Geographers Association Facing Internal ‘Blowback’ after Inviting Fired Florida Health Dept. Staffer to Speak at Conference

The invitation of a controversial so-called “whistleblower” to a prime speaking spot at an upcoming geographers association meeting is causing divisions among its members.

Rebekah Jones, 31, a former staffer at the Florida Department of Health who was fired in May after she claims she refused to manipulate the state’s COVID-19 data, is slated to speak in April at the annual meeting of the American Association of Geographers. According to a schedule of events on the association’s website, Jones will be giving “a geographer’s perspective on high-stakes public science.”