Judge blocks Stop WOKE Act

A federal judge has permanently blocked significant portions of Florida's Stop WOKE Act, which aimed to restrict race-related training in workplaces, ruling that it violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker initially issued a preliminary injunction in 2022, stating the law discriminated based on viewpoint and was vague. His recent ruling followed a federal appeals court's support for the injunction, which deemed the law a violation of free speech rights. Governor Ron DeSantis, who has been vocal about opposing what he refers to as 'woke ideology,' expressed his intent to appeal the decision. Critics of the law argue that it protects white nationalism under the guise of parental rights and equality, while DeSantis claims it prevents companies from indoctrinating employees with discriminatory ideologies. The ruling raises questions about the future enforcement of other parts of the law, particularly regarding university curricula.