The Dream Defenders, NAACP, Black Lives Matters and other Florida activists join a federal lawsuit, calling the new law racially motivated.
A group of peaceful protesters takes a knee and pauses as they march down Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on June 6, 2020. They were peacefully protesting the killing of George Floyd. MIKE STOCKER/SUN SENTINEL/TNS
BY BOBBY CAINA CALVAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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 on May 11 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.
Groups challenge constitutionality of protest law
The suit contends the law will have a chilling effect on protected speech and violates equal-protection and due-process rights.
Arguing that a new law is intended to “suppress the viewpoints of Black-led organizations and their allies,” a coalition of groups Tuesday challenged the constitutionality of changes championed by Gov.
Ron
DeSantis to crack down on violent protests.
A 62-page lawsuit filed in federal court in Tallahassee on behalf of groups such as the Dream Defenders and the Florida State Conference of the NAACP contends that the law (HB 1), which DeSantis signed on April 19, will have a “chilling” effect on protected speech and violates equal-protection and due-process rights.
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.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signs a law that immediately enhances criminal penalties for crimes committed during protests that turn violent.
TALLAHASSEE - Arguing that a new law is intended to “suppress the viewpoints of Black-led organizations and their allies,” a coalition of groups Tuesday challenged the constitutionality of changes championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to crack down on violent protests.
A 62-page lawsuit filed in federal court in Tallahassee on behalf of groups such as the Dream Defenders and the Florida State Conference of the NAACP contends that the law (HB 1), which DeSantis signed on April 19, will have a “chilling” effect on protected speech and violates equal-protection and due-process rights.
Arguing that a new law is intended to “suppress the viewpoints of Black-led organizations and their allies,” a coalition of groups Tuesday challenged the constitutionality of changes championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to crack down on violent protests.