Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bill to limit discussion of race

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law new guidelines Friday involving race-based discussions in businesses and schools as part of his campaign against critical race theory, which he once called “crap" in a strongly worded speech.

Passed by lawmakers earlier this year, the legislation bars instruction that says members of one race are inherently racist, and that they should feel guilt for past actions committed by others of the same race or that a person’s status as privileged or oppressed is necessarily determined by their race. It also bars the notion that meritocracy is racist, or that discrimination is acceptable to achieve diversity.

“We believe in education, not indoctrination,” DeSantis said during Friday's bill signing in South Florida.

DeSantis said Florida students will not have oppressive ideologies imposed on them, as the bill provides “substantive protections” for students in grades K to 12. He said “pernicious ideologies” will not be allowed.

“We will not use your tax dollars to teach our kids to hate this country or hate each other,” DeSantis said.

Opponents say DeSantis doesn't have an accurate idea of what critical race theory is, and his motives are to suppress and accurate account of Black history.

“It’s just illustrating Gov. DeSantis’ pattern of Black attack policies led by Republican legislators. He is taken a culture war to a classic Republican battleground, which is the public schools. It’s going to hurt our children’s futures,”' said Democratic Rep. Angie Nixon, who is Black. “CRT is not taught in K-12 education here in our public schools. Let me be clear, this goes farther than just attacking Black folks. He’s attacking all the people of Florida."

DeSantis’ focus on culture war issues involving race, gender and...