TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced an initial, immediate award of $1 million through the Volunteer Florida Foundation to bolster campus security at Edward Waters University in addition to an award of $100,000 to help the families impacted by the deadly shooting in Jacksonville.
“We are not going to allow our HBCUs to be targets for hateful scumbags,” said DeSantis. “I’ve directed my administration to use every resource available to ensure the Edward Waters campus is safe following this shooting and to help the impacted families as they mourn their loved ones.”
Yesterday, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) began visiting the campus, providing additional security and monitoring social media for any additional threats. FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass will visit with EWU President Dr. A. Zachary Faison Jr. today to assess the security infrastructure at the campus.
The governor directed Volunteer Florida to release the funds as quickly as possible to help impacted families and the Edward Waters University community. The governor’s office said DeSantis remains in contact with the university president, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and Sheriff T.K. Waters to ensure the community receives needed resources.
