Controversial new laws take effect as some South Floridians join statewide protests

Several controversial laws championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis went into effect Saturday while some South Floridians joined groups across the state in rallying against them.

“Today is the day everything is completely different,” said David “Dee” Rae, who organized the “Freedom for All” gathering, which he called a “deconstructed rally,” in response to the legislation at Howard Park in West Palm Beach.

Around 30 activists from various organizations gathered there Saturday afternoon to sign petitions, eat barbecue and talk about issues ranging from gun violence to immigration. Attendees included people from Florida Rising, the Sierra Club, and the Palm Beach County chapter of the 1199 SEIU healthcare workers’ union.

The rally held Saturday was small in numbers, though Rae said the goal was to bring people together across different issues rather than protest the legislation.

“If we don’t stand in fear, but we stand in joy, that’s an act of rebellion,” he said.

In addition to the West Palm Beach event, other “Freedom for All” rallies organized by the coalition group Florida For All took place in major cities throughout the state, including Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and Tallahassee.

The laws now in effect crack down on issues ranging from immigration to gender identity and sexuality education and allow Floridians to carry guns without permits. Among the most controversial of them are:

• SB 1718, which increases penalties on people who bring undocumented immigrants into Florida, requires hospitals to ask for patients’ immigration status and report that data to the state, and provides $12 million for a program that allows Florida to transport migrants to other parts of the country, like the recent flight that took several migrants to Martha’s Vineyard
• SB 266, which prohibits colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion programs
• HB 543, the “permitless carry” bill, which allows Floridians to carry guns without concealed-weapons licenses
• HB 1069, which expands the 2022 law barring instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade to eighth grade

SB 1718

The immigration bill has drawn particular attention, particularly in South Florida, home to many undocumented immigrants and their families. At the other end of Howard Park, a separate group, Latinos against 1718, waved flags and signs in protest of the bill.

“This is not political,” said Loli Lorena, the group’s organizer. “This is about humans, feelings.”

Ahead of the bill going into effect, some immigrant workers have already fled the state, fearing deportation.  Lorena described seeing homes with furniture left outside as families move to places like Virginia and South Carolina, many of them restaurant and construction workers, others farmers.

Supporters of the bill say it is necessary to address the immigration crisis, arguing that the federal government has not done enough to help states like Florida at the border.

“Let’s be clear: This bill is not about legal immigration This is addressing an illegal problem that we have in this country,” said Rep. Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange, after the legislature approved the bill.

HB 543, or ‘permitless carry’

Anti-gun violence advocates joined the other activists Saturday, some worried that the new permitless carry bill will make the gun violence across South Florida worse.

Advocates of the bill say that it will only make legal purchases easier for people who already qualify.

“This bill will simply allow Floridians to carry their firearm without the red tape and expense of a government license,” said Chuck Brannan, R-Macclenny, the bill’s sponsor.

Critics say an increase in gun purchases will lead to more violence.

“More guns in the community, legal or not, more chance people are going to get them,” said Ricky Aiken, the founder of Inner City Innovators, a group that works to prevent gun violence among young people.

Many people may disagree with the permitless carry bill, but that did not prevent it from passing. The majority of Floridians, about 93% of Democrats and 62% of Republicans, opposed the bill, according to A University of North Florida poll released March 9.

Some activists expressed concerns at Saturday’s rally about a sense of complacency among Floridians who may disagree with the legislation that went into effect, but didn’t do anything to prevent it. Others worried that some of the people most affected by the laws are leaving.

“We’re losing LGBT people, immigrants to other states,” said Rae, adding that “animosity and division” are becoming “more palatable” in Florida.

Jacquelyn Wheeler, a political organizer for the healthcare workers’ union, added that people may often feel for others, but don’t take action.

“I think too many people are sitting idle,” she said. “They have empathy, but not compassion.”

But Rae also pointed out that not everyone has the time or money to spend on activism.

“People are just trying to survive,” he said, before gesturing at the gathering. “This is extra.”