Gov. Ron DeSantis-appointed Florida official Jeffrey Moore resigned after an alleged KKK photo recently surfaced.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Moore–the now-former Gadsden County Board Commissioner–reportedly stepped down from his position after a photo of him donning Ku Klux Klan garb was revealed. The Havana resident was appointed by Gov. DeSantis, whom many accuse of being a white supremacist, to lead the predominately Black county back in July.
In the controversial photo, Moore is wearing a KKK robe and hat in all smiles while raising his arms in a pose associated with the Klan. He’s also oddly standing amongst four other individuals who have decorated face pieces on. The Tallahassee Democrat has speculated that the photo might’ve been taken at a Halloween party years ago.
Moore, the only Republican on Gadsden County’s five-member board, additionally concluded his campaign for the District 2 race. The general election, in which new candidates will be selected, is scheduled for November 8.
“Please accept this notification of my resignation, effective this date of Sept. 23, 2022, from the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners,” he mysteriously wrote in a letter addressed to DeSantis’ office on Sept. 23. “Thank you for the opportunity to have served in the position. However, for personal reasons, I am no longer able to continue.”
The reason for his resignation has not publicly been revealed, but some believe the startling photograph’s discovery caused him to do so. As such, church leaders are demanding that Moore and Gov. DeSantis “come forward” to address the allegations. They held a press conference in front of the Gadsden County Courthouse for the two political figures to do so on Sept. 28.
“I really got this gut feeling in the bottom of my stomach. It’s just total disrespect,” Gadsden County Commissioner Brenda Holt said about the Florida man. She shared that a “local citizen” sent her the picture via text message.
“It’s a very sad day in our history and a sad time for this county…the blackest county in the state,” local pastor Tracey Stallworth said. “This is not OK.” She added that she saw the alleged photo of Moore before he resigned.
President of the NAACP’s Gadsden County branch, Sam Palmer, called the image “totally inappropriate.”
Moore nor Gov. DeSantis have commented on the backlash.
