Ron DeSantis introduces bill banning CRT, calls it “elite-driven phenomenon”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis introduced a bill on Wednesday that cut funding to any public schools that teach critical race theory (CRT), bans private companies from incorporating CRT in staff trainings, and lets parents sue their children’s school if they believe it is being taught.

The bill, titled the Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (WOKE) Act, aims to “give businesses, employees, children and families tools to fight back against woke indoctrination.” It codifies the Florida Department of Education’s ban on critical race theory from June and bars school districts, colleges and universities from hiring consultants to enact equity, diversity and inclusion curriculum changes.

“In Florida we are taking a stand against the state-sanctioned racism that is critical race theory,” DeSantis said in a press release. “We won’t allow Florida tax dollars to be spent teaching kids to hate our country or to hate each other.” He also touted the bill’s stance against “CRT-inspired ‘training’ and indoctrination” by corporations and other private companies.

The Florida governor was more forthright in the Wednesday news conference announcing the Stop WOKE Act, where he said, “Nobody wants this crap.”

“This is an elite driven phenomenon, driven by elites in universities, bureaucrats, and corporate America, and they’re trying to shove it down our throats,” DeSantis told attendees. “We won’t stand for it in Florida.”

“Nobody wants this crap. This is an elite driven phenomenon, driven by elites in universities, bureaucrats, and corporate America, and they’re trying to shove it down Americans’ throats. We won’t stand for it in Florida.” @GovRonDeSantis on critical race theory indoctrination

— Christina Pushaw 🐊 (@ChristinaPushaw) December 15, 2021

Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez, the daughter of Cuban exiles who fled Marxism, praised DeSantis and the legislation, writing, “This important legislation gives students and employees the resources they need to fight back against discrimination, critical race theory and indoctrination. I’m proud to stand alongside the Governor not only of the free state of Florida but the woke-free state of Florida.”

The bill also gives parent “private right of action,” or the ability to sue schools if they believe their children are being taught CRT, as well as letting parents collect attorneys’ fees if they win.

Some critics have noted that the lawsuit element of the Stop Woke Act is similar to that of the Texas abortion bill signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbot, which allows citizens to sue anyone they believe to violate state abortion laws.

DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw told The Washington Post that the two differed in that the “Florida proposal allows a resident to file a lawsuit only if they were personally involved or if they’re a parent of a minor affected by the teachings.”

The bill is to be drafted and brought to the state legislature when the new legislative sessions begins next month.