2024 are former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, “anti-woke” businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina).

Trump, DeSantis and their respectively aligned super-PACS have ramped up their attacks against each other in recent weeks.