Gov. Ron DeSantis Sparks Outcry Over Florida Protest Law and Driver Immunity

By Newsroom Staff | Published: June 11, 2025

Introduction

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has reignited national controversy after reaffirming a provision of the state’s anti-riot legislation that allows drivers to escape prosecution if they strike protesters blocking roadways — as long as they claim they felt threatened. Speaking at a press conference this week, DeSantis defended the measure as a necessary safeguard for public safety, stating, “If someone is blocking your path and you feel your life is in danger, you have the right to get out of that situation.”

The statement has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights organizations, legal scholars, and social justice advocates, who say it could embolden acts of violence against peaceful demonstrators. Meanwhile, supporters say the law is a deterrent against disruptive protests and unlawful road blockades.

Background: The 2021 “Anti-Riot” Law

The controversial provision is part of Florida’s “Combating Public Disorder Act” — also known as the anti-riot law — signed by DeSantis in 2021 amid a national wave of protests following the death of George Floyd. The law expanded penalties for property damage during protests and created new legal shields for individuals who drove through crowds while claiming self-defense.

Under the statute, a driver who “unintentionally causes injury or death to a person obstructing traffic during a riot” is not liable for civil damages, provided they were exercising “due care” and believed they were in danger. The law does not define precisely what constitutes a “riot,” leading critics to call it vague and overly broad.

“We are not going to let Florida become Portland,” DeSantis said in 2021. “Peaceful protest is protected. Rioting and blocking roads are not.”

Legal challenges were filed immediately after the law’s passage, and portions were temporarily blocked by federal courts. However, the self-defense clause for drivers remains active.

DeSantis’ Latest Comments and Political Context

Speaking in Jacksonville this week, DeSantis doubled down on the policy amid renewed demonstrations in Florida cities tied to immigration raids and local police controversies. “You have a right to defend yourself,” he said. “We won’t allow mob rule on our roads.”

The remarks come as DeSantis attempts to reestablish his national profile following his exit from the 2024 Republican presidential primaries. As Trump enters his second term in the White House, DeSantis has refocused on cementing his legacy in Florida and pushing high-profile conservative legislation.

The governor’s allies praised the comments. Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez said the policy “reinforces law and order.” Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R) added that “drivers should not have to guess whether they’ll be sued for escaping a dangerous situation.”

National Trends and Parallel Laws

Florida is not alone. At least six other Republican-led states — including Oklahoma, Iowa, and Tennessee — have passed similar driver immunity clauses since 2020. A report from [Pew Research] found a 300% increase in vehicle-into-protester incidents between 2015 and 2021, prompting widespread concern over the chilling effect such laws may have on First Amendment rights.

Criticism from Legal Experts and Rights Groups

Legal scholars argue that the law could encourage reckless or even intentional harm. The ACLU has condemned it as “a dangerous erosion of constitutional protest protections.”

“It creates a legal shield for vigilante violence,” said attorney Micah Kubic, director of the ACLU of Florida. “There is nothing preventing someone from plowing into a peaceful crowd and later claiming fear.”

Critics say the vague language of what constitutes a “riot” or “feeling threatened” is ripe for abuse. “There is no objective standard here,” noted Georgetown Law professor Rosa Brooks. “It’s a subjective fear test that courts will struggle to enforce fairly.”

Public Reactions and Protests

DeSantis’ comments have prompted immediate backlash across social media and led to demonstrations in Miami, Orlando, and Tallahassee. Protesters are demanding the repeal of the law and calling for federal intervention.

The hashtag #DriveOverDeSantis trended on X (formerly Twitter), with some users posting clips of past incidents where drivers struck protesters, often with fatal results. Many fear the law gives “a green light to murder,” as one viral post claimed.

At a rally in downtown Tampa, activist group Black Lives Matter Florida staged a “die-in,” simulating injuries sustained from vehicular assault. Organizer Tay Anderson told reporters, “This is not law and order — this is legalized hit-and-run.”

Connection to Broader Trump-Era Policies

The law and DeSantis’ stance echo a broader shift in protest policy across the country, especially under former and now current President Donald Trump. During Trump’s first term, federal and state authorities cracked down on protesters through mass arrests, tear gas deployments, and legal curbs on public demonstrations. The “Big Beautiful Bill” — introduced in 2025 as part of Trump’s renewed immigration and public order platform — further restricts public gatherings that obstruct federal buildings or highways.

In Los Angeles, where protests continue over immigration raids and mask bans, organizers say DeSantis’ law reflects a “draconian” effort to silence dissent. “What we’re seeing is the normalization of state-sanctioned brutality,” said LA activist Rita Morales.

Legal Outlook and Federal Review

Though the law remains in effect, parts of it are under judicial review. A federal appeals court in Atlanta is currently weighing a challenge on First Amendment and due process grounds. Legal analysts expect the case to reach the U.S. Supreme Court by 2026.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice under Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen has reportedly begun a civil rights inquiry into Florida’s protest law, though no formal statement has been issued. The Biden DOJ previously filed amicus briefs opposing similar laws in Oklahoma and Indiana.

Historical Precedent and Comparisons

Observers have drawn comparisons to the 1960s civil rights era, when state and local governments passed ordinances criminalizing protests and sit-ins. “This is just a modern version of Jim Crow-era suppression,” said historian Jelani Cobb of Columbia University. “The tools have changed, but the goal is the same: to shut down civil resistance.”

Some point to the 2017 Charlottesville incident, where a white nationalist drove into a crowd of counterprotesters, killing Heather Heyer. That tragedy underscored the lethal potential of weaponized vehicles in protest settings — a scenario critics fear Florida’s law could normalize.

Conclusion

Governor Ron DeSantis’ latest defense of Florida’s protest law — and its controversial immunity for drivers — has reignited fierce national debate over the limits of self-defense, the protection of free speech, and the growing tension between public safety and civil rights. As lawsuits advance and demonstrations escalate, the policy’s fate could become a defining issue in the national conversation on protest rights under a reinvigorated conservative agenda.

Whether the courts will ultimately uphold the law — and whether similar measures will proliferate in other states — remains to be seen. For now, Florida sits at the center of a charged and complex debate over what it means to protest safely in America.