Controversial bill in Florida seeks that some do not “bother”

(Trends Wide) — A bill backed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that would bar Florida’s public schools and private businesses from making people feel “uncomfortable” or “guilty” based on their race, gender or national origin received the first approval of the State Senate Education Committee.

The Republican-controlled committee approved the bill with six Republican senators in favor of the initiative and three Democratic senators against it.

Although the bill, called “Individual Liberty,” does not mention critical race theory (CRT), the term is used in the analysis of the accompanying bill that was delivered to senators.

DeSantis also referred to the CRT when he announced the proposed legislation at a media event in December, saying the law would help keep the CRT out of schools and the workplace, calling it “state-sanctioned racism” that creates a “hostile work environment”.

Under Florida Department of Education rules that went into effect last June, the CRT cannot be taught in schools.

Critical Race Theory is a concept that seeks to understand and address inequality and racism in the United States. The term has also become politicized and has been attacked by its critics as a Marxist ideology that would pose a threat to the American way of life.

What the bill would prohibit

The legislation would prohibit making people “feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race, color, sex, or national origin.”

It would also prohibit employers from providing training or instruction that “advocates, promotes, induces, or compels” people to believe “that a person is liable, should be discriminated against, or receive adverse treatment because of past actions committed by other members of the the same race, color, sex, or national origin.

Instructors could address issues of sexism, slavery, racial oppression, racial segregation, racial discrimination in an age-appropriate manner. However, the bill states that “classroom instruction and curriculum may not be used to indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view that is not consistent with the principles of this subsection or the academic standards state”.

“It’s a black history ban”

Democratic state Sen. Shevrin Jones, the committee’s vice chair and its only black member, told Trends Wide by phone that the bill is an attempt to revise history and keep whites from feeling uncomfortable.

“This isn’t even a ban on critical race theory, it’s a ban on black history,” he said. “Are they talking about not wanting white people to feel uncomfortable? Let’s talk about feeling uncomfortable. My ancestors felt uncomfortable when they were robbed of their children.”

In a statement emailed to Trends Wide, DeSantis’ press secretary, Christina Pushaw, said the governor’s position was that “discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex and national origin” had no place in Florida.

DeSantis’ stance

The bill “makes clear that no Floridian (student, worker, or anyone else) should be subjected to discriminatory content and rhetoric,” he wrote.

“All Floridians deserve the same opportunities for success, regardless of skin color. This means viewing each person as an individual with unique attributes, experiences and aspirations, rather than stereotyping them as members of this or that identity group,” Indian.

Pushaw added: “It’s frankly disturbing that someone would find these ideas controversial in the year 2022.”