After demonstrators descended on the homes of Supreme Court justices, Florida is taking action to prevent such protests.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (D) signed a bill on Monday that makes it illegal to protest outside of an individual’s residence.
In a statement Monday, DeSantis said, “Sending unruly mobs to private residences, like we have seen with the angry crowds in front of the homes of Supreme Court justices, is inappropriate.”
“This bill will provide protection to those living in residential communities and I am glad to sign it into law,” he added.
The statement explained that law enforcement officials would provide “a warning to any person picketing protesting” outside of a residence.
If they do not “peaceably disperse after the warning,” they will be arrested.
“Residential picketing will be punishable as a second-degree misdemeanor,” the statement added.
The legislation comes after demonstrators gathered outside the homes of several conservative Supreme Court justices in the wake of the leak of a draft opinion which appears to show Roe v. Wade could be overturned.
Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked earlier this month about activists who shared the justices’ home addresses and whether that is something “this president wants to help your side make their point.”
“Look, I think the president’s view is that there’s a lot of passion, a lot of fear, a lot of sadness from many, many people across this country about what they saw in that leaked document,” Psaki responded.
She continued, “We obviously want people’s privacy to be respected. We want people to protest peacefully if they want to protest. That is certainly what the president’s view would be.”
When asked if the president “doesn’t care if they’re protesting outside the Supreme Court or outside someone’s private residence,” Psaki said, “I don’t have an official U.S. government position on where people protest. We want it, of course, to be peaceful. And certainly, the president would want people’s privacy to be respected.”
In case you missed it:
DOOCY: "These activists posted a map with the home addresses of the Supreme Court justices. Is that kind of thing this president wants…?"
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 5, 2022
PSAKI: "The reason people are protesting is because women across the country are worried about their fundamental rights." pic.twitter.com/TCpXCOwfQR
“But I think we shouldn’t lose the point here, the reason people are protesting is because women across the country are worried about their fundamental rights that have been law for 50 years — their rights to make choices about their own bodies and their own healthcare — are at risk,” she continued.
Psaki added, “That’s why people are protesting. They’re unhappy, they’re scared.”
At a separate press briefing, she acknowledged there was “outrage right now” about the protests.
However, she added that they “been peaceful to date” and, “We certainly continue to encourage that outside of judges’ homes and that’s the president’s position.”