ORLANDO - Florida Gov. Ronald DeSantis faces a federal lawsuit for his new anti-riot bill.
The complaint was filed on April 21 in the U.S. District Court for Middle Florida by plaintiff the Legacy Entertainment and Arts Foundation, doing business as the Lawyers Matter Task Force.
The defendants include Gov. DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Brooke Moody and Orange County Sheriff John William Mina.
The lawsuit challenges House Bill 1, passed on April 15 to prevent riots, which the plaintiff says will unlawfully prevent peaceful expression of free speech.
The Lawyers Matter Task Force says the bill is unconstitutional because it: equates a peaceful demonstration or participation in a nonviolent protest with rioting or common intent to rioting; exposes peaceful demonstrators and social advocates to criminal liability due to actions of others; inadequately describes what conduct constitutes rioting or inciting a riot; discourages peaceful protest and the support of nonviolent demonstrations; intimidates peaceful protestors by increasing the severity of punishment inflicted on those arrested at demonstrations.
The bill turns participation into a felony offense, sharply increases the cash bail amount and prevents protestors accused of rioting from being bailed from jail until their first court date, the suit claims.
The governor and other defendants are accused of violating speech and expressive conduct protections, violating the excessive bail clause, cruel and unusual punishment and due process violation.
The plaintiff is represented by Bates Ligon PLLC of Orlando.