Federal Judge Shuts Down FL's 'Stop WOKE Act' Workplace Provisions

FLORIDA — A Florida law targeting the way diversity and race-related issues are handled in the workplace has been overturned, per media reports.

Chief US District Judge Mark Walker on Friday blocked workplace training provisions in Florida's Individual Freedom Act, also monikered the "Stop WOKE Act," CNN reported. The act took effect on July 1, 2022.

Gov. Ron DeSantis in the past, after Walker's temporary ruling in March to block the act, stood his ground that Florida's workers have the right to be protected, CNN reported.

“If they are doing woke training, which is basically discriminating against folks on the basis of race, you have the right to opt out of that," DeSantis said at a past news conference, per CNN. "It’s not a question of what the company can say. They can say whatever they want.”

The act - which Walker reportedly said is a violation of free speech - hindered any teaching or required workplace activity that may advise a person can be privileged or oppressed because of their race, color, sex or national origin, CNN reported.

According to the law, this ideal can constitute discrimination. It also reconsidered mandated lessons on the history of African Americans and blocked reviewers from from suggesting "instructional materials that contain any matter that contradicts certain principles."

Primo Tampa of the Ben and Jerry's franchise, Clearwater-based technology company Honeyfund.com and Chevara Orrin's company, Collective Concepts, all challenged the law, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

Read more via CNN and the Tallahassee Democrat.