FSM-forbid that anyone is “made uncomfortable”, especially in the vacationland that is Florida. Florida's governor and GOP want to ban non-existent “threats” because they’re a lot easier than engaging with reality.
Censorship ... constitutes critique as official monopoly, resists an open exchange of ideas, and opposes any notion of public critique, or the process of reflection and articulation, that is inherent in the idea of intellectual work...
DeSantis wants to likewise tell the private sector what they can or can't say in training or teaching with regards to CRT?
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A bill pushed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that would prohibit public schools and private businesses from making white people feel “discomfort” when they teach students or train employees about discrimination in the nation’s past received its first approval Tuesday.
The Senate Education Committee approved the bill that takes aim at critical race theory — though it doesn’t mention it explicitly — on party lines, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed.
Democrats argued the bill isn’t needed, would lead to frivolous lawsuits and said it would amount to censorship in schools. They asked, without success, for real-life examples of teachers or businesses telling students or employees that they are racist because of their race.
“This bill’s not for Blacks, this bill was not for any other race. This was directed to make whites not feel bad about what happened years ago,” said state Sen. Shevrin Jones, who is Black. “At no point did anyone say white people should be held responsible for what happened, but what I would ask my white counterparts is, are you an enabler of what happened or are you going to say we must talk about history?”
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- SB 148 will also give employees the ability to file discrimination claims against an employer engaging in such trainings or discussions.
- The ACLU of Florida responded to today’s committee hearing with the following statement:
- “Gov. DeSantis and his allies in the legislature are trying to prevent students and employees from having an open dialogue about our country’s history. Historical erasure and state censorship are a threat to everyone.
- “This proposal is part of a new nationwide attempt to erase the history and lived experiences of marginalized communities. This is also a blatant attempt to suppress speech DeSantis and certain legislators do not like.
- “The First Amendment protects the right to share ideas, including the right of listeners to receive information and knowledge.
- “Banning talking about gender and race discrimination oversteps the state’s authority to determine school curricula and constitutes government overreach and censorship.
- “Students and employees deserve to have a free and open exchange about our history and its impact on our communities.
- “Legislators should not interfere with a student or employee’s right to receive an inclusive education just because certain aspects of our history make some people uncomfortable. We must protect this right for all Floridians.”
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