Category Archives: Civil Rights
Florida Governor Announces Legislation That Criminalizes Protesting
In late September, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced new legislation here in Florida that would create new criminal offenses and penalties for those who “participate in disorderly assemblies,” or rather, punish those who protest. Titled the “Combating Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act,” some text of the bill is highly questionable… Read More »
Federal Agents Deployed to Cities to Arrest Non-Violent Protesters Under Questionable Circumstances
The federal government recently deployed federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security to Portland, Oregon, a number of which then arrested protesters without warrants and identification badges, and placed them into unmarked SUVs. They also indiscriminately used acoustic weapons, rubber bullets, and tear gas against non-violent protesters, legal observers, and journalists, which has… Read More »
Many Charged with Unlawful Assembly in Florida for Protesting After George Floyd’s Death
With protests erupting all over the country, including here in Florida, many are being arrested on a daily basis and charged with unlawful assembly and resisting police – a second-degree misdemeanor – in connection with these activities. Several have also had additional charges added on, including battery on a law enforcement officer, criminal mischief,… Read More »
A New Civil Rights, Racial Profiling Issue During the Pandemic: Being Arrested for Wearing a Mask—While Being Black
A serious civil rights and police misconduct issue has come up during the coronavirus pandemic, and involves innocent African American men being arrested for wearing masks in accordance with recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). For example, earlier in April, an officer in Miami arrested a black man who was wearing… Read More »
Florida’s Proposal to Create a Prison-Within-A-Prison During Pandemic Arguably Violates Prisoners’ Eighth Amendment Rights
In early May, a proposal to create a separate category of prison within Florida’s central prison system–an area referred to as an “administration management unit” (AMU)–was put forth, whereby “troublemakers” within the prison would reportedly be segregated from the rest of the general prison population. Critics have indicated that it represents the administration’s attempt… Read More »
The First Amendment On Trial
The US supreme court has been petitioned to review an incredibly important First Amendment free-speech case, McKesson v. Doe. The case involves a police officer who was allegedly assaulted at a black lives matter protest, and who is now seeking damages against the individual who organized the protest even though he had nothing to… Read More »
Federal Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Trans Students’ Civil Rights, While Florida Still Waits for 11th Circuit Ruling On Issue
In February, another federal appeals court (the Ninth Circuit) ruled that allowing transgender students to use certain restrooms and locker rooms does not violate the rights of other students, citing another victory for civil rights. Those who brought the lawsuit challenged one school’s protection of trans students’ rights to use the bathroom or locker… Read More »
11th Circuit Weighs Whether To Keep Injunction In Place Allowing Ex-Felons To Vote In Spite Of Owing Financial Debt
The fight for voting rights to be restored to ex-felons pursuant to what the voters of Florida passed via Amendment 4 returned to the courts as the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was recently asked to set aside the temporary injunction placed on legislation passed by Republicans mandating that they pay any fines… Read More »
11th Circuit Finds Florida’s Law Limiting Felons’ Ability to Vote Based On Status of Fines Unconstitutional
In late February, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals held that Florida’s law limiting voting rights for those who have previous convictions simply because they had unpaid fines and fees was unconstitutional because conditioning the right to vote based on someone’s wealth violates the US Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. As… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Cases On Whether Religious Employers Are Exempt from Civil Rights Laws
The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear two new cases involving the question of whether religious employers are exempt from certain civil rights laws; i.e. if they can engage in blatant discrimination and violate employment laws, for example, while claiming that they are protected in engaging in those activities by the First Amendment. The… Read More »
Judge Temporarily Blocks Florida Law Eliminating Ex-Felon’s Right to Vote Due to Outstanding Fees
In late October, a Florida judge temporarily blocked the new law that prevents ex-convicts from voting in the state until they have paid all fines fees and restitution; a law that has been called a “poll tax” by a number of civil rights advocates. According to the judge, the law could very well be… Read More »
The Time Is Now for Florida & Other States to Protect Citizens Against an Intrusion of Our Rights by Facial-Recognition Technology
According to the number of experts, facial recognition technology – such as Amazons artificial intelligence tool “Rekognition,” which is used by a number of law-enforcement agencies – is currently the biggest threat to our privacy and civil rights. The systems identify you by matching your facial dimensions against a giant database of photos. The… Read More »
