Florida Democratic Party Is calling for Republican governors Ron DeSantis At the same time, the state attorney general is required to “clarify” a law signed by the governor earlier this year criminalizing protesters who block road traffic.
prompt Black people’s fate is also fate Protests that swept the country after his death George Freud In April last year, DeSantis signed the so-called “riot control” bill HB 1, imposing potential criminal penalties on protesters who blocked roads during demonstrations.
However, when large numbers of Cuban Americans (a key group of Republican voters in Florida) took to the streets and sometimes held demonstrations in solidarity with the democratic protests in Cuba, they were sometimes stopped, and law enforcement did not intervene.
Democrats were quick to point out that when protesters blocked Florida Highway 826 (also known as the Palms Highway) on Tuesday, no one was arrested. Although the law was not enforced, Colonel Gene Spaulding, director of the Florida Highway Patrol, issued a statement acknowledging that the protesters were “breaking the law” and urging them to “respect our community.”
A group of Democratic leaders in Florida Senate Write to the Republican State Attorney General Ashley Moody on Wednesday to express her gratitude for the “strict” law not being enforced, and to ask her for formal opinions on what circumstances are eligible for enforcement.
EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/AFP/Getty
The legislator wrote: “Some people who are rightly keen to see the voice of freedom on the island of Cuba have and will continue to close the main passage from coast to coast.” “We are happy and frankly grateful for the strictness and rigor contained in HB 1. Anti-democratic measures have not been used against those who protest peacefully.”
“Because different members of our community exercise the right to freedom of speech granted by the Constitution, we are … seeking your formal legal advice on whether such expressions and behaviors Yes It’s actually legal,” they continued. “Floridas and officially elected officials across the state must understand this information from a legal perspective. “
Weekly newspaper Contact the offices of Moody’s and DeSantis for comments.
Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani responded to a tweet from DeSantis on Sunday, expressing support for the Cuban protests, accusing him of signing the law “to quell racial justice protests.” Activities.” On Wednesday, Democratic State Senator Shevrin Jones (Shevrin Jones) issued a statement accusing DeSantis and others Republicans The “blatant hypocrisy” of law enforcement.
The governor who pushed for the passage of House Bill No. 1 said that the bill was designed to suppress racial justice protests.
— Representative Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) July 12, 2021
David Winker, a lawyer who represented clients who participated in the Black Lives Matter protests, said in an interview Miami herald The lack of law enforcement for those protesting communism in Cuba can provide legal defense for other protesters, who later tried to prosecute them in accordance with the law.
“To be honest, as a lawyer, the next time my client is arrested, I will throw this in the court. I mean, this will be the definition of selective enforcement,” Wink told the newspaper. “The next time there is a police brutality incident, they will arrest everyone… The defense lawyers will argue in court: Why is it different?”
