Florida's Democratic gubernatorial candidate received a less-than-warm welcome from liberal protesters demonstrating against restrictive abortion laws on Saturday - who chased him off when he attempted to show his support.
Pro-abortion protesters shouted over Rep. Charlie Crist's attempts to speak to them outside of an event in Tampa on Saturday, chanting: 'Democrats, we call your bluff! Voting blue is not enough!'
Crist then made his escape from the site of the protest, heading to a waiting car. During his exit, Crist continued to wave and smile at the protesters.
When asked about the reaction, Crist told reporters: 'Everybody needs help, and I'm here to help.'
The reaction is not a good sign for Rep. Crist who is aiming to win the Democratic nomination on August 23 to take on Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida's gubernatorial election this fall.
Many liberals and leftists have complained that Democrats are not doing enough to protect their basic rights and enact key policy such as student loan relief. The overturning of Roe vs Wade has pushed many progressives to demand action now, and reject Nancy Pelosi and other establishment Dems calls to simply vote Blue to fix the problems.
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Rep. Charlie Crist was rebuffed as he repeatedly tried to engage with protesters in Tampa on Saturday
Demonstrators shouted at Crist: 'Democrats, we call your bluff! Voting blue is not enough!'
Despite being shouted down by the protesters, Crist continued to wave and smile
After escaping to the safety of his car, Crist told a reporter: 'Everybody needs help, and I'm here to help'
On Saturday, the pro-abortion group was there to protest the conservative Moms for Liberty organization's first national convention being held in the Marriott Hotel, at the same time Florida's state Democratic Party convention was being held in the same complex.
Crist previously served as Florida's governor between 2007 and 2011. In 2010, he left the Republican party and registered as an Independent. He joined the Democrats in 2012.
He is competing against Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried for the Democratic nomination. The congressman is leading in most polls.
One protester at Saturday's rally held up a sign that read: 'One term Ron!!! That's it b***h.' DeSantis was one of the speakers at the convention, alongside Senator Rick Scott and former Secretary for Education Betsy DeVos.
According to WUSF's Democratic State Senator Janet Cruz was also 'chased off.'
The WUSF report says that the protest remained peaceful and no arrests were made.
The station reports that the group also chanted: 'Racist, sexist, anti-gay, Ron DeSantis go away.'
A post on Tampa Bay's Party for Socialism and Liberation Instagram page described Moms for Liberty as a 'fascist organization that organizes nationally for book banning, not teaching Black history in schools, not requiring vaccines or masks in schools, and any mention of LGBTQ people in schools.'
At the Moms for Liberty event, the most prevalent topic was banning books from schools that the group considers too liberal, reports
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told the crowd that activists should be running for school board positions in the state.He said in his keynote address: 'We have a great opportunity in this election in August with the primaries in the school boards ... and then in November in my election and all these other elections, to really solidify the state of Florida as this country's citadel of freedom.'
The Tampa Bay Times report on the event does not mention abortion as being topic discussed at the event.
Crist is competing against Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried for the Democratic nomination
A representative of the protesters from Saturday told WUSF that although Republicans were the main target of the rally, the group is also frustrated with Democrats.
A pinned tweet atop Charlie Crist's Twitter page reads: 'On my first day as governor, I will sign an Executive Order to protect reproductive freedom in Florida.'
Although Crist is well-known for flip-flopping on abortion rights. He told that he regretted appointing pro-life judges in Florida when he was the governor.
According to
The fact checking site said in their synopsis of his stance: 'He has been conflicted about abortion. In fact, we struggled to find a consistent position he's ever held on the matter.'
In 1998, Crist told that he was 'pro-choice, but not pro-abortion.'
In 2010, when Crist left the Republican Party to become an Independent, he removed much of his anti-abortion language from his website, reports