Florida Anti-Riot Law 'Violates the First Amendment,' Says Court in Scathing Rebuke of Gov. Ron DeSantis
17 September 2021
reason.com
17 September 2021
Enforcement of Florida's "Combating Public Disorder Act" has been partially blocked by a federal judge, who appeared to agree with those challenging the "anti-riot" law that it was unfairly targeted at black Floridians and people protesting racial injustice. Challengers to the law argued that it had a chilling effect on free speech and protest in the state. Lawyers for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis countered that there had been no such chilling effect—why, just look at how black residents were out protesting on June 19 this past summer, they said, pointing to a flyer that billed itself as a "Juneteenth Black ...
Florida Anti-Riot Law 'Violates the First Amendment,' Says Court in Scathing Rebuke of Gov. Ron DeSantis
The law's "vagueness permits those in power to weaponize its enforcement against any group who wishes to express any message that the government disapproves of," Judge Mark Eaton Walker warns.
reason.com