2023-04-26 19:50:28
ANNA MONEYMAKER / Getty Images via AFP
Disney is suing DeSantis and his hunt for ‘Wokism’ accusing him of political ‘revenge’ (Photo by Ron DeSantis taken April 21)
UNITED STATES – Their divorce is final: Disney filed a complaint on Wednesday once morest Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, assimilating the measures of the tenor of the American hard right, which ended the special status of the company in his state, to a campaign of “targeted revenge” towards the group.
A major employer in the region with its Disney World amusement park in Orlando, the entertainment giant was recently sanctioned by Ron DeSantis for its progressive positions.
Disney’s sloppy and futile attempt to subvert the will of the Legislature and Floridians was uncovered by our state… https://t.co/5l0lerJi6U
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis)
« Disney’s sloppy and futile attempt to overturn the will of the Legislature and Floridians has been uncovered by our State Board of Supervisors and their 11th hour deals will be voided by the Legislature. Disney’s corporate kingdom is complete. »
Disney punished for exercising its “ freedom of expression »
The governor, potential candidate for the White House, has made the fight once morest the « wokisme » one of his main battle horses: he accuses a group of“elites” to impose their progressive ideology on a society that refuses it, and is committed to defending it on its lands.
Not yet declared for the Republican primary, this 44-year-old conservative carries his fight once morest Disney as a standard, in his speeches as in his recent autobiography, where the subject occupies an entire chapter.
In its complaint, Walt Disney Parks and Resort accuses Ron DeSantis of having orchestrated a real ” campaign ” to lead “targeted government revenge” once morest him, to punish him for having exercised his ” freedom of expression “. That “now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region and violates its constitutional rights”argues the company.
Education and sexual orientation
The group had drawn the wrath of the governor last year, by denouncing a bill that restricted the teaching of subjects related to sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida elementary schools.
Since then, DeSantis in February removed Disney’s special status in his state, ending the benefits – administrative facilities, self-management of the site, advantageous loans, etc. – which the Disney World theme park had enjoyed since the 1960s.
Following the move, a tourism regulatory board appointed by DeSantis on Wednesday approved the cancellation of a recently signed business deal with the park, which employs 75,000 people and draws 50 million visitors a year.
A ” anti-trade position, but also anti-Florida”
Disney reacted by denouncing in its complaint “a retaliatory measure, manifestly anti-trade and manifestly unconstitutional”. The group believes that it “has no choice but to take this legal action to protect its employees, customers and partners”.
In early April, Disney boss Bob Iger had already publicly accused Ron DeSantis of taking a “anti-trade measure” who violated “the right to freedom of expression” of the company.
Disney plans to invest more than $17 billion in Disney World over the next decade, create more than 10,000 jobs and attract even more tourists to Florida, he said.
“Any action to thwart these efforts simply in revenge for a position taken by the company seems not only anti-trade, but also anti-Florida”had estimated Bob Iger.
A prison near the park?
The boss of Disney had drawn a parallel with certain positions taken by American companies in favor of the struggle for civil rights in the United States in the 1960s. In his complaint, the group is concerned regarding new retaliatory measures that DeSantis might take.
In mid-April the governor publicly considered building a “state prison” near Disney World, or a competing theme park. He also mentioned the idea of setting up additional taxes on the hotels on the site, or road tolls around. “I think the possibilities are endless”he had launched, bravado, during a press conference.
A figure of the populist right in the United States, DeSantis is widely seen as Donald Trump’s most serious competitor for the Republican primary.
His fight once morest Disney, however, is beginning to generate some criticism on the right. Some Republicans castigate anti-corporate fight that goes once morest their party’s tradition, usually openly « pro-business ».
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