Federal Judge Upholds Florida Law that could Derail ‘Reimagine Tomorrow’ at Disney World

Florida’s “Stop W.O.K.E. Act” remains on track to take effect this week after efforts to gain a federal court’s intervention were shut down.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, 

A federal judge Monday rejected arguments by attorneys for teachers, a student and a diversity consultant that he should block a new state law that restricts the way race-related concepts can be taught in classrooms and workplace training. 

In a 23-page order, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker denied a request for a preliminary injunction against the new law, stating that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to obtain it. The plaintiffs included two public school teachers, a diversity training consultant, and an incoming kindergarten student who argued, in part, that it was a violation of First Amendment rights. They also challenged the banning of critical race theory, which teaches that systemic racism is at the foundation of American history, society, and institutions, but failed to provide the injury-related proof needed to establish the standing.

While they have not personally filed legal action, The Walt Disney Company’s plans to institute new training and workplace protocols through its “Reimagine Tomorrow” initiative at the Walt Disney World Resort and the rest of its Florida-based holdings could be derailed due to this bill.

We previously covered that the “Stop Wrongs Against Our Kids and Employees Act” fights against Florida schools and Florida employers from teaching that “an individual, by virtue of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin, should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment to achieve diversity, equity, or inclusion.”

“What we will not allow is to be taught that members of one race, color, national origin, or sex are somehow morally superior,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said, according to WFTS. “We are not gonna allow teaching that a person simply by virtue of his/her race, color, national origin or sex is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, that’s wrong.”

Read More: DeSantis Strikes Twice: Signed Bill Could Prohibit ‘Reimagine Tomorrow’ at Disney World

While Disney has not taken much of a public stance against this new legislation, the Burbank, California-based corporation coincidentally announced recently that they are delaying the transfer of over 2,000 high-paying Walt Disney Imagineering jobs from Southern California to Central Florida from 2023 to 2026.

In the meantime, life goes on at The Walt Disney World Resort, and in just a few days, fans will see the return of the Magic Kingdom’s famous Fourth of July Fireworks.

We at Disney Fanatic will continue to update our readers on Disney news and stories as more developments come to light.