MSNBC’s Ali Welsh agreed with her guest’s characterization of recent proposed legislation in Florida as a “road test of authoritarianism” in the imagination of 1930s Germany’s Nazi Party.
Velshi, the left-leaning network host, was joined by transgender activist and journalist Imara Jones to discuss a series of bills she described as “aimed at curtailing the rights of transgender Americans across the country.”
The presenter zeroed in on a bill currently pending in the Florida state senate that would allow custody of a child under certain conditions, such as when the child’s parents do not agree on “gender-affirming custody.”
Welsh asked Jones about the bill. “What exactly are we talking about here in this Florida bill?”
“What I’m confused about is why people don’t see that that’s what’s going on, and in a way they don’t understand that we are. This is a prototype, like in early 1930s Germany,” Jones said, referring to Hitler. Germany as a comparison for modern Florida,” Jones said.
Online, backlash against the segment was swift.
Conservative talk radio host Jason Rantz said. “Dimwits Ali Welsh and Imara Jones compare being trans in Florida to being Jewish in Nazi Germany because they are historically ignorant and mentally unfit to be in front of a microphone and camera.”
‘So they can compare.’ [sic] between the two it proves they have absolutely no perspective. Generally,” Terry Lee Straub responded on Twitter.
A third Twitter user, Clay Ruppenthal, wrote: “Lmao! MSNBC = propaganda for people who are completely ignorant of history and worship progressive fascist political religion.
Another Twitter user with the handle FLoridaDawg20 simply wrote: “It’s a shame”:
Jones said the bill is “a prelude to separating parents from children” and suggested it wouldn’t be surprising to see a bill proposed in Florida.
“Usually when we see one act work when it comes to anti-trans and other Christian nationalist legislation, it becomes a model for things to happen across the country,” Jones said.
During the conversation, Jones called the legislation a “road test” for what’s to come.
“I think what we’re seeing around the world is a road test of authoritarianism in the United States. How can you sort of single out, demonize, stigmatize a whole group of people in order to build the kind of society that religious fanatics want?”’ said Jones, who identifies as female.
‘This is what they’re trying. And it’s scary that it baffles me why people don’t see that that’s what’s going on, and in a way they don’t understand that we are; this is a prototype as in early 1930s Germany.
“I’m not saying this is an adequate time frame in terms of what will eventually happen,” he continued.
Then Welsh stepped in to confirm the claim. “But they road tested everything in 1930s Germany, didn’t they?
MSNBC’s Ali Welsh (left) and trans activist and journalist Imara Jones (right) discussed Florida’s new law on Sunday, comparing it to Hitler’s policies in 1930.
Earlier this month, DeSantis’ state Senate proposed a bill that would grant emergency custody to a child at risk to a parent who does not approve of “transgender prescriptions or procedures.”
“They went after trans and gay first, and they and they and they tried it. And society was like, well, I don’t really understand them, and it doesn’t really matter to me,” he said.
– It is true. And the same thing is happening here,’ replied Jones.
The bill, introduced earlier this month by state Sen. Clay Yarborough, would allow parents to take “emergency jurisdiction” over their minor children if the minor is “at risk” of receiving so-called gender-affirming medical care.
Custody may also be reassigned if the minor’s custodial parent has received medical treatment for trans identity.
The objecting parent may take temporary custody of the child or children if it is “necessary to protect the child in an emergency because the child or a sibling or parent” is “at risk or subject to the provision”; gender reassignment prescriptions or procedures.