Stop WOKE Act
The Individual Freedom Act, commonly known as the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act and abbreviated to the Stop WOKE Act, is a Florida state law which regulates the content of instruction and training in schools and workplaces. Among other provisions, it prohibits instruction that individuals share responsibility for others' past actions by virtue of their race, sex or national origin.[1] After passing both chambers of the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature along party lines, it was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on April 22, 2022, and entered into effect July 1 the same year.[2]
Individual Freedom Act | |
---|---|
Florida Legislature | |
Enacted by | Florida House of Representatives |
Enacted by | Florida Senate |
Signed by | Ron DeSantis |
Signed | April 22, 2022 |
Effective | July 1, 2022 |
Legislative history | |
First chamber: Florida House of Representatives | |
Introduced by | Bryan Avila |
Passed | February 24, 2022 |
Voting summary |
|
Second chamber: Florida Senate | |
Passed | March 10, 2022 |
Voting summary |
|
Status: Not fully in force |
Intended by DeSantis to "fight back" against "woke indoctrination" and critical race theory,[3] critics of the law have described it as whitewashing and an attack on the First Amendment.[4] U.S. district judge Mark E. Walker declared parts of the law relating to workplace diversity training unconstitutional in August 2022, and in November he issued a temporary injunction preventing the law from being enforced in higher education. DeSantis has appealed the ruling to the Eleventh Circuit, which has stated it will consider the workplace section of the Stop WOKE Act.[5][6][7]
References
- Sullivan, Becky (November 18, 2022). "With a nod to '1984,' a federal judge blocks Florida's anti-'woke' law in colleges". NPR. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
- "Florida House Bill 7". Florida Senate.
- "Governor DeSantis Announces Legislative Proposal to Stop W.O.K.E. Activism and Critical Race Theory in Schools and Corporations". Governor of Florida. December 15, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
- Reilly, Katie (April 22, 2022). "Florida's Governor Just Signed the 'Stop Woke Act.' Here's What It Means for Schools". Time. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
- Anderson, Curt (August 18, 2022). "Judge blocks Florida 'woke' law pushed by Gov. DeSantis". Associated Press. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
- Brasch, Ben (November 17, 2022). "Judge nixes higher education portions of Florida's Stop WOKE Act". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
- Florida, Jim Saunders | News Service of (August 21, 2023). "Appeal court to consider workplace part of 'Stop WOKE' act". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 22, 2023.