Bill to crack down on violent protests marches forward in Florida House – By James Call (Tallahassee Democrat) / Mar 10 2021
“This is the scariest piece of legislation that I have seen in my life,” said Rep. Kevin Chambliss, D-Homestead.
Florida Republican leaders’ efforts to crack down on violent protests is ready for a House floor debate after it cleared its final committee stop Wednesday evening on a party-line vote.
State Rep. Juan Alfonso Fernandez-Barquin, R-Miami, guided the “Combating Public Disorder Act,” also known as HB 1, through criticism by Democrats, free-speech advocates, college students and political activists.
The League of Women Voters of Florida, Florida Faith and Advocacy Office, Leon County Democratic Party and the Party for Socialism and Liberation of Tampa Bay, among others, spoke against the increased criminal penalties, additional costs and what they called an infringement of free speech that the bill creates.
“The first responsibility of government is to make sure our residents are safe,” Fernandez-Barquin told the House Judiciary Committee before it voted 14-7 to advance the proposal to the House floor.
