A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction against the restrictions imposed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers on handling race-related issues in workplace training. The restrictions were part of the controversial Individual Freedom Act, commonly known as the 'Stop WOKE Act.'
The law, signed by Governor DeSantis in 2022 as part of his campaign against 'woke ideology,' aimed to prevent teachings or mandatory workplace activities that imply privilege or oppression based on race, color, sex, or national origin.
Chief US District Judge Mark Walker granted a permanent injunction against the law's workplace training provisions, stating that it violates free speech rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution. This decision follows a preliminary injunction issued in August 2022, which was upheld by a federal appeals court in March.
The legal challenge was brought by several Florida businesses represented by Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan group advocating against authoritarianism. The organization's counsel emphasized the importance of upholding the First Amendment and criticized attempts to censor business owners based on political preferences.
Despite Governor DeSantis championing the 'Stop WOKE Act' as a measure against indoctrination, the law has faced criticism for potentially infringing on free speech rights and promoting discriminatory ideologies. The term 'woke' has become polarizing in the US political landscape, representing awareness of historical and social justice issues for some, while being used pejoratively to denounce progressive actions by others.
During a recent news conference, Governor DeSantis reiterated Florida's commitment to protecting employees from discriminatory practices in the workplace. He emphasized the right of individuals to opt out of 'woke training' that discriminates based on race, while affirming private companies' freedom of speech.
