DeSantis Just Made It ‘Illegal’ To Protest Outside Someone’s Home In Florida
Bo Banks
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On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida House Bill 1571 into law making it illegal to picket or protest outside an individual’s home.
The new law will prosecute all violators with second-degree misdemeanors from October 1 onwards.
BREAKING — Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill making it illegal to protest or picket out side of a person’s home. Residential-picketing is punishable by a second-degree misdemeanor.
— Election Wizard 🇺🇸 (@ElectionWiz) May 16, 2022
“Sending unruly mobs to private residences, like we have seen with the angry crowds in front of the homes of Supreme Court justices, is inappropriate,” DeSantis said in a statement.
“This bill will provide protection to those living in residential communities and I am glad to sign it into law,” he continued.
JUST IN: @GovRonDeSantis signed HB 1571, which prohibits protesting outside of a person’s residence.
“Sending unruly mobs to private residences, like we have seen with the angry crowds in front of the homes of Supreme Court justices, is inappropriate,” said Governor DeSantis. pic.twitter.com/z3TrCJV8to
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) May 16, 2022
The text of the law reads:
It is unlawful for a person to picket or protest before or about the dwelling of any person with the intent to harass or disturb that person in his or her dwelling.
Protesters will first receive a warning from law officials to disperse under the new law. But after that, they can be arrested, prosecuted, and punished if they still choose not to comply.
This is what the text has to say about how law enforcement is supposed to conduct itself:
Before a person may be arrested for a violation of this section, a law enforcement officer… or a local, state, federal, or military law enforcement agency must go as near to the person as may be done with safety and shall command any person picketing or protesting before or about the dwelling of a person to immediately and peaceably disperse. If any such person does not thereupon immediately and peaceably disperse, he or she may be arrested for a violation of this section.
This new Florida law is clearly in response to the recent string of protests by pro-abortion activists at the homes of Supreme Court justices.
As the sunshine state governor has made clear, these protesters are nothing but unruly mobs that need to be kept in check. DeSantis is leading the charge against this out-of-control and often encouraged activism by using his elected political power to ease activist pressure and restore normalcy. Not to mention law and order.
From now on, protestors and activists will think twice before harassing innocent individuals at their homes – at least in the state of Florida. With other governors, particularly Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, hopefully following suit soon.
This bill is a step in the right direction to protect everyday Americans from the violent and oftentimes life-threatening protests that have become all too common in recent years.
Once again, DeSantis is showing off his strong leadership skills by going on the offense.
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