Federal judge takes final step to overturn Florida's 'Stop WOKE Act'
A judge issued a final order Friday to overturn a Florida law pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that attempted to limit diversity and race-based discussions in private workplaces.
U.S. District Judge Mark Walker previously ruled the law is unconstitutional. Walker said in a 44-page ruling that the "Stop WOKE" act violates the First Amendment and is impermissibly vague. Walker said the law, as applied to diversity, inclusion and bias training in businesses, turns the First Amendment "upside down" because the state is barring speech by prohibiting discussion of certain concepts in training programs. He also refused to issue a stay that would keep the law in effect during any appeal by the state.
Walker's decision was upheld by an appeals court in March. Walker's latest order makes his temporary injunction permanent.
The law, called the '"Stop WOKE Act," attempted to prohibit teaching or business practices that contend members of one ethnic group are inherently racist and should feel guilt for past actions committed by others. It also bars the notion that a person's status as privileged or oppressed is necessarily determined by their race or gender, or that discrimination is acceptable to achieve diversity.
DeSantis frequently referred to the law during his unsuccessful run for president, with the slogan that Florida was where "woke goes to die."