The U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear a Case That in Instrumental in Our Fourth Amendment Rights Staying Protected
The US Supreme Court will soon hear a case that could have drastic impacts on our Fourth Amendment rights when it comes to police being able to pull people over due to reasonable suspicion. Specifically, the Court will decide whether pulling someone over if a police officer runs a car’s plates and it shows… Read More »
Civil Rights Lawsuit Filed Against Florida’s Ban On Sanctuary Cities
On July 16, Florida’s Attorney General and governor were sued by several organizations, businesses, and cities in Florida, challenging the law passed banning sanctuary cities and forcing police to enforce federal immigration law. The complaint filed alleges that the law implicates civil rights violations, racial profiling, and unjust deportations due to the what is… Read More »
Florida Governor Expected to Sign Bill Making It Difficult for Ex-Felons to Vote
In May, Florida governor Ron DeSantis indicated that he would sign a bill that requires all ex -felons in the state to first to pay all financial obligations before they have their right to vote restored under Amendment 4, which was passed by an overwhelming number of Floridians last year. Critics of the bill… Read More »
Florida Judges Will Soon Weight Whether State Of Florida’s Restrictions On Localities With Respect To Gun Laws Violates Their Rights
Florida circuit judges will soon hear arguments concerning the constitutionality of state law that imposes significant penalties on local officials when it comes to gun regulations. The case is based on Florida’s laws that bar localities from passing regulations that are stricter than what the legislature passes in terms of state fire laws. The… Read More »
Florida April 2019 Legislative Update: Wireless Devices In Florida
Below, we discuss two important legislative updates in Florida: One that involves interfering with Amendment 4 by forcing ex-felons to pay fees before having their voting rights restored, and the other which criminalizes certain activities involving wireless devices in certain areas of Florida. House Passes Legislation Effectively Disenfranchising Ex-Felons in Spite of Amendment 4… Read More »
LGBTQ Discrimination in Florida
Can a private business in Florida discriminate against a couple simply because they are gay? That is a question that arose recently when a gay couple were refused a couples massage at a Florida spa by the manager, who emphatically claimed that the refusal was not due to discrimination, but simply because couples massages… Read More »
Advocates Petition Florida Supreme Court to Restore Constitutional Right to Challenge Facial Recognition Systems before Criminal Conviction
Many people do not realize that Florida diverges from other states in allowing people to be convicted based on facial recognition systems that identify you as the perpetrator of a crime without first allowing you to exercise your constitutional right to challenge its accuracy; all due to one Florida appeals court decision. As a… Read More »
Citizenship Question for Voter Registration Sparks State-Based Civil Rights Lawsuits
A huge civil rights issue has emerged at both the federal and state level regarding the citizenship question and review as part of the 2020 census. Some minority organizations now found themselves having to sue their state officials over what they call an “election-related witch hunt” designed to intimidate voters by asking them to… Read More »
When Criminal Cases Are Thrown Out Due To Government Misconduct
One criminal case that was dismissed due to the local sheriff “spying” on the defense’s notes and jurors’ notebooks has received widespread attention and begged the question as to just how frequently law enforcement and prosecution is involved in similar government misconduct around the country. The incident sparked outrage from criminal and civil rights… Read More »
Florida Student Arrested For Refusing To Stand For/Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
News of an 11-year-old Florida student being arrested, taken to a juvenile detention center, and charged with a misdemeanor for refusing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in class has been covered all over news headlines. Not only is the child now facing criminal charges, but his civil rights under the First and Fourteenth… Read More »
Is Florida Stalling the Restoration of Voting Rights To Ex-Felons?
We’ve previously discussed the importance of restoring ex-felons’ voting rights here in Florida. In November, voters overwhelmingly passed a ballot initiative to restore voting rights to felons who have been deprived of these basic civil rights for decades in one of the last states to automatically eliminate that right without the realistic ability of… Read More »
Florida Police Officer Who Framed African Americans Sentenced To Prison
We’ve previously discussed the crimes of ex-Biscayne Park Police Chief Raimundo Atesiano, who was found to have framed innocent black citizens and/or teenagers here in Florida in order to boost his police department’s arrest and conviction statistics. On November 27, Atesiano was sentenced to three years in federal prison for these crimes, which included… Read More »
Administration Files Position Opposing Inclusion of Transgender Rights in Title VII of Civil Rights Act
In late October, the Trump administration took a huge step back in making progress in affording civil rights for everyone by filing a position with the U.S. Supreme Court arguing against the protection of transgender people against sex bias on the job under Title VII of the 1964 civil rights law. The case stems… Read More »
