Stop WOKE Act

The Individual Freedom Act, commonly known as the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act and abbreviated to the Stop WOKE Act, is a Florida state law which regulates the content of instruction and training in schools and workplaces. Among other provisions, it prohibits instruction that individuals share responsibility for others' past actions by virtue of their race, sex or national origin.[1] After passing both chambers of the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature along party lines, it was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on April 22, 2022, and entered into effect July 1 the same year.[2]

Intended by DeSantis to "fight back" against "woke indoctrination" and critical race theory,[3] critics of the law have described it as whitewashing and an attack on the First Amendment.[4] U.S. district judge Mark E. Walker declared parts of the law relating to workplace diversity training unconstitutional in August 2022, and in November he issued a temporary injunction preventing the law from being enforced in higher education. On appeal, the Eleventh Circuit upheld the district court decision in March 2024, ruling that the law would violate businesses' First Amendment rights.[5]