Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ anti-woke agenda has been temporarily suspended by judges who found it to be in violation of the first and 14th amendments. DeSantis’ agenda included restrictions on teaching social science about race in colleges and universities, bans on corporate diversity training, and limits on public protests.[0] One of the laws partially suspended is the Individual Freedom Act, also known as the Stop WOKE Act, which prohibits the promotion or advancement of eight concepts related to race in public schools, colleges and universities, and private-sector corporate trainings.[1] The meanings assigned to the restricted ideas stem from an executive order issued by the Trump administration that prohibits government contractors from involving their staff in specific diversity training initiatives.[1]
Federal judges have called the suspended laws “positively dystopian” and the defenses presented in court “wholly at odds with accepted constitutional principles.”[0] While the suspended provisions of the laws may yet be upheld as they move through appeals courts and, possibly, U.S. Supreme Court review, DeSantis’ offensive against the “woke mind virus” has been partially reversed.[0]
DeSantis has made taking on “woke” a central part of his identity and a key to his 2024 presidential aspirations.[2] However, MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace was not impressed with his latest attempt to use it as a talking point.[2] After DeSantis said, “I will be able to destroy leftism in this country and leave woke ideology on the dustbin of history,” Wallace let out a loud laugh before getting serious.[3] She pointed out that a “woke mob” did not storm the U.S. Capitol or shoot up Uvalde, and does not represent the threat that domestic violent extremism does.[3]
This past Wednesday, DeSantis declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President of the United States after a botched launch on Twitter that made him the butt of jokes from his would-be opponents, former President Donald Trump, and President Joe Biden.[4] DeSantis promised to bring the suite of culture war policies he’s signed into law in Florida to the whole nation if he’s elected in 2024.
Critics argue that DeSantis’ agenda is a form of censorship, with one federal judge calling it “the cornerstone of its own Ministry of Truth.” They argue that the government should not be dictating which viewpoints are orthodox and which are verboten in university classrooms.[0]
Overall, DeSantis’ anti-woke agenda has faced opposition from judges, journalists, and critics who see it as a form of censorship. While DeSantis may continue to push for these policies, it remains to be seen whether they will be upheld in higher courts or gain widespread support among the American public.
0. “Ron DeSantis Wants To Take His ‘War On Woke’ National. There’s One Big Problem: The Constitution.” HuffPost, 27 May. 2023, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ron-desantis-anti-woke-laws-courts_n_647104d6e4b045ce2482f76c
1. “Ron DeSantis Wants To Take His ‘War On Woke’ National. There’s One Big Problem: The Constitution.” msnNOW, 27 May. 2023, http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ron-desantis-wants-to-take-his-war-on-woke-national-theres-one-big-problem-the-constitution/ar-AA1bLgGB
2. “Nicolle Wallace Literally Laughs Out Loud At Ron DeSantis’ Bizarre Promise” msnNOW, 31 May. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/nicolle-wallace-literally-laughs-out-loud-at-ron-desantis-bizarre-promise/ar-AA1bUNfF
3. “Nicolle Wallace Literally Laughs Out Loud At Ron DeSantis’ Bizarre Promise” Yahoo News, 31 May. 2023, https://news.yahoo.com/nicolle-wallace-literally-laughs-loud-050039577.html
4. “Fear fuels the politics of hate | Columnists | insightnews.com” Insight News, 26 May. 2023, https://www.insightnews.com/opinion/columnists/fear-fuels-the-politics-of-hate/article_48fa2ad6-fc11-11ed-9304-4fcc109eb1a9.html
