When asked about the legacy of the recently departed Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis and the decision to remove a monument in St. Augustine, a clearly disinterested Florida Governor Ron DeSantis punted on addressing either topic.

A reporter tried to ask @GovRonDeSantis about the passing of John Lewis, race, and confederate monuments today in Florida, and this is how he reacted.

I have no words. pic.twitter.com/dEsXvbOSoh

— Kevin Cate (@KevinCate) July 18, 2020

“I appreciate the question, but let’s– we’re trying to focus on the coronavirus, so…” DeSantis said.  “I, I appreciate the question, but I’m gonna let, gonna let someone ask– You?  You?  Do you have a question about the topic at hand?”

DeSantis was at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine to announce the state will purchase 30,000 doses of Remdesivir to treat patients in an exploding COVID-19 outbreak in Florida.

The City of St. Augustine voted last month to remove a monument, erected in 1879, to local men who died fighting for the Confederacy, from the city’s town square.  The city council voted 3-2 to move the statue to an as-yet unspecified location, not to destroy the monument.  It has since built a plywood box around the monument, which has been the site of peaceful protests for its removal, to protect it from vandals.

Congressman Lewis, a representative from the neighboring state of Georgia, died last night of pancreatic cancer at the age of 80.  Lewis has been remembered and honored by politicians, civil rights leaders and other leaders from around the world.

President Trump tweeted a mention of Congressman Lewis after completing a round of golf today.