Dozens of advocates