Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Tough 'Anti-Rioting' Bill Into Law
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis just signed one of the roughest anti-rioting bills in the nation into law this week just ahead of the Derek Chauvin verdict.
DeSantis signed the Combating Public Disorder bill into law on Monday. It is a law written in response to mass protests and riots seen across the country. Many of these “protests” quickly erupted in destruction and violence.
The law provides new protections for police officers and puts “an end to the bullying and intimidation tactics of the radical left,” DeSantis said. It also kicks in if municipalities decide to defund the police.
It also allows prosecutors to hold arrested protesters until their first court appearance and preventing them from posting bail and skating on the charges. It enhances the penalties for damaging property and other forms of violence during protests and creates new crimes for “mob intimidation” and revealing the addresses of government officials.
The bill also suggests up to a ten-year sentence for protesters who destroy memorials or historic structures — including Confederate monuments.
“If you riot, if you loot, if you harm others, particularly if you harm a law enforcement officer during one of these violent assemblies, you’re going to jail,” DeSantis said, according to CBS News.
The bill takes effect immediately.
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