Activist to Florida Republicans: "Y'all Could Have Just Told Black Folks to F*** Off" [View all]

On Wednesday, community organizer Keirten Nivol traveled to the Florida Capitol to speak out against a bill that critics say would censor the freedom of speech of protesters. But after using the word "fuck" during an impassioned plea to lawmakers, he was escorted out by security, issued a trespass warning, and barred from returning to the Capitol until the end of the legislative session.

The dustup transpired during a meeting of the Florida House's Justice Appropriations subcommittee, which was discussing House Bill 1. The bill — an official version of Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposed Combatting Violence, Disorder, and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act — would place harsh sanctions on anyone deemed to be participating in a riot and would restrict the ability of municipal governments to reduce police budgets.

Nivol, a member of the social-justice organization Dream Defenders, criticized the legislation, saying it seems to target people of color who protest on behalf of their communities.

"The goals of this bill, as is, is to make organizing and our freedom of speech a crime, when y'all could have just told Black folks to fuck off. Like, if y'all didn't want us to have a livelihood...," Nivol said before he was cut off. He was then escorted out of the room.

Read more: https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/dream-defenders-member-barred-from-florida-capitol-after-opposing-anti-protest-bill-10929154