Ron DeSantis, the Republican nominee in Florida's gubernatorial race, on Monday castigated the media for not covering the election fairly, claiming they are trying "to create a narrative" around him while not challenging his Democratic opponent, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum.
"Have you asked Andrew Gillum why he had CAIR, the Council [on] American-Islamic Relations, to Tallahassee in 2016?" DeSantis asked a gathering of reporters. "He spoke to welcome them. They were an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terror financing trial, the largest terror financing trial in history. He welcomed them. He thanked them for what they were doing."
"Why were they in Tallahassee? To protest the anti-BDS legislation that the legislature was doing, which was protecting our relationship with Israel," DeSantis continued.
CAIR was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terror funding trial—a case that found the largest Islamic charity in the country had provided support to Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
Breitbart reported earlier this month that Gillum personally welcomed attendees at a Florida Muslim Capitol Day event in Tallahassee in 2016. Florida Muslim Capitol Day is organized by CAIR. A press-release from CAIR-Florida described Gillum's welcome to the group:
Attendees of the event were honored by a personal welcome from Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum on the Wednesday evening before the event at the Islamic Center of Tallahassee. The mayor's words were inspiring as he applauded the Muslim community's participation in this civic engagement event that stressed the importance of political involvement in a political climate that is, unfortunately, filled with xenophobic rhetoric.
The release also stated that one purpose of that year's event was to oppose legislation seeking to prevent state funds from going to businesses that support the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel:
Two main concerns of the Muslim community were addressed in face-to-face meetings between the participants and their legislators. CAIR-Florida remains troubled about the legislature's willingness to support an anti-democratic bill, SB 86/HB 527, which would punish businesses for their constitutionally-protected free speech rights to boycott human rights concerns in Israel and Palestine.
A campaign adviser to Gillum said the Democratic candidate "came to the conclusion" that he opposes BDS. The Breitbart report noted that Gillum has been associated with Dream Defenders, a group that strongly supports the BDS movement.
The Washington Free Beacon has reported on Gillum's connection to Dream Defenders. The mayor said he was "pleased and proud" to be endorsed by the group, which regularly criticizes Israel for committing what it describes as "genocide" against the Palestinians. The group also claims that "Palestine is the site of a continued settler colonial project, the state of Israel." During a trip to the region in 2016, Dream Defenders employed convicted terrorist Mahmoud Jeddah as a tour guide.
"I don't see the media going after Andrew Gillum," DeSantis said. "What about his relationship with Dream Defenders? They support boycotting Israel. They equate Israel to an apartheid state. Oh no, he gets his zone of protection, so it's a double standard, it's an attempt to create a narrative."