A federal judge in Florida has blocked major parts of the ‘Stop WOKE Act,’ a controversial law that was championed by the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis. The politician, 44, was shot down this week after US district court judge Mark Walker deemed the law (that intends to limit what schools can teach students about racism and sexism) “positively dystopian.”
A federal judge today halted a key piece of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Stop-WOKE” Act, blocking Florida officials from enforcing what he called a “positively dystopian” policy restricting how lessons on race and gender can be taught in colleges.https://t.co/nvlntDj8KP
— POLITICO (@politico) November 17, 2022
The law, as written by Vanity Fair‘s Bess Levin, sparked controversy after republicans who claimed to support free speech and the First Amendment then supported an attempt to prevent college and university students from learning about racism and sexism throughout American history. The legislation, which was signed into law back in April, follows another ironically anti-free speech move from DeSantis, who previously banned teachers in Florida from even saying the word “gay” in grades K–3 as part of the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.
‘Positively dystopian’: Judge blocks Ron DeSantis’ ‘Stop WOKE’ law by quoting George Orwell https://t.co/dTsQbuqTys
— Raw Story (@RawStory) November 17, 2022
What Is The ‘Stop WOKE’ Act?
The law, also called the ‘Individual Freedom Act’ and the ‘Stop-WOKE’ (Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees) Act, according to The Guardian, prohibits “educational institutions and businesses from teaching students and employees” anything that would cause anyone to “feel guilt, anguish or any form of psychological distress” due to their race, color, sex or national origin.
The ruling assailed DeSantis and Florida Republicans for trying to “muzzle its university professors … and cast us all into the dark.” https://t.co/B6ZpsKW5pE
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) November 18, 2022
Specifically, it is said to outlaw teachings that could promote guilt or invoke senses of privilege for “actions committed in the past by other members” of a group. Back in April, DeSantis said, “No one should be instructed to feel as if they are not equal or shamed because of their race,” after signing the bill. He added, “In Florida, we will not let the far-left woke agenda take over our schools and workplaces. There is no place for indoctrination or discrimination in Florida.”
Citing George Orwell’s 1984, “chief US district judge Mark Walker blocked state officials from enforcing a central piece of the Stop WOKE Act, which he dubbed ‘positively dystopian’ and says violates the First Amendment,” writes @besslevin. https://t.co/ANopjxAvf9
— PEN America (@PENamerica) November 20, 2022
Judge Mark Walker’s Decision
On Thursday, Walker issued a temporary injunction on the law and said that it violates first amendment rights to free speech. He also added that it infringes upon 14th amendment rights to due process on campuses. In his injunction, Walker referenced George Orwell’s classic anti-totalitarian novel 1984, writing, “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking 13,’ and the powers in charge of Florida’s public university system have declared the state has unfettered authority to muzzle its professors in the name of ‘freedom.'”
Walker continued, “Defendants argue that, under this act, professors enjoy ‘academic freedom’ so long as they express only those viewpoints of which the State approves. This is positively dystopian.” Walker’s ruling blocks the law’s implementation in colleges and universities in Florida. Back in August, Walker also prevented the law from affecting businesses and other challenges, The Guardian notes, are “in progress” regarding the law’s impact on K-12 education.
