A TikTok video claims that in Florida displaying Puerto Rico鈥檚 flag, including in cars, will no longer be allowed. The video blames Gov. Ron DeSantis.
"Desanti says we can't put Puertorican flag in Florida," said text on the while misspelling DeSantis' name.
A Spanish-language TikTok video similarly claims that in Florida exhibiting Puerto Rico鈥檚 flag in public is now a crime.
"The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, signed a law to ban exhibiting Puerto Rico鈥檚 flag in public," reads the text in that published May 23. "The prohibition includes showing the starry flag in an event like a parade, in cars and even on the exterior of residences."
More than are living in Florida, based on Census Bureau data.
PolitiFact found no law signed by DeSantis that prohibits raising the Puerto Rican flag in Florida. We also found no statement from him about signing a future bill that does what the video said. PolitiFact contacted the governor鈥檚 office but didn鈥檛 get a response.
Members of the House of Representatives and the Florida Senate proposed this year limiting the types of flags that could be exhibited in government buildings, but these bills weren鈥檛 approved.
and sought to prohibit certain government agencies and local government units from displaying flags that didn't follow certain protocols or requirements.
Even if those bills had been approved, they wouldn't have applied to public events like parades or private property, such as cars or houses.
In 1948, a law in Puerto Rico known as the made it illegal to exhibit or own a Puerto Rican flag. This law was abolished in 1957.
Our ruling
A TikTok video claimed that DeSantis said Puerto Rico鈥檚 flag can鈥檛 be displayed in Florida.
We found no evidence to back this claim.
This legislative session, some lawmakers proposed limiting the types of flags that are exhibited in government buildings, but these bills weren鈥檛 approved.
We rate this claim False.
Our Sources
- on TikTok, May 23, 2023
- U.S. Census Bureau, "", accessed May 24, 2023
- The Florida Senate, "", accessed May 24, 2023
- The Florida Senate, "", accessed May 24, 2023
- WLVT Org, "", accessed May 24, 2023
- on TikTok, May 24, 2024
