DeSantis Education Tour Comes To Sarasota Sunday To Support Ziegler, Protest Planned

SARASOTA, FL — With Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis coming to Sarasota Sunday afternoon as part of his statewide Education Tour, protesters plan to rally against the event.

The governor has endorsed 30 school board candidates around the state ahead of Tuesday’s primary elections and is making the Sarasota stop in support of local school board candidate Bridget Ziegler, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

The Moms for Liberty founder who is married to Christian Ziegler, vice chair of Florida’s Republican Party, is facing a Democratic opponent in the race, Dawnyelle Singleton. Singleton is a first-time candidate would be Sarasota County’s first Black school board member if elected, according to Politico.

DeSantis also donated $1,000 from his political committee to each candidate he endorsed and told conservative state lawmakers where they should donate their money this election season.

According to the Eventbrite ticket page, the governor’s Education Tour stop in Sarasota will take place Sunday, 3 to 5 p.m., at the Sahib Shrine Event Center at 600 North Beneva Road. Doors open at 1 p.m. and tickets are limited.

Women’s Voices of Southwest Florida and other organizations have organized a counter protest.

Protesters will gather on the west side of Beneva Road from 2 to 4 p.m., according to an email from the group.

The protest targets “Ron DeSantis’ politicization of the school board and against Bridget Ziegler’s horrendous Moms 4 Liberty education agenda,” WVSWFL said.