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.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new anti-riot bill into law on Monday as violent protests threaten to grip the nation for a second year, this time under President Joe Biden, despite pledges of unity.
The Combatting Public Disorder Act, approved by the Republican legislature last week, protects funding for municipal law enforcement from the progressive efforts to “defund police” and raises penalties for demonstrators who engage in criminal conduct. Under the new law effective immediately, “riot” is defined as a group of three or more people engaging in a violent public disturbance with common intent to injure others, damage property, or pose an imminent danger of injury or damage.