Gov. Ron DeSantis comes to Central Florida for MLK Day Event

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — At an event celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made the case for building relationships with the African-American community.

DeSantis appeared at the Unity Heritage Festival at Shady Park in Winter Park.

Photos: 29 Facts About Martin Luther King Jr.

"It is the fact that the things he stood for are really for all time," DeSantis said of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "The principles and things that he believed in really stood the test of time."

At the event, DeSantis highlighted that in less than two weeks in office, he pardoned the Groveland Four after 70 years, and has appointed African-Americans to positions of pwer.

"All I'm trying to do is find good people and I think you can find good people if you're willing to consider people from all walks of life," DeSantis said.

The event's organizer said the holiday was the perfect opportunity to bridge the gap between the Republican governor and the African-American community, especially after last year's contentious gubernatorial race against Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum.

"People have to separate political parties and basically listen to him as a man," said Unity Heritage Festival planner Robert Knight.

WATCH BELOW: Gov. Ron DeSantis appears at MLK Day event in Winter Park

Monday's visit is DeSantis' second trip to Winter Park in less than a week. On Thursday, DeSantis came to Kraft Azalea Park to call on state lawmakers to end the ban on smokable medical marijuana. Read more about what the governor wants to do about medical marijuana.

Prior to his appearance in Winter Park, DeSantis visited a school in Broward County where he said he plans to push for more funding that would allow underprivileged children to go to private schools.

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