League of Women Voters can no longer rally at Capitol because of DeSantis' new restrictions

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

A Florida-Sized Roadblock for the League of Women Voters
After a league rally was blocked by a new rule, the chapter’s president considers what might come next in a state where Gov. Ron DeSantis is restricting public discourse.

------

This week, the group found itself once again in the middle of a political controversy. This time it was in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis has sought to reshape a wide range of discourse, including by making it easier for public officials to sue for defamation and restricting discussions of systemic racism in workplace trainings. The league revealed that it had been denied permission by the Florida Department of Management Services to hold an outdoor rally on the steps of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee under a new DeSantis administration rule requiring groups to first get sponsorship from a sympathetic state agency.

-------------

The rule took effect March 1 and says the requested use of the space must be “consistent with the Agency’s official purposes.” Its stated purpose is to ensure that demonstrations are “conducted in a manner that protects public health and safety and ensures that state employees and officials can fulfill their responsibilities.”

-------------

Capitalizing on a loophole that allows for news conferences, the league on Wednesday set up a podium in a nearby plaza, where it publicly addressed what it sees as the state’s crackdown on civil rights, including free speech. At one point, league members applied red tape over their mouths, symbolizing what they say is the muzzling of people whose opinions are at odds with the government. (DeSantis’ office did not respond to a request for comment from ProPublica.)

https://www.propublica.org/article/florida-roadblocks-league-of-women-voters

[Lovie777]

1. Backfire.................

[elleng]

2. 'league members applied red tape over their mouths, symbolizing what they say is the muzzling

of people whose opinions are at odds with the government.'

[Diamond_Dog]

3. What the ever lovin ....

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

7. yes, one of DeSantis' fascist new laws... was in the news months ago

[sakabatou]

4. Death Sentence: The First Amendment? What's that?

[LonePirate]

6. Yeah, this sure seems like a First Amendment violation and a state constituion violation as well.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

16. has been enacted. No one has challenged it in court yet, as far as I know

[Matthew28]

5. DeSantis

Is a Hitler level fascist that is probably worse then Trump. We're fucked if either get back or in the white house. I am scared.

[RKP5637]

9. It's so dangerous, and will be the end of America and into some Nazi regime. n/t

[RKP5637]

8. It seems like many things this asshole gov. is doing in Fl throws the 1st amendment out the window.

Free speech is no long allowed in Fl. For example, just this don't say gay crap. It's incredible. Also, protesters can be run over and killed in Fl with no consequences. The shit going on in Fl is incredible. It's fascist, authoritarian and clearly a Nazi agenda. Wake up Americans!

[Ford_Prefect]

11. First and 14th amendments block this, and I suspect so does the ruling which enabled

corporations to speak with money.

[RKP5637]

18. I think also the ACLU is fighting a lot of it. I think the nation is getting to know what this

guy is about and they don't like him.

[LudwigPastorius]

10. Damn.

DeSantis is Hitler in smurf boots.

[LiberalFighter]

12. DeSatan needs to be red taped.

[DENVERPOPS]

13. He is just using Florida as a trial run

before duplicating it on an entire nation, folks.......

Be afraid, be very afraid............

"they" want to install a Corporate Fascist Tyranny..............

their intentions becoming clearer every day,

[RKP5637]

19. K&R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[young_at_heart]

14. I'm so glad our daughter moved out of Florida three years ago!

They couldn't stand all the Trump signs but the clincher was those Trump Boat Parades with the giant Trump flags. The biggest was in 2020 starting in Fort Myers (near their home). I wonder if all those ultra proud people still feel proud?

[hildegaard28]

15. What I would

Like to know is where are the lawsuits against these laws? They more than likely violate the Floriduh state constitution, too. They should be easy to overturn.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

17. not sure. maybe ACLU is busy with abortion laws and Desantis' other stuff

i hope someone gets on it.