‘Malicious compliance:’ Florida Gov. DeSantis rips city over canceled parade
After the city of Delray Beach announced plans to scrap next year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took to social media to call out the decision.
Good Morning America reported on the incident on Friday afternoon, revealing the city wasn’t just getting rid of its St. Patrick’s Day parade, but also its Pride event.
The city of Delray Beach in Florida announced it was scrapping next year’s popular St. Patrick’s Day parade, which regularly attracts tens of thousands of visitors, as well as its Pride event.
@ABC News’ @DannyNewTV has the details. https://t.co/u49WmCzk2L https://t.co/Ogz56fPLHV
— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 13, 2026
In a clip shared by the outlet, a reporter explained the decision stems from a new state law, which is set to take effect fully on Jan. 1, 2027.
WHAT DOES THE LAW DO?
That law — SB 1134 — prohibits local governments from funding, promoting or adopting “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) initiatives.
Current state law also defines DEI as any effort to:
- Manipulate or otherwise influence the composition of employees with reference to race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation other than to ensure that hiring is conducted in accordance with state and federal antidiscrimination laws;
- Promote or provide preferential treatment or special benefits to a person or group based on that person’s or group’s race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation; or
- Promote or adopt training, programming, or activities designed or implemented with reference to race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Local officials who violate the prohibitions could face removal from office, Legislative analysts explain.
Jacksonville Republican Rep. Dean Black, the sponsor of the House version of the bill, argued it would dismantle DEI “philosophy,” which had wasted “millions of taxpayer dollars” and “fostered resentment of goodwill, medioctrity instead of merit.”
As examples, he claimed Pinellas County staff trained on the importance of pronouns, while Alachua County trained senior staff “to reject white culture.”
“Broward County spent $900,000 on DEI training, and that included pushing gender fluidity and transgender ideology,” Black said before the bill was signed earlier this year.
WHAT DOES DESANTIS SAY?
DeSantis took to social media after the decision, calling the action “malicious compliance.”
“What they are doing is not mandated by Florida law,” DeSantis asserted. “It’s just an attempt to make a political point — a point that legacy media will no doubt try to amplify.”
Delray Beach is engaging in “malicious compliance.”
What they are doing is not mandated by Florida law. It’s just an attempt to make a political point — a point that legacy media will no doubt try to amplify.
We’ve seen these stunts throughout the years. Rinse and repeat.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) November 13, 2026
Florida State Sen. Clay Yarborough echoed DeSantis’ sentiments, claiming the issue had already been settled when the bill was still under consideration.
“When the bill was on the Senate floor, the specific question was asked related to whether St. Patrick’s Day observances would be prohibited,” he said. “The answer was and still is no.”
The Governor is right. When the bill was on the Senate floor, the specific question was asked related to whether St. Patricks Day observances would be prohibited. The answer was and still is no.
— Clay Yarborough (@Clay_Yarborough) November 13, 2026