Although the Republican majority has been successful in advancing the bill so far, Florida Democrats, especially Black legislators, have been fighting against the proposed law. State Sen. Shevrin Jones told the local CBS News station that he was "ashamed of what we’re doing here in Florida.” Jones, who represents Miami Gardens, the home of Trayvon Martin, added that the state was “trying to eliminate and censor how we teach true Black history."

State Rep. Ramon Alexander, who said he found the arguments for the current bill “offensive,” spoke against the proposed law at a Florida State House Judiciary Committee meeting this week. Questioning the motives behind the bill, Alexander told the Republican members of his committee: “I’m going to say this as professionally as I can: y’all gotta find another way to communicate to your base.” Bringing up pressing issues in Florida, including “systemic poverty” and other quality of life issues, Alexander said that having to debate this bill “is a huge waste of time.”

The “white discomfort ❄️” bill passed another Florida GOP controlled committee yesterday, but not without this powerful testimony from Rep. @RamonAlexander.

Putting the full thing here so future generations, if allowed, can see who fought against whitewashing history. pic.twitter.com/S32limhfvT

— Kevin Cate (@KevinCate) January 27, 2022

“We are better than this,” Alexander told his colleagues while being called out of order by the chair of his committee. “I’m not anti-American, but I am an American, and my voice matters just as much as your voice,” Alexander said at the end of his remarks, concluding that his colleagues “can’t handle the truth.”

With democracy and truth under attack in Florida and around the nation, the “Individual Freedom” bill is a disturbing example of where our country is heading. Republicans continue to deny Black people our fundamental rights and even question our identity as real Americans. Now, even white feelings are being prioritized over Black lives. Proposals like the new Florida bill demonstrate that the fight for equality will be long and hard, especially as long as Republicans are able to push an anti-democratic and anti-truth agenda.

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