Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Rips City Over Canceled Parade, Calls Move ‘Malicious Compliance’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized Delray Beach after the city announced it would cancel next year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Good Morning America reported Friday afternoon that the city was canceling not only its St. Patrick’s Day celebration, but also its annual Pride event.

In a segment shared by the network, a reporter said the decision was linked to a new state law that is scheduled to take full effect Jan. 1, 2027.

WHAT DOES THE LAW DO?

Senate Bill 1134 bars local governments from funding, promoting or adopting “diversity, equity and inclusion,” or DEI, initiatives.

Existing state law defines DEI as an effort to:

• Manipulate or otherwise influence the makeup of an employee population based on race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation, except when ensuring that hiring complies with state and federal anti-discrimination laws;

• Promote or provide preferential treatment or special benefits to an individual or group because of race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation; or

• Promote or adopt training, programs or activities designed or implemented with reference to race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Legislative analysts say local officials who violate the restrictions could be removed from office.

Rep. Dean Black, a Jacksonville Republican who sponsored the House version of the bill, said the measure would eliminate a DEI “philosophy” that had wasted “millions of taxpayer dollars” and “fostered resentment instead of goodwill, mediocrity instead of merit.”

As examples, Black said Pinellas County employees received training on the importance of pronouns, while Alachua County trained senior staff “to reject white culture.”

“Broward County spent $900,000 on DEI training, and that included pushing gender fluidity and transgender ideology,” Black said before the bill was signed earlier this year.

WHAT DOES DESANTIS SAY?

After the announcement, DeSantis turned to social media and accused Delray Beach of engaging in “malicious compliance.”

“What they are doing is not mandated by Florida law,” DeSantis wrote. “It’s simply an attempt to make a political point — one that legacy media will no doubt try to amplify.”

Florida state Sen. Clay Yarborough also backed DeSantis, saying the question had been addressed while the legislation was still being debated.

“When the bill was on the Senate floor, lawmakers specifically asked whether St. Patrick’s Day observances would be prohibited,” Yarborough said. “The answer was — and remains — no.”