Supporters of the Florida Stop-Wake Law argue that the law hinders education on divisive concepts like DEI, and one woman whose organization has raked in cash from DEI says the law prevents groups from It is said that this has had a huge impact on the country’s finances.

Loni Bennett, founder of South Florida People of Color said Her business is in decline because of Republican anti-DEI laws. Bennett said since she founded the organization in 2015 to advance DEI education in businesses and academic institutions, it has experienced a downturn in both activity and revenue. Specifically, Bennett said many of her clients “stop requesting” her organization’s services. She said the Stop WOKE Act cut her organization’s annual revenue in half by about $300,000.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis supported the bill.

Supporters of the Stop WOKE Act say This law is considered beneficial for several reasons. They argue that it helps clarify what is acceptable in education and workplace training environments, with the aim of eliminating confusion around race and discrimination. They also said the law prohibits education and training programs from promoting divisive notions, such as that a particular race or gender is inherently superior or oppressive. Ta.

.@RepTimBurchett “You are a DEI horror story” to the Secretary of the Secret Service. pic.twitter.com/F3WblQ2Wk6

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 22, 2024

In 2022, Clearwater-based company Honeyfund.com challenged the Stop WOKE Act, leading to a federal appeals court ruling that struck down part of the law as a violation of free speech. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker called Florida’s implementation of the Stop WOKE law “aggressive dystopia” following a constitutional challenge from educators and students at Florida A&M and the University of South Florida. Blocked restrictions on discussing race in universities. (Related: University of Valencia cancels diversity training to comply with state law)

Mr. DeSantis enacted the Stop WOKE Act, which went into effect in July 2022. In August of that year, Walker repealed a section of the law that prohibited companies from implementing race-related training programs.

“The Stop WOKE Act would prevent prescriptive teachers and employers from forcing discriminatory concepts on students as part of classroom instruction or on employees as a condition of maintaining employment. By prohibiting them, we are protecting the open exchange of ideas,” DeSantis’ office previously said in a statement. Statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation. “An ‘open-minded and critical’ environment requires the absence of discrimination. We intend to appeal.”

In July 2024, Walker repealed the Stop WOKE Act, CNN reported. Walker issued a two-page order permanently banning the law’s workplace training provisions, declaring them a violation of free speech rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. .

Nevertheless, the Miami Herald said the law “has a significant impact on DEI businesses across the state.”

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