Just days after Governor Ron DeSantis signed the “Combating Public Disorder Act” into law, protesters and rally-goers took to the streets to stand in solidarity against it.
Those who stand against the new law argue it’s taking away their first amendment rights, like freedom of speech, and the right to peaceably assemble. But those in favor say the law is necessary in order to prevent riots and violence.
“It is the strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement piece of legislation in the country,” said Governor Ron DeSantis, during a press conference where he signed the bill into law on Monday.
Its policy Governor Ron DeSantis announced in September of last year, following a handful of violent protests across the state and nation.
He signed the bill into law on Monday, and since then, a social justice group in Orlando has sued the governor for violating constitutional rights, and people have taken to the streets in protest.
“This HB 1 law that was just signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, that is unconstitutional, it’s trying to suppress some of the freedom of speech that we have in the first amendment,” said Sasha Mincey, a protester from Orlando who attended Saturday’s BLM Tampa protest.
Governor DeSantis argues the law protects people from violence.
“If you riot, if you loot, if you harm others, particularly if you harm a law enforcement officer during one of these violent assemblies, you’re going to jail,” said Governor DeSantis.
You can read the full text of the law by clicking here.