“We will stop indoctrination and teach principles of freedom, not guilt.”
The promise
DeSantis promised to ban concepts in schools about systemic racism, critical race theory, and “woke indoctrination,” ensuring that educational institutions don’t teach that one race or sex is inherently oppressive. He framed it as protecting free speech and unity. In April 2022, he signed the Stop WOKE Act (Individual Freedom Act), which restricts instruction on race and gender systems in Florida schools and businesses. Legal challenges have followed, but the law is on the books. Supporters see it as preserving “neutral education,” critics decry censorship and suppression of important social topics.
