Free Republic

Florida has adopted a law that its governor calls the "strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement measure in the country" but that critics say infringes on First Amendment rights. The controversial legislation was signed as the nation awaits a verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, which sparked nationwide unrest. The Combating Public Disorder bill, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday, was written in response to mass protests against police brutality. While the vast majority of protests remained peaceful, the law seeks to crack down on rioters.The law brings new protections for police...

Earlier Monday Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB1, a new bill from the Florida legislature that establishes new criminal definitions under the anti-riot law. The House and Senate worked on the legislation for a year after Governor Ron DeSantis led the initial effort.[HB1] “defines a “riot” as a public disturbance involving three or more people “acting with the common intent to assist each other in violent and disorderly conduct” that results in injury to another person, damage to property, or danger of injury or damage.The law grants civil immunity to people who drive into protesters who are blocking a road,...

The new law, which went into effect immediately, also allows local governments to be sued if they fail to stop a riot. "As we saw last summer, some of the local governments are actually telling, not necessarily in Florida but throughout the country, basically telling these folks to stand down, telling police to stand down while cities burnt, while businesses were burnt, while people were being harmed," DeSantis said. "That’s a dereliction of duty. "What our bill says, and what I’ll sign into law today, is that if you're derelict in your duty as a local government, if you tell...