A federal appeals court has put a halt to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' anti-woke agenda for the state. The court's decision comes after a lower court ruled that certain aspects of DeSantis' anti-woke legislation infringe on employers' free speech rights.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals criticized the law, known as the Stop WOKE Act, stating that it violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The law, signed by DeSantis in 2022, aimed to prohibit teachings or mandatory workplace activities that imply privilege or oppression based on race, color, sex, or national origin.
Two Florida-based employers challenged the law, arguing that they should be allowed to conduct diversity and inclusion training for their employees. The court sided with the employers, ruling that the law restricts speech rather than regulating conduct.
Court of Appeals Judge Britt Grant, appointed by former President Trump, expressed concerns about the law's broad scope, stating that banning speech on various political topics and viewpoints is problematic.
DeSantis' office responded to the ruling by criticizing the court's decision, claiming that it allows companies to promote racist and discriminatory ideologies among their employees. The governor's office is considering its options moving forward in response to the court's decision.
The ruling specifically addressed the workplace-related provisions of the law, while a separate lawsuit challenging how race is taught in classrooms is still ongoing in federal courts.
