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'We'll be fine,' Gov. Ron DeSantis says after lawsuit filed

Nonprofit group sues governor days after he signed 'anti-riot' bill into law
Gov. Ron DeSantis on lawsuit: 'We'll be fine'
Posted at 1:48 PM, Apr 22, 2021
and last updated 2021-04-22 18:25:58-04

WELLINGTON, Fla. — If Gov. Ron DeSantis is concerned about litigation related to Florida's new so-called "anti-riot" law, he certainly didn't convey it.

DeSantis briefly spoke about the new law as he left a news conference Thursday morning in Wellington.

"We'll be fine," DeSantis said when WPTV's Matt Sczesny asked him about the federal lawsuit filed by the nonprofit group Legacy Entertainment & Arts Foundation.

DeSantis, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and Orange County Sheriff John Mina are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit argues the new law violates First Amendment protections for free speech, Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment and 14th Amendment protections of due process.

READ THE LAWSUIT:

But DeSantis said the law has "a lot of great support" and pointed out that "Florida's leading the way, yet again, on public safety."

DeSantis signed the bill into law earlier this week. The law places tougher penalties on protesters who participate in a violent demonstration.

READ THE BILL:

The new law will take effect July 1.