DeSantis warns NYC police officers critical race theory 'teaching kids to demonize,' 'hate' law enforcement

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, with 2024 rumors swirling, told New York City law enforcement at a State Island event Monday that critical race theory is teaching kids to “demonize” police.

"Florida right now has a crime rate that's at a 50-year low," DeSantis said. "Why do we have a 50-year low? Why is crime a big issue in New York or Chicago or all these other places? And I wish I could tell you that, like Floridians are just so much better. But it's not the reason. It's not. The reason is, is we support strong policies to keep our communities safe and we back the blue, and we support their mission, and we back it up with money and all kinds of stuff to be able to do it."  Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace. 

"Let's get communities all across this country to recognize the vital role that the people that wear the uniform play. Let's put this defund the police movement on the ash heap of history. And that's really the first step in correcting what's gone wrong," DeSantis said. "This idea of no cash bail, and you just release them right back on to the street.