The monument, placed in St. Augustine's historic Plaza de la Constitución, stands near the very site where Douglass once moved a crowd to spontaneously sing the National Anthem — and not far from where slaves were once sold

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA — February 25, 2026

In a ceremony that was equal parts history lesson and political statement, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stood in one of America's oldest public squares this week and unveiled a bronze statue of Frederick Douglass — the enslaved man who taught himself to read and write, escaped bondage, and went on to become one of the most powerful voices for freedom in the history of the United States.

The statue now stands permanently in St. Augustine's Plaza de la Constitución, a public space that has been in continuous use since the 1500s and is surrounded by some of Florida's most iconic landmarks. The location carries profound weight — the statue sits near the very place where slaves were once sold in downtown St. Augustine, where the Ku Klux Klan once rallied, and where a monument to the Confederacy once stood. 

"A Testament to Grit and Determination"

DeSantis was effusive in his praise of Douglass, placing him among the giants of American oratory. "He's one of the top five orators in American history. I don't think there's a question about that," the Governor told the crowd. "Now, was he sent to boarding school and Harvard and all this stuff? No, he was a slave, and he had to teach himself how to do all those things, and it's really a testament to grit and determination and prevailing against all odds." 

DeSantis also connected the statue's placement to a specific moment in history. Douglass delivered a speech right around the corner from the Plaza at the Genovar Opera House — once located on St. George Street — and the crowd was so moved that they spontaneously rose and began singing the National Anthem when he finished. DeSantis quipped with a smile, "I've given a lot of speeches. It's hard to get people to get up and start singing when you're done, so that takes some skill."

Part of America's 250th Anniversary

The unveiling is part of Florida's America250FL initiative, the state's official observance of America's semiquincentennial. As part of the broader effort, statues of the nation's founding fathers have been placed around the state — but DeSantis made clear that Douglass deserved his place among them. "One of the things we've said is, it's not just about people that signed the Declaration of Independence," DeSantis said. "We want to honor Americans throughout history who've exemplified that Spirit of 1776 and those timeless ideals that are so meaningful, even here today." 

Calling Douglass's life's work nothing short of divine, DeSantis added, "I do think he was doing God's work. So I'm excited to have been a part of putting Frederick Douglass here, particularly for young people. They're going to be able to come and see and learn about Frederick Douglass. And I think they'll learn a lot about freedom, inequality, and that's really, really significant." 

Bipartisan Praise

The ceremony drew rare cross-aisle applause. Senator Darryl Rouson, Chair of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, praised the installation, saying: "Frederick Douglass embodied the highest ideals of the American experiment. This monument honors a man who helped move America closer to its founding promises of liberty, equality, and justice under the law." 

Democratic State Senator Tracie Davis of Jacksonville was also present and applauded DeSantis, saying she believes in the governor's support for Black history — and praised him for signing $1 million in funding approved by the Florida Legislature to bring the Florida Museum of Black History to St. Augustine.

The Legacy of Frederick Douglass

Born into slavery on Maryland's Eastern Shore, Douglass taught himself to read and write before escaping bondage in 1838. His rise to prominence as a writer, lecturer, and abolitionist made him one of the most influential moral leaders of the 19th century. During the Civil War, he advised President Abraham Lincoln and became a leading advocate for Black enlistment in the Union Army. He later served in presidential appointments as U.S. Marshal for Washington D.C., Recorder of Deeds, and U.S. Minister to Haiti.

His 1889 visit to Florida — the trip commemorated by the new St. Augustine statue — drew massive crowds in Jacksonville before he made his way to the First Coast, leaving a lasting mark on the region that has now been immortalized in bronze.