Hundreds of lawmakers, teachers and parents crowded into Antioch Baptist Church in Miami Gardens on Thursday night to discuss the new policy, which has drawn harsh criticism for requiring teachers to instruct middle-school students that enslaved people "developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit."
Diaz, who was appointed commissioner last year by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, said on social media that "there was nothing sudden" about his inability to attend the town hall meeting. He said he told Jones last week he would be visiting schools to welcome back teachers and students. Thursday was the first day of school across many parts of Florida."First, let me address the elephant in the room," Ingram told the cheering crowd. "Manny Diaz is a coward.
Harris, the nation's first Black vice president, travelled to Florida last month to condemn the curriculum. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who is the chamber's sole Black Republican and is also seeking the White House, also issued a direct rebuke of DeSantis.