Florida Politician’s Protest Remark Sparks Outrage
- A miami-Dade County Republican Party executive committee member is facing scrutiny after posting a joke on social media about hitting protesters with a car.
- Barcenas's tweet, which remained visible on Monday, followed posts attempting to link Vance Boelter, accused in a right-wing assassination plot, to the Democratic Party.
- The controversy comes after DeSantis stated that Florida drivers should not fear legal repercussions if they hit protesters while fleeing a threatening mob.
A Miami-Dade GOP official’s controversial social media post has ignited a firestorm. Chris Barcenas, a Republican party executive committee member, faces criticism for a tweet joking about hitting protesters, referencing Governor DeSantis’s stance on drivers and protesters. This remark has drawn sharp rebuke from critics, including Miami attorney Mark Eiglarsh, who have raised concerns about the implications of such statements on public safety and the limits of deadly force.The tweet, which referenced DeSantis’s comments, has stirred intense debate.The context includes Barcenas’s past and the broader political landscape. This story exemplifies the fast-paced coverage you can count on News Directory 3 to deliver. Discover what’s next as this story unfolds and follow the latest developments.
Miami GOP Official Faces Criticism for Protester Tweet
Updated June 16, 2025
A miami-Dade County Republican Party executive committee member is facing scrutiny after posting a joke on social media about hitting protesters with a car. Chris Barcenas, a District 22 committeeman, shared a video on X with a caption referencing Gov. Ron DeSantis‘s past remarks about drivers’ ability to flee if surrounded by threatening protesters. The post, made June 13, featured a man dancing in his car to Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” accompanied by Barcenas’s comment about “car bowling” and turning on “off-road mode.”
Barcenas’s tweet, which remained visible on Monday, followed posts attempting to link Vance Boelter, accused in a right-wing assassination plot, to the Democratic Party. Barcenas is a former Proud Boys member who participated in protests at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6,but he claims he did not enter the building and was not charged in connection with the riot.He later testified before the House Select Committee on the January 6 attack, detailing the Proud boys’ involvement and his own.
The controversy comes after DeSantis stated that Florida drivers should not fear legal repercussions if they hit protesters while fleeing a threatening mob. “We also have a policy that if you are driving on one of their streets and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have the right to flee for your safety,” DeSantis said on the Rubin Report podcast. ”And so if you drive off and you hit one of these people, that’s their fault for impinging on you.”
Miami defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh expressed concern over DeSantis’s message, emphasizing the legal limitations on using deadly force. “The right to use deadly force in Florida only occurs when you reasonably fear death or great bodily harm; you don’t get free rein to hit protesters just because they are around your vehicle,” Eiglarsh said.
What’s next
The Miami-Dade Republican Party has yet to comment on the situation. The incident raises questions about the role of social media in political discourse and the potential impact of such statements on public safety and the right to protest.