Florida governor vows to defund cities that try to defund the police

The measures include prohibitions of any assembly which causes property damage or injury, for obstructing public streets, harassment in public spaces such as restaurants, and RICO attachments to people who accept or give funds which are used in any of the above.

It also goes on to institute mandatory minimum jail time for anybody who gets violent with a law enforcement official, with additional penalties for people from out of state. In addition, no bond or bail will be granted for people participating in anything resembling a riot.

But the measures are not aimed just at individuals, according to WLFA News. There are also provisions targeting complicit or negligent local governments. DeSantis plans to put a stop to all kinds of abuse of government funding.

“We’re not going to permit local municipalities to ‘defund the police,’ or Florida will defund you,” mentioned DeSantis.

Any local government reducing the police budget will be denied all forms of state aid or grants. In addition, the state of Florida is removing sovereign immunity from local authorities in cases of gross negligence in their duty to protect people and property in their jurisdictions.

This means that they will be legally liable for property damage if they tell the police to stand down during a violent protest or riot.

Finally, all state benefits and all state positions for employment will be denied to anybody participating in any kind of violent street action.