Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

News

Florida Appeals Court Blocks Part of ‘Stop WOKE Act,’ Calling it a ‘First Amendment Sin’

Credits: Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling that part of Florida’s anti-woke” law infringes on employers’ free speech rights. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals stated that the government cannot favor some viewpoints over others without inviting First Amendment scrutiny.

The Individual Freedom Act, known as the “Stop WOKE Act,” signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022, aimed to prevent teachings or mandatory workplace activities suggesting privilege or oppression based on race, color, sex, or national origin.

However, the court found that the Act targeted speech based on its content and penalized certain viewpoints, violating the First Amendment.

‘Stop WOKE Act’ Scheme (Credits: CNN)

The term “woke” has become highly polarizing, with some using it to describe awareness of history, oppression, and social justice, while others use it pejoratively to denounce progressive action and teachings about race.

The challenge to the “Stop WOKE Act” was brought by two Florida-based employers represented by Protect Democracy, a “nonpartisan, anti-authoritarianism group.” They sought to require diversity and inclusion training for staff and a consultant.

The federal appeals court’s decision upholds a federal judge’s ruling from August 2022, which blocked parts of the law dealing with corporate training, stating it discriminated based on viewpoint in violation of the First Amendment and was impermissibly vague.

Opponents of the Act are fighting it on multiple fronts, including its effects on K-12 schools, higher education, and employers. A separate federal appeals court ruling last year upheld a temporary block on part of the law restricting teachings in Florida’s public colleges and universities. The appeal of this ruling is ongoing.

Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

We’re dedicated to providing you the most authenticated news. We’re working to turn our passion for the political industry into a booming online news portal.

You May Also Like

News

Spoilers! The demon Akaza from Kimetsu no Yaiba dies in the eleventh arc of the manga and the one responsible for his death is...

Entertainment

Actress Emma D’Arcy is from the British rebellion. She has only appeared in a small number of movies and TV shows. It might be...

Entertainment

Jennifer Coolidge Is Pregnant: Jennifer Coolidge Audrey Coolidge is a comedian and actress from the United States. Many of her followers are wondering if...

News

Mark Zuckerberg, in a letter to Jim Jordan, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, disclosed that he had to remove millions of posts...