The term "Florida Man" carries certain connotations. Often it involves out-of-control behavior of a criminal variety.
But a 6'5" man testifying about the dangers of the right's war on woke isn't usually what comes to mind.
The legislative director of non-profit Florida For All—a "statewide coalition fighting for an authentic democracy, an accountable justice system, and a fair and inclusive economy where we all have the freedom to live our own version of the American Dream"—recently spoke at a hearing on Florida's 2025 Farm Bill HB651.
Jackson Oberlink told the committee members:
"I am a proud soy boy."
"Soy boy" is a common insult from the incel and alpha male subcultures.
You can see his testimony before the Florida legislative hearing here:
Oberlink continued:
"I am a 6'5" vegetarian, powered almost exclusively by tofu and soy milk. I'm the guy bringing Beyond Burgers to the barbecue."
"And yet, despite what this bill seems to imply, Big Agriculture does not need protection from big scary soy boys like me."
"I mean, look at me. I'm basically the Jolly Green Giant. The free market is supposed to let consumers decide what they want to eat. But apparently Big Ag needs the state government to step in and make sure no one confuses an oat milk latte for cow milk."
Oberlink then addressed the largely conspiracy theory-driven push by untrained, uneducated—in science or medicine—self-described health experts—like the Trump administration's Secretary of Health and Human Services, antivaxxer and conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy, Jr.—to ban the use of fluoride in drinking water.
Now This Impact/YouTube
Now This Impact/YouTube
The Florida For All legislative director stated:
"And while we're at it, let's talk about the fluoride ban. Fluoridated water is one of the most successful public health initiatives of all time."
"Are we really saying that the water is too woke now? That we need to give kids cavities to own the libs?"
"Banning fluoride isn't policy making, it's pandering to conspiracy theorists.
Now This Impact/YouTube
Oberlink concluded:
"At the end of the day, HB651 isn't about protecting consumers. It's about protecting your buddies in Big Agriculture using the power of the state to prop up their profits."
"So go ahead and make jokes about soy boys and woke water, but let's not pretend that this bill is anything other than corporate handouts wrapped in tin foil hat logic."
Jackson's testimony went viral, with people applauding his plain talk style and sharing their experiences with fluoridated water.
Now This Impact/YouTube
Now This Impact/YouTube
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Now This Impact/YouTube
Now This Impact/YouTube
According to Oberlink himself, he's:
"Just a soy boy speaking for my people."
@flforallvote/Instagram
Per the organization's website, Florida For All was established in 2014 as a coalition of six organizations: Florida Rising, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Faith in Florida, Central Florida Jobs with Justice, Dream Defenders, and SEIU.
Florida For All has "built a deep, long-term collaboration with each other across constituencies and geographies. This has given us the collective power to have a higher impact that leverages the long-term strength of our membership, capacities, and leadership toward winning governing power through durable and meaningful community organizing, civic engagement programs, and electoral victories."
The organization is also pushing back hard against the Florida GOP and Republican Governor Ron DeSantis' attempts to weaken the state's child labor laws.
