Federal Judge Permanently Blocks Portion Of Florida Gov. DeSantis’ “Stop WOKE Act”
From Tampa Free Press
Article By Danielle Shockey, Original Publish Date: July 26, 2024
On Friday, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a permanent injunction blocking restrictions on race-related issues in workplace training, which were part of the controversial 2022 law known as the “Stop WOKE Act” championed by Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers.
The ruling comes after the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction Walker had issued in 2022, finding that the restrictions violated First Amendment rights.
The blocked law listed eight race-related concepts and stated that any mandatory training program or activity that “espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels” employees to believe these concepts constitutes discrimination based on race, color, sex, or national origin.
The law was challenged by several entities, including Primo Tampa, LLC, a Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream franchisee; Honeyfund.com, Inc., a Clearwater-based technology company that provides wedding registries; and Chevara Orrin and her company, Collective Concepts, LLC, which offers consulting and training on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Additionally, Judge Walker has issued a separate preliminary injunction against a part of the law that would limit how race-related concepts can be taught in universities. The appeals court held a hearing on that case in June.
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