Ron DeSantis’ Stop WOKE Act upheld by Florida judge

"Although this court would not hesitate to compel compliance with its preliminary injunction, this court finds there has been no violation of the injunction at this time," U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker wrote on Thursday, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The law's full name is the "Stop Wrongs To Our Kids and Employees Act," which was accused by some professors and students of failing to comply with a preliminary injunction that prevents the enforcement of certain portions of the legislation.

In a "motion to compel" filed on Wednesday, the plaintiffs argued that compliance with a memo from the head of DeSantis' Office of Policy and Budget would violate the preliminary injunction order.

In the memo, Chris Spencer directed institutions of higher education to "provide a comprehensive list of all staff, programs and campus activities related to diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory."

In response, the state's legal team argued that the information requested is part of the DeSantis's yearly budgeting process.

Judge Walker sided with the DeSantis administration, saying this directive doesn't violate the colleges' rights.

The same judge previously called the Stop WOKE Act "positively dystopian," and prohibited imposing sanctions in granting an injunction in early November, after another block in August.

In July, the University of Central Florida's English Department suspended its anti-racism statement, and then moments later unsuspended it, in response to the governor's legislation.

Orlando Sentinel reporter Skyler Swisher posted pictures of the college's original suspension which read, "As of July 1, 2022, the statement is suspended as it violates Florida law."

The law, which was introduced in December 2021 and went into effect in July 2022, has sparked at least two lawsuits, according to the Orlando Sentinel.