Gov. Ron DeSantis Makes Protesting Outside Private Residences A Second-Degree Misdemeanor In Florida

Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday prohibiting picketing and protests outside of private residences.

The law, HB 1571, allows law enforcement to warn those found picketing or protesting outside of a private residence. Once picketers or protesters do not cease their activities, the police can then arrest them, according to The Guardian.

DeSantis' signing of the bill also makes picketing or protesting in front of a private residence a second-degree misdemeanor. The bill passed in the Florida House in a 76-41 vote and then the Senate, in a 28-3 vote.

"Sending unruly mobs to private residences, like we have seen with the angry crowds in front of the homes of Supreme Court justices, is inappropriate," DeSantis said in a press release defending the law. "This bill will provide protection to those living in residential communities and I am glad to sign it into law."

The law will go into effect on Oct. 1. It will include a minimum of 60 days in jail and a maximum fine of $500.

DeSantis signed the bill as protests over the draft of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's majority opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade. Since the leak, protestors have organized all around the United States, including at the homes of some justices, such as Brett Kavanaugh and John Roberts.

As protests continued, the U.S. Senate passed a bill that would provide extra security to the justices and is awaiting approval from the House. Thus far, no Justice on the court has been threatened directly in a notable manner.

Since the summer of 2020, protesters in many states saw laws crop up limiting the rights of citizens to protest, despite a right to peacefully do so being a part of the First Amendment.