Several diversity, equity and inclusion consulting firms have struggled in Florida in the years since the “Stop WOKE Act.”
Roni Bennett, the executive director of People of Color in South Florida, shared the Miami Herald On Thursday, she announced that her annual revenue of nearly $300,000 has been halved thanks to Florida’s new policy.
“We’re in trouble,” Bennett said.
The “Stop WOKE Act” or the “Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act” is a law passed in 2022 by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. It focused on critical race theory in employment and educational programs. Bennett found that many companies stopped requesting services from her organization, despite a slight boost during the pandemic.
Companies are reportedly moving away from diversity, equity and inclusion programs. (Getty Images)
THE FAR LEFT IDENTITY POLICY HAS LOST THIS ‘GRIP ON THE COUNTRY’ THIS ELECTION, NYT REPORTS
Bennett added that even before the act, she saw shifts in some clients’ attitudes, indicating that their original interest was “performative.”
“One client had a change of president and the new president didn’t like DEI training,” she said.
Consultants like Bennett are now trying to remind current and potential clients that regardless of national concerns about the Stop WOKE Act, the bill does not actually target private companies.
“It’s important because the Stop Woke Act became very prominent for corporations after it passed,” said Alexander Rundlet, an attorney and public policy consultant at Brickell. “It made every company afraid that they couldn’t (participate) in DEI training for fear of the act. Since March, it’s been clear that this doesn’t apply to companies.”
In March, a federal appeals court ruled that the workplace portion of the law violated 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 with it, and we reject this latest attempt to control speech by recharacterizing it as behavior. Florida may be exactly right about the nature of the ideas it focuses on. Or maybe not. Either way, the merits of these views will be determined. in the chattering marketplace of ideas, rather than in a code book or in a courtroom.” Judge Britt C. Grant wrote at the time. “The First Amendment prevents the government from putting its thumb on the scale.”
A federal judge later granted permission a final order against that part of the law in July. However, the part of the law that focuses on education may remain intact.
Despite the favorable ruling, DEI consulting firms continue to struggle with the growing anti-woke culture, Rundlet said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT MEDIA AND CULTURE
“There has been a lot of profound and widespread damage done in recent years,” Rundlet said. “People like Roni Bennett have to do a lot of work to undo that damage.”
Bennett has expressed concern that some clients’ actions are only “performative.” (iStock)
The Miami Herald reported that Bennett nevertheless remains “steadfast in her work,” although she is looking for an angel investor to help her company.
“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 DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
