FL: Abortion-rights group sues the DeSantis administration, alleging a violation of free speech.
The organization behind a campaign for an abortion-rights ballot measure sued the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida on Wednesday, saying that a threat to prosecute television stations for running a political ad was an unconstitutional violation of free speech rights.
The lawsuit is the latest salvo in a fight between the group, Floridians Protecting Freedom, and the DeSantis administration, which has leaned heavily on the power of the state to oppose Amendment 4, a ballot measure that would guarantee abortion rights in Florida.
On Oct. 3, the state Health Department sent a cease-and-desist letter to several television stations, urging them to stop airing an ad that the state claimed was “false.” The ad, titled “Caroline,” is part of the “Yes on 4” campaign and features a woman named Caroline Williams discussing how she had been diagnosed with stage four brain cancer when she was 20 weeks pregnant.
In its lawsuit on Wednesday, Floridians Protecting Freedom said at least one television station stopped airing the ad after receiving the letter from the health department.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/16/us/politics/abortion-florida-desantis.html
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