"An All-Out Assault on Black People": Civil Liberties Groups Sue DeSantis Over Anti-Protest Law

After the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police last year, Miami joined the nation in widespread protests to bring attention to racial injustices and police brutality in the United States. Most of the protests were peaceful, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis latched on to the few occasions that became disorderly to propose a new law that would increase penalties for crimes committed at demonstrations.

Critics cried foul, saying the legislation criminalizes protests, creates a chilling effect on free speech, and unfairly targets Black people who are speaking out against injustices. But the bill moved through the Florida legislature this past session, and DeSantis signed the Combating Public Disorder Act into law last month.

The day DeSantis signed the bill, community organizers and demonstrators with groups such as the Black Collective were prepared to take to the streets to protest the legislation. But they didn't — out of fear of getting arrested and being held in custody for an extended period without bail. And that, civil rights attorneys and advocates say, was the entire point of the law.

"They want to create this level of fear in our communities that we don't have a right to voice our concerns and hold individuals in power accountable," says Francesca Menes, co-founder of the Black Collective. "They want us to step back."

Read more: https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/florida-gov-ron-desantis-sued-over-anti-protest-law-11334730