Groups challenge legality of Florida s protest law tampabay.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tampabay.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
TALLAHASSEE â Civil rights groups are seeking to invalidate a freshly signed Florida law that takes aim at demonstrations that turn violent, arguing in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday that the new law was racially motivated.
They also said the law has already silenced activists wanting to speak out against police misconduct and other concerns facing their communities.
The suit filed in federal district in Tallahassee on behalf of the groups asserts that residents, particularly Black-led groups, âwho organize and conduct racial justice protests are fearful that their members risk criminal liability merely for speaking out and advocating for change.â
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the so-called âanti-riotâ bill into law last month. He had urged lawmakers to send him legislation that would enhance penalties against violent protesters after last yearâs tumultuous demonstrations over the treatment of Black people by police.
Federal lawsuit challenging Florida anti-riot bill claims law targets Black protesters Frank Fernandez, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Activists shout at lawmakers after subcommittee vote on anti-riot bill HB 1
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Several groups have joined to file a federal lawsuit on behalf of Black-led organizations challenging a recently enacted Florida law (H.B. 1) which the groups assert is intended to chill First Amendment rights.
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc., the ACLU of Florida, and the Community Justice Project filed the lawsuit in federal court in Tallahassee. The state Legislature passed so-called anti-riot bill in its recent session at the urging of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who championed the bill.
Groups file federal lawsuit against Florida anti-riot law
BOBBY CAINA CALVAN, Associated Press
May 11, 2021
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Civil rights groups are seeking to invalidate a freshly signed Florida law that takes aim at demonstrations that turn violent, arguing in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday that the new law was racially motivated.
They also said the law has already silenced activists wanting to speak out against police misconduct and other concerns facing their communities.
The suit filed in federal district in Tallahassee on behalf of the groups asserts that residents, particularly Black-led groups, “who organize and conduct racial justice protests are fearful that their members risk criminal liability merely for speaking out and advocating for change.”
Northside Coalition among civil rights groups filing suit challenging ‘anti-riot’ bill
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Civil rights groups are seeking to invalidate a freshly signed Florida law that takes aim at demonstrations that turn violent, arguing in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday that the new law was racially motivated.
They also said the law has already silenced activists wanting to speak out against police misconduct and other concerns facing their communities.
The suit filed in federal district in Tallahassee on behalf of the groups asserts that residents, particularly Black-led groups, “who organize and conduct racial justice protests are fearful that their members risk criminal liability merely for speaking out and advocating for change.”