Federal judge blocks Florida's 'anti-riot' law that Gov. DeSantis championed as a way to combat protests
Jake Epstein | Publié le | Mis à jour le
- A federal judge on Thursday blocked Florida's controversial "anti-riot" law.
- Championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the law criminalizes protests that turn violent.
- Several civil rights groups sued over it, saying it infringed on First Amendment rights.
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A federal judge on Thursday blocked Florida's "anti-riot" law, which Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed as a way to curb violent demonstrations in the state.
Northern Florida District Judge Mark Walker said the order binds Florida's agents, employees and attorneys, court documents show, and blocked enforcement of the law under the definition of "riot."
Walker said the state can't make a new definition of the word "riot," but that it could still suppress them.
Signed by DeSantis in April, the law criminalizes protests that turn violent. It said protests can be called "mob intimidation," a first-degree misdemeanor that can land someone up to one year in prison. Protests could also be called a "riot," which the law made a second-degree felony that carries up to 15 years in prison, ABC News reported.
The controversial law led to a handful of lawsuits from civil rights groups arguing that it infringed on First Amendment rights and targeted Black people.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
Via PakApNews