Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a law giving himself and other Republican officials in his state the power to designate any group of their choosing a “terrorist” organization.
The move, which DeSantis conceded will likely be challenged in court, also establishes a pathway to expel students who “promote” these organizations. It comes as President Donald Trump and the Republican Party have looked to criminalize dissent, largely by targeting liberal activists and organizations that don’t abide by their worldview.
The Florida Phoenix laid out the procedure for organizations to be given the terrorist designation, beginning with a recommendation from the state’s chief of domestic security. According to the report:
That recommendation would be put in written form by the state’s chief of domestic security, which would be the head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It would then have to be approved or rejected by the governor and the three members of the Florida Cabinet (the agriculture commissioner, the chief financial officer, and attorney general).
Within seven days after the terrorist designation is approved by the governor and Cabinet, the chief of domestic security must publish notice of that designation in the Florida Administrative Register. Within 30 days after that, the organization or any member may challenge such designation in the state Circuit Court in Leon County.
DeSantis’ quotes at Monday’s news conference make clear that this is a xenophobic project.
“We have got to stop as a country importing people that reject the values of this country,” he said. “And that’s just been going on for a long time.”
The law also bans Florida courts from enforcing any form of Shariah, or Islamic law, that “violates constitutional rights” — something that is not happening.
Nonetheless, the governor said: “We’ll do millions for public safety, millions for education — but never one red cent for jihad.”
DeSantis’ bigoted efforts to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group for Muslims, as a terrorist organization have been put on hold amid a lawsuit. And this new law opens up the door to action against other organizations, too.
The history here is notable. In the United States, there is a sordid legacy of officials — under the guise of public safety — targeting civil rights organizations that advocate for nonwhite people.
The irony here is also notable. DeSantis’ state has become a hotbed of right-wing extremism, as evidenced by recent Nazism-related scandals involving Florida Republicans. The governor, who has faced blowback over his repeated refusals to condemn Nazi demonstrations in his state, has not given these scandals much attention — yet he has seen fit to target groups such as CAIR.
And so it seems clear whom he deems a bigger threat to the way of life he wants Floridians to lead.
Ja’han Jones is an MS NOW opinion blogger. He previously wrote The ReidOut Blog.