Bobby Caina Calvan
Police SWAT officers guard firefighters as they respond to the Champs Sports store, Sunday, May 31, 2020 in Tampa. A Florida man was convicted Tuesday, March 30, 2021 of setting fire to the sporting goods store and shopping center during unrest that followed protests over the death of George Floyd last year. Terrance Lee Hester Jr., 20, pleaded guilty in Tampa federal court to damaging or destroying by fire a building used in interstate commerce, according to court records. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP) April 15, 2021 - 4:23 PM
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida s Republican-controlled Legislature approved stiffer penalties against violent protesters on Thursday, handing a major legislative victory to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who began campaigning for the measure last year following a summer of turmoil across the country over the killings of Black people by police.
The measure was sent to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, as new protests erupted this week in a Minneapolis suburb after another fatal police shooting of a Black man.
Republican lawmakers handed Gov. Ron DeSantis one of his top legislative priorities Thursday, with the Florida Senate giving final passage to a contentious law-and-order measure spawned by nationwide protests after last year’s death of George Floyd.
Florida Senate approves âanti-riotâ bill, heads now to DeSantis
The call to action came after nearly three hours of emotional and heated debate on the Senate floor.
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Protesters walk down Ashley dr. towards Interstate 275 before police stopped the group using pepper spray and a line of police officers on Sunday, May 31, 2020 in Tampa. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
Updated Yesterday
TALLAHASSEE â In what marked one of the most emotional moments of Floridaâs 2021 legislative session, Senate Democrats on Thursday called on major Republican political donors to pressure Gov. Ron DeSantis to stop âanti-mobâ legislation they deem racist, unconstitutional and partisan.
âDonât sit on the sidelines, do something. Take a position,â Sen. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, said in a call to grocery store chains, theme parks and utility companies, many of whom are big contributors to Florida Republicans. Many of them also contribute to Demo
Anti-riot bill heads to the governor, DeSantis expected to sign
âHB 1 is racist at its core,â said Sen. Shevrin Jones.
WPTV
and last updated 2021-04-15 21:33:27-04
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. â Floridaâs âanti-riotâ bill is headed to the governor, who has said he looks forward to signing it. Thursday night, the controversial policy cleared its final hurdleâ the Senateâ in a near party-line vote, 23 to 17.
HB 1 was a major agenda item this year which the GOP majority can now cross off its list. Sponsor Sen. Danny Burgess said before the bill was about preserving law and order.
âThe only reference to peaceful protest in this bill⦠protect it, said the Zephyrhills Republican. What this bill does not protect is violence.â