Disney warns that if DeSantis wins lawsuit, others will be punished for 'disfavored' views
Disney claims its free speech rights were violated by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and is fighting him in federal court
ORLANDO, Fla. — If Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wins a federal lawsuit in which Disney claims its free speech rights were violated by the Republican leader, the company won't be the last entity to be punished over supporting a “disfavored viewpoint,” Disney said in court papers on Monday.
The First Amendment protects the right of free speech even if it goes against government powers, Disney said in court documents asking a judge to reject DeSantis’ motion to dismiss the entertainment giant’s First Amendment lawsuit in Tallahassee.
The Disney lawsuit says DeSantis unconstitutionally revamped and took over Walt Disney World's governing district in retaliation after Disney publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. The law was championed by DeSantis, who currently is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
Before the takeover by DeSantis appointees earlier this year, the district had been controlled by Disney supporters during its five-decades existence running municipal services for Disney World's 25,000 acres (10,117 hectares), performing such functions as road repairs and waste collection.
“If the line is not drawn here, there is no line at all,” Disney said Monday. “The retaliation against Disney for crossing the Governor’s ‘line’ was swift and severe: for the explicitly-stated purpose of punishing Disney for its comments, the State immediately stripped Disney of its voting rights in the governing body that oversees Disney’s use of its own private property.”
DeSantis and other defendants, including a state agency and the
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