In a recent development, a federal judge has permanently blocked a section of Florida's "Stop Woke Act," a law championed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and his GOP colleagues.
The law aimed to prohibit the teaching of critical race theory in workplaces and educational institutions.
According to Fox News, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a permanent injunction against the section of the law that sought to ban race-related training in private workplaces.
He ruled that the 2022 law infringed upon the First Amendment. The "Stop Wrongs To Our Kids and Employees Act," colloquially known as the "Stop WOKE Act," aimed to outlaw teachings or business practices that suggest individuals of a particular ethnic group are inherently racist and should bear guilt for past actions committed by members of their ethnic group.
The law also sought to prevent the propagation of the idea that a person is either privileged or oppressed based on their race or gender.
Furthermore, it aimed to prohibit the belief that discrimination is a permissible means to achieve diversity. The law stated that any mandated training program or activity that "espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels such individual (an employee) to believe any of the following concepts constitutes discrimination based on race, color, sex, or national origin," listing eight race-related concepts.
Shalini Goel Agarwal of Protect Democracy, who represented the plaintiffs in this case, issued a statement saying, "[This is] a powerful reminder that the First Amendment cannot be warped to serve the interests of elected officials."
However, the ruling does not affect the part of the law that pertains to education. Governor DeSantis has frequently referenced the law, declaring that Florida is where "woke goes to die."
Judge Walker had previously issued a preliminary injunction in 2022, ruling the workplace section of the law unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds.
This decision was upheld by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in March. In a separate case, Walker also issued a preliminary injunction against the part of the law that would limit how race-related concepts can be taught in Florida's colleges and universities. An appeals court panel heard this case last month.
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