People Stand Up with Disney against DeSantis in Surprise Twist

Photo byPhoto 40182375 © Calvin L. Leake

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis keeps on hitting one surprising challenge after another in his feud with Disney.

A group of journalists stands up in support of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in a legal battle against DeSantis in federal court, claiming that the state's reprisal against the entertainment firm violated the First Amendment.

A nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said in court documents that U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor should dismiss a lawsuit from a protracted dispute between DeSantis and Disney.

DeSantis vs. The First Amendment

The conflict began when Disney opposed a state proposal to have a limited public school curriculum on gender identity and sexual orientation in 2022.

In April, Disney brought a federal complaint, claiming, among other things, that the state had wrongfully retaliated against it.

The federal court filings were made on the same day in May that an Orange County Circuit Judge rejected Disney's plea to have a separate complaint dismissed.

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District was established last year by DeSantis and Republican lawmakers to replace the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which Disney has effectively controlled for decades.

Additionally, DeSantis was given authority to choose board members for the reorganized special district.

Disney and the prior Reedy Creek board approved the development agreements just before transitioning to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board.

In the Orange County complaint, Central Florida Tourism Oversight District requests a declaration that the agreements are "null and void."

Disney requested that the case be dismissed or postponed until the conclusion of the federal litigation, but Orange County Circuit Judge Margaret Schreiber denied the request in a 14-page ruling.

Disney claimed constitutional violations in the federal case, alleging that DeSantis and his political supporters acted in revenge.

Do you want DeSantis to defeat Disney?

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