Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced he will not enforce over 80 state laws that mention race — including programs designed to improve health outcomes, educational access, and business opportunities for Black, Hispanic, and other underrepresented communities. And he made this announcement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

By refusing to uphold laws passed by the Florida Legislature — many of which exist to correct well-documented disparities — Uthmeier isn’t defending the Constitution. He’s abandoning his duty to enforce it. 

These laws are about ensuring every Floridian has a real shot at success — from the doctor’s office to the classroom to the boardroom. Uthmeier’s decision threatens decades of progress and sends a chilling message to communities already facing entrenched inequality.

If Gov. Ron DeSantis could remove elected State Attorneys like Andrew Warren and Monique Worrell for announcing they wouldn’t enforce certain state laws, then he must apply the same standard here. Uthmeier doesn’t get to pick and choose which laws matter — especially not the ones protecting civil rights.

We call on Governor Ron DeSantis to remove Attorney General James Uthmeier from office immediately. Floridians of all races deserve an attorney general who enforces the law for everyone — not someone who uses their office to make political statements at the expense of equity, fairness, and justice.