Florida Legislature: House moves forward on controversial bill to crack down on violent protests
Dara Kam
TALLAHASSEE Republican lawmakers are pushing ahead with a controversial proposal that seeks to crack down on violent protests, make it more difficult for local governments to trim spending on law enforcement and enhance penalties related to riots and injuries to police officers.
Gov. Ron DeSantis first sketched out the law-and-order plan last year, following widespread protests throughout the country over racial inequities in policing and other aspects of American life.
Florida largely escaped the scenes of looting and torched buildings that occurred in such cities as Minneapolis and Portland. But DeSantis, an acolyte of former President Donald Trump, contends that Florida should enact harsh penalties for violent protests to ensure the safety of citizens and tourists.