Gov. DeSantis Signs Controversial 'Anti-Riot' Bill Into Law

WINTER HAVEN, FL — A controversial bill that prohibits riots and "combating public disorder" was signed Monday at the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Winter Haven.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the CS/HB1: Combating Public Disorder into effect as Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, State Attorney Ashley Moody, state leaders and other police chiefs stood around him. The bill was introduced by DeSantis in September 2020 at the Polk County Sheriff's Office. He signed the bill the same day of closing arguments and an expected verdict for the Derek Chauvin trial in Minnesota.

According to the new bill, which immediately takes effect, riot is defined as a "violent public disturbance involving 3 or more people acting with common intent resulting in injury to others, damage to property, or the imminent danger of injury or damage."

"We really saw unprecedented rioting throughout the summer of 2020," DeSantis told reporters. "And we said that's not going to happen here in the state of Florida, and we wanted to make sure that we were able to protect the people, people's businesses and property against any type of violent assemblies."

Champs Sports in Tampa was set on fire last summer during violent protests, according to the Tampa Patch. In St. Petersburg, protesters were caught on video in September jumping on a car downtown and hitting it with a skateboard, St. Pete Patch reported. An investigation done by the Polk County Sheriff's Office last summer found that rioters were being paid to come to Lakeland and cause trouble such as jumping on cars and looting.

"Of all the violence and destruction out there, I think it's worth noting there are heroic stories of truly peaceful protests who locked arms to protect someone's small business or locked arms to protect people who were in uniform," Chris Sprowls, a Republican state representative, said. "And our message to the people is, you're still protected. There's nothing in the 61-page bill that makes it a crime to be a peaceful protester."

A reporter with the St. Pete Patch observed a peaceful Daunte Wright protest and march Friday night in downtown St. Pete. Protesters stayed on the sidewalk and respected the public along with showing respect to businesses they walked by. Protesters said they are afraid that police will falsely accuse them of being violent, and that they are looking for a new way to have their voices heard.

"Who will be the person to say when an actual riot is happening?” Fla. Sen. Shevrin Jones (D-Broward/Miami-Dade) said in a WFLA report. “That question has still not been answered.”

According to the TV outlet, the bill makes several changes to Florida's criminal and administrative law, and will:

• Make it more difficult for cities and counties to reduce funding for law enforcement, allowing local elected officials to challenge those budget decisions, and giving the state power to approve or amend the local budget
• Allow those local governments to be sued if they fail to stop a riot
• Define “riot” as a violent public disturbance involving 3 or more people acting with common intent resulting in injury to others, damage to property, or the imminent danger of injury or damage
• Enhance penalties for people who commit crimes during a riot
• Create a new second-degree felony called an “aggravated riot,” which occurs when the riot has more than 25 participants, causes great bodily harm or more than $5,000 in property damage, uses or threatens to use a deadly weapon, or blocks roadways by force or threat of force

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said not everyone agrees with this bill.

She tweeted Monday, "Violence is already illegal — @GovRonDeSantis's priority legislation is a flagrant assault on freedom that criminalizes peaceful protests. This will move Florida backwards on social justice, silencing voices only asking that their lives be valued the same as other Americans."

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