Stop WOKE Act

Individual Freedom Act
Florida Legislature
Enacted byFlorida House of Representatives
Enacted byFlorida Senate
Signed byRon DeSantis
SignedApril 22, 2022
EffectiveJuly 1, 2022
Legislative history
First chamber: Florida House of Representatives
Introduced byBryan Avila
PassedFebruary 24, 2022
Voting summary
  • 74 Florida Representatives
    voted for
  • 41 Florida Representatives
    voted against
Second chamber: Florida Senate
PassedMarch 10, 2022
Voting summary
  • 24 Florida Senators
    voted for
  • 15 Florida Senators
    voted against
Status: Not fully in force

The Stop WOKE Act, also known as the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act and redubbed the Individual Freedom Act, is a Florida state law which prohibited schools and businesses from teaching certain concepts related to race, gender, racism, and privilege. In addition to that, it prohibits Florida educational institutions and businesses from discussing whether race, gender, and systemic racism intersect with various social systems, including legal, healthcare, education, and so forth. Penalties would include disciplinary action, including job termination, and loss of public funding for state schools.[1][2]

After passing both chambers of the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature along party lines, it was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on April 22, 2022, and entered into effect on July 1.[3] Intended by DeSantis to "fight back" against "woke indoctrination" and critical race theory,[4] critics of the law described it as whitewashing and an attack on the First Amendment.[5] Governor DeSantis also signed the bill into Florida law with the intention that it will eliminate feelings of "guilt" and "shame"[6] from students who based on their race and gender.

U.S. district judge Mark E. Walker declared parts of the law relating to workplace diversity training unconstitutional in August 2022, and in November he issued a temporary injunction preventing the law from being enforced in higher education. On appeal, the Eleventh Circuit upheld the district court decision in March 2024, ruling that the law would violate businesses' First Amendment rights.[7] On July 26, 2024, Judge Walker granted a permanent injunction against the workplace provisions.[8][9]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference mtsu was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference sullivan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Florida House Bill 7". Florida Senate.
  4. ^ "Governor DeSantis Announces Legislative Proposal to Stop W.O.K.E. Activism and Critical Race Theory in Schools and Corporations". Governor of Florida. December 15, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  5. ^ Reilly, Katie (April 22, 2022). "Florida's Governor Just Signed the 'Stop Woke Act.' Here's What It Means for Schools". Time. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  6. ^ "Florida's governor signs controversial bill banning critical race theory in schools". WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm. April 22, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  7. ^ Anderson, Curt (March 5, 2024). "Court rules Florida's 'stop woke' law restricting business diversity training is unconstitutional". AP News.
  8. ^ Atterbury, Andrew (July 26, 2024). "Federal courts spike piece of DeSantis 'Stop Woke' law". POLITICO. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Florida, News Service of (July 26, 2024). "Federal judge permanently blocks part of Florida's Stop WOKE Act, pushed by Gov. DeSantis". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved July 29, 2024.