Florida Campaign for Criminal Justice Reform: House Bill 1 is a Threat to Free Speech and Assembly and Must be Stopped

Tallahassee, FL — Earlier today the Florida House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Subcommittee passed House Bill 1.  If passed by the full House and Senate, the bill would enact Governor Ron DeSantis’ priority legislation seeking to limit First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly. Under this bill, police could arrest peaceful protesters when violence occurs at a rally even when those individuals have not engaged in violence. 
 
The Florida Campaign for Criminal Justice Reform opposes this bill and its companion, Senate Bill 484. 
 
The legislation is also not needed because law enforcement and prosecutors already have the tools needed to deal with violence committed during a protest. If it becomes law, this legislation would  have a chilling effect on people exercising their First Amendment rights. Protesters peacefully marching or rallying on any issue, face the threat of criminal prosecution anytime they choose to march in public. 
 
The following is a statement from Carrie Boyd, policy director for SPLC Action Fund.
 
“This legislation is so broad that it gives police free reign to arrest anyone when violence occurs at a protest. It gives law enforcement too much power. While this bill was originally proposed after the Black Lives Matter protests, prosecutors could charge anyone who takes part in a protest, even one that’s protesting for a conservative cause. People across the political spectrum should unite against this bill because it will censor and repress all viewpoints.”
 
The following is a statement from Kara Gross, legislative director and senior policy counsel for the ACLU of Florida.
 
“This bill is intended to silence dissent, chill speech, and criminalize and disenfranchise peaceful protesters. If this becomes law anyone who participates in a peaceful protest that turns violent through no fault of their own could spend the next five years in prison. There is nothing more chilling to speech than being arrested for engaging in it. Make no mistake, this is designed to instill fear in would-be protesters and silence dissent.  It is un-American and undemocratic.  Protesters ought to be protected, not arrested.”