Your turn: Defacement in Delray Beach should count as hate crime
palmbeachpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from palmbeachpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Florida man won t face hate crime charges for vandalizing Pride flag crosswalk
metroweekly.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from metroweekly.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Potential Liabilities for Cities, Insurers from Florida’s New ‘Anti-Riot’ Law By Jamie Alan Cole and Eric Stettin | May 18, 2021
The right to protest in America is a fundamental right guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects both the “freedom of speech” and the “right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The right to protest is, however, limited – “peaceable” being the operative word.
In response to recent demonstrations across the United States, Florida Governor DeSantis signed the “Combatting Public Disorder Act” on April 19, 2021. The most reported result of the new law is the creation of new criminal offenses and the enhancement of criminal penalties for applicable existing offenses. The potential chilling of First Amendment rights has already resulted in a judicial challenge.
The law was passed in response to national protests demanding justice for the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the release stated. The law was passed despite that the fact that “the vast majority” of the protests were peaceful, the release said.
The law creates new criminal penalties against protesters and enhances criminal and civil penalties for various actions during protests, the release said.
The law also gives DeSantis the power to override any city’s decision to reduce a police department’s budget if the budget is appealed by a prosecutor, county or city commissioner, the release said.