TALLAHASSEE — On Monday, a federal appeals court upheld a ruling blocking Florida from implementing a law pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that restricts how private companies teach diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit's Northern Florida District ruled that the Stop Woke Act "exceeds the bounds" of the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and expression in its attempts to regulate workplace training on race, color, sex and national origin. The ruling upheld a nearly identical ruling from 2022.
“By limiting its restrictions to a list of ideas designated as offensive, the Act targets speech based on its content." wrote Judge Britt C. Grant in the court's ruling. "And by barring only speech that endorses any of those ideas, it penalizes certain viewpoints—the greatest First Amendment sin."
A spokesperson for the governor said that in a statement following the ruling that the governor's office is reviewing all options in terms of an appeal. The Stop Woke Act was one of DeSantis' top legislative priorities in 2022 as he geared up for his failed presidential bid.
The legislation was passed by the legislature in that year's session along party lines. Aimed at culture war talking points such as DEI, it prohibits training sessions in workplaces, public schools, colleges, and universities that could lead a person to feel guilty or ashamed about the historic actions of their race or sex.
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san.gander
Let me paraphrase Joseph Welch from the 50's when it comes to this legislation that DeSantis and his rubberstamp legislature are trying to do with this "dastardly" Stop Woke Act: "Until this moment, ..., I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. ... You done enough. At long last, have you left no sense of decency?" ... one can add: Govenor, Legislators, have you no sense of shame?
DeSantis and his Republican Legislature with the Stop Woke Act tried to end Freedom of Speech in Florida by restricting any actions, even peaceful, lawful actions, in support or agreement with that idea.
In the past, one could trust the Supreme Court of the United States to throw out such "ill intended" states laws, which obvious violate Constitutional Law. But I have come to question if this Supreme Court can be trusted to protect the American Citizen from an over-reaching State government.
Wednesday, March 6 Report this