Pernell v. Lamb

The “Stop W.O.K.E.” Act is a classroom censorship law which severely restricts Florida educators and students from learning and talking about issues related to race and gender in higher education classrooms. Florida is one of nearly 20 states across the country that have passed similar laws aimed at censoring discussions around race and gender in the classroom.

The lawsuit argues the Stop W.O.K.E. Act violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments by imposing viewpoint-based restrictions on instructors and students in higher education that are vague and discriminatory. The complaint also argues that the law violates the Equal Protection Clause because it was enacted with a racially discriminatory purpose and will have a disparate impact on Black educators and students.

The groups are asking the court to declare the law unconstitutional under the First and 14th Amendments and are urging the court to issue a preliminary injunction that would put an immediate stop to the bill and allow students and educators to have full and open discussions around race and gender in the classroom.

UPDATE (03/16/23): In an important victory for educators’ and students’ rights to teach and learn free from censorship and discrimination, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals left in place a preliminary injunction blocking Florida’s HB 7 from being enforced in institutions of higher education, pending appeal. The procedural ruling maintains the preliminary injunction until the Eleventh Circuit issues a decision on the merits.