Appeals Court Upholds Block On FL’s “Stop Woke Act”

Miami’s NBC affiliate reports:

A federal judge on Thursday denied the state of Florida’s attempt to block an injunction on the Individual Freedom Act that was also called the “Stop Woke Act.”

The 11th Circuit Court denied a stay requested by the state after a judge initially ruled in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued the state could not enforce the higher education provisions of the act.

“The Stop Woke Act requires discriminatory censorship of ideas in Florida’s classrooms and workplaces,” ACLU senior staff attorney Leah Watson said. “Today’s order by the 11th Circuit protects students and educators pursuing their right to learn in classrooms.”

Politico reports:



In a two-paragraph order, a three-judge panel of the appeals court denied the state’s request for a stay of the injunction from U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, who determined the anti-woke law is “positively dystopian.”

Florida’s Republican-led Legislature approved the legislation, FL HB 7 (22R), or the Individual Freedom Act, in 2022 to expand anti-discrimination laws to prohibit schools and companies from leveling guilt or blame to students and employees based on race or sex.

Inspired by DeSantis, it takes aim at lessons over issues like “white privilege” by creating new protections for students and workers, including that a person should not be instructed to “feel guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress” due to their race, color, sex or national origin.