Stay tuned in to our local news coverage: Listen to 90.7 WMFE on your FM or HD radio, the WMFE mobile app or your smart speaker — say “Alexa, play NPR” and you’ll be connected.

Central Florida Democratic leaders called on Floridians to protest the passage of HB1, the so called “anti-rioting bill” today.

We will not compromise bipartisanship for injustice. Today, @DanDaley, @loriberman, @RepBobbyDuBose, @micheleforfl, @AngieNixon, @AnnaForFlorida, @VicTorres_FL, @repmccurdy, stood w/ Comm. @nikkifried to make that clear about #HB1. We will not stand down! pic.twitter.com/RRxOSdVkGg

— Shevrin “Shev” Jones (@ShevrinJones) April 19, 2021

Sen. Victor Torres, who represents District 15 in Osceola and Orange County, says as a former cop he knows well that there are already rules in place to prevent violent rioting and looting. 

He says the new law is unnecessary and dangerous for people who want to peacefully protest police killings of young Black and brown people. 

“This is gonna inspire us because we have kids at home. We have grandkids at home. We have college students at home, who want to protest, who want to voice their opinion out here. This is not going to stop. And I hope they come by the thousands to protest up here what’s going on, because the injustice has got to stop.”

Rep. Anna Eskamani joined the call for protests.

Eskamani who represents House District 47 in Orlando said the bill is part of an assault on Black Lives and the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Floridians. 

She says there will be challenges in the courts and Floridians won’t stop marching in the streets against the new law.

“Whenever Republican leadership try to take away our rights, the good people across this great state will resist. We will hit the streets, following Congressman John Lewis’s advice to never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in ‘good trouble’.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the “combating public disorder” bill into law today. 

It raises penalties for people charged in connection with violent riots, and for damaging or destroying monuments.