Many diversity, equity and inclusion consulting firms in Florida have struggled in the following years “The Law of Stopping Waking Up.”
said Ronnie Bennett, executive director of People of Color of South Florida Miami Herald She said Thursday that she has seen her annual revenue of about $300,000 cut in half thanks to Florida's new policies.
“We're in trouble,” Bennett said.
The Stop WOKE Act is a law passed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022. It targeted critical race theory in employment and education programs. Bennett found that many companies stopped requesting services from her organization despite an uptick during the pandemic.
Companies are said to be moving away from diversity, equity and inclusion programs. (Getty Images)
Bennett added how she had seen shifts in some clients' attitudes even before the act, suggesting that their original interest was “performative.”
“One client changed the president, and the new president was not engaged in DEI training,” she said.
Consultants like Bennett are now trying to remind current and potential clients that, regardless of national concerns about the Go Out of Business Act, the bill is not actually targeting private companies.
“It's important because the Stop Woke Act became so prominent after it was passed,” said Alexander Randlett, Brickell's attorney and public policy advisor. “This has made every company fear that they cannot (participate) in DEI training for fear of this act. Since March, it has become clear that this does not apply to companies.”
In March, The federal appeals court ruled That the workplace portion of the law violates the First Amendment.
In April 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 7, known as the “Stop WOKE Act.” (Daniel A. Varela/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“We cannot agree, and we reject this latest attempt to control expression by recharacterizing it as behavior. Florida may be absolutely right about the nature of the ideas it targets. Or it may not be. Either way, the merits of these views will be determined.” In the bustling marketplace of ideas rather than the codebook or the courtroom.” Judge Brett C. Grant wrote at the time. “The First Amendment prohibits the government from putting its thumb on the scale.”
A federal judge later agreed Permanent injunction against this part of the law in July. However, the part of the law focusing on education was allowed to remain intact.
Despite the favorable ruling, DEI consulting firms continue to fight back based on the growing anti-woke culture, Randlett said.
Click here for more media and cultural coverage
“There's been a lot of deep and widespread damage done over the last few years,” Rundlet said. “People like Ronnie Bennett have a lot of work to do to undo that damage.”
Bennett has expressed concerns that some agents' actions may be merely “executive.” (Istock)
Bennett, however, “remains steadfast in her work,” though she is looking for an angel investor to help her business, the Miami Herald reported.
“We owe it to the next generation to make progress for them,” she said. “I want to be able to dismantle systemic racism in America.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
