DeSantis Responds to Winning 'Stop WOKE Act' Federal Ruling

DeSantis Responds to Winning 'Stop WOKE Act' Federal Ruling

Javier Manjarres
Javier Manjarres
|
January 15, 2023

Florida Progressive Democrats had hopes of seeing the “Stop WOKE Act” struck down by a federal judge, but last week, U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker sided with Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration defense, finding that it did not violate an existing court order regarding the law the governor signed in 2022.

"Although this court would not hesitate to compel compliance with its preliminary injunction, this court finds there has been no violation of the injunction at this time," wrote U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker.

"Stop Wrongs To Our Kids and Employees Act" or "Stop WOKE Act," was challenged in federal court and an injunction was granted to prevent certain aspects of the law be enforced.

The ruling came down after plaintiffs asserted that DeSantis’s Chief of Budget and Policy, Chris Spencer, violated the injunction when he penned and disseminated a memorandum that had to “provide a comprehensive list of all staff, programs, and campus activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and critical race theory."

From there, they must describe any programs and how much funding they receive, especially if it comes from the state. Other specifications include full and partial FTE (full-time-equivalent) positions.

Gov. DeSantis's press secretary Bryan Griffin responded to The Floridian’s request for comment and defended the memorandum Spencer released

“The governor, as chief executive of the state, has every right to ask how public dollars are being spent by public state entities, like state colleges and universities. In fact, that is good government,” stated Griffin.

While the memorandum does not describe any sort of punitive action should any colleges not comply by January 13, it presumably includes cutting funds.

DeSantis signed the “Stop WOKE Act” into law last April, shortly after the 2022 legislative session in Florida conclude.

The bill states that "subjecting any student or employee to training or instruction that espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels such individual to believe specified concepts constitutes discrimination based on race, color, sex, or national origin,” is prohibited.

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Javier Manjarres

Javier Manjarres

Javier Manjarres is a nationally renowned award-winning political journalist and Publisher of Floridianpress.com, Hispolitica.com, shark-tank.com, and Texaspolitics.com He enjoys traveling, playing soccer, mixed martial arts, weight-lifting, swimming, and biking. Javier is also a political consultant and has also authored "BROWN PEOPLE," which is a book about Hispanic Politics. Follow on Twitter: @JavManjarres Email him at Diversenewmedia@gmail.com

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