The Florida Republican-controlled legislature on Thursday passed tougher sentences against violent protesters, handing a major legislative victory to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who began the campaign for the measure last year after a summer of turmoil across the country. country for the killings of blacks by the police.
A divided Florida Senate passed the so-called riot bill as the trial against a former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, was on the run for the death of George Floyd, a black man whose death below Chauvin’s knee sparked waves of protests.
The measure was sent to the Republican governor of Florida when protests erupted this week in a Minneapolis suburb after another deadly police shooting of a black man.
For weeks of debate, the spirits of the civil rights movement and the specter of racism passed through courtrooms, while opponents of the laws invoked the names of civil rights icons, including the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. .
“Can I tell you this bill is not about racism? I don’t know at all, I can’t know,” said Republican Sen. Ed Hooper, who joined the Republican majority to advance the bill. of law to the governor. “But I believe in my heart that, after all, we are a nation and a country of law and order.”
When lawmakers introduced the bill earlier this year, some supporters introduced it in response to the Insurrection of January 6 at the U.S. Capitol by supporters, mostly whites, of former President Donald Trump.
But critics discredited that narrative and called the legislation an assault on the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as an attempt to reduce the right to free speech and to assemble peacefully.
CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP via Getty Images
In fact, the genesis of the measure dates back to a press conference held on September 21 by the governor, in which Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls came together to condemn the riots in cities across the country and what he called law enforcement attacks.
Following the final passage of the bill, DeSantis said he hoped to sign the measure into law.
“This legislation strikes the right balance of safeguarding the constitutional right of all Floridians to assemble peacefully, while ensuring that those hiding behind peaceful protest to cause violence in our communities will be punished,” he said. governor in a statement.
The measure sparked intense passions over the months, as community activists from across the state gathered at the state Capitol during a plea by lawmakers to reject the effort.
“We know the governor wants this legislation. We know that’s why he’s here. We don’t have to do everything the governor wants,” said Sen. Gary Farmer, the House’s Democratic leader.
From the beginning, the legislation appeared approved for approval by Republican leaders. What was presented to the state Senate on Thursday for final approval was the same measure already approved by the House, which paved the way for the measure to be addressed to the governor’s table. It would become law immediately after signing.
When they adhere to the law, penalties for crimes committed during a riot or violent protest would increase. It would allow authorities to detain arrested protesters until a first court appearance. And it would establish new crimes for organizing or participating in a violent demonstration.
It would also remove local governments from liability protections if they interfere with law enforcement efforts to respond to a violent protest and add language to state legislation that could force local governments to justify a reduction in government budgets. law enforcement.
The proposal would also make it a second-degree felony to destroy or demolish a memorial, plaque, flag, painting, structure, or other object that commemorates people or historical events. This would be punished with up to ten years in prison.
“Rights have limits and violence is where the line is drawn,” said Republican Sen. Danny Burgess, who brought the bill to the Senate. “This bill is about preventing violence.”
But some community organizers saw it differently, saying it was designed to crush dissent.
Christina Kittle, organizer of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, warned that the new law could increase clashes between police and protesters.
“It sure has been a blow to our morale,” he said. “I’m not sure it’s going to be a setback, but it was created to intimidate people and prevent people from going out.”
The American Civil Liberties Union said the new law would give police broad discretion over what constitutes a demonstration and riot.
“The bill was purposely designed to strengthen the disparate police treatment we have seen time and time again targeting black and brown people exercising their constitutional right to protest,” said Micah Kubic, executive director of Florida ACLU.
Senator Darryl Rouson, a former chairman of the St. Petersburg chapter of the NAACP who joined all lonely Democrats and Republicans in voting on the bill, said the new law will not deter anyone from protesting a just cause.
“That won’t stop people from getting up,” Rouson said.
“This will not stop anything except those who are afraid. I am not afraid,” he said. “I just want to tell people, to keep calling, to keep protesting, to keep rising despite an attempt to stifle voices.”