DeSantis' 'Anti-riot' legislation draws protesters to Tallahassee on session's opening day [View all]

On the 2021 legislative session's first day, Gov. Ron DeSantis borrowed from a Merle Haggard song in his State of the State address Tuesday: "When you mess with the men and women of law enforcement, you are walkin' on the fightin’ side of me."

The governor was highlighting one of his signature proposals (HB 1/SB 484) that he first announced in September, known as "anti-riot" legislation.

But just a few hours later, activists from around the state converged on the Historic Capitol building to protest the measures, calling them unconstitutional and even "racist."

In the crowd, protesters held picket and cardboard signs decrying the bill and waved flags, including one representing the Black Lives Matter movement and another with the symbol of Antifascist Action, also known as Antifa.

Read more: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/2021/03/02/anti-riot-legislation-draws-protesters-state-capital-hb-1-sb-484-legislation-session/6877090002/