The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked the Florida law known as the “Stop WOKE Act,” which prohibited compulsory diversity and inclusion training in businesses. The court’s decision reaffirms the First Amendment’s role in preventing government from influencing discourse.

The “Stop WOKE Act” was criticized for attempting to suppress discussions around diversity, with Governor Ron DeSantis arguing it was designed to prevent indoctrination in schools and workplaces. However, the Act faced legal challenges for infringing on free speech rights, leading to a federal judge’s temporary injunction against it, a decision now upheld by the appeals court.

The court disagreed with the state’s argument that the law targeted conduct rather than speech, emphasizing the importance of free expression. The ruling has been celebrated as a defense of free speech rights in the workplace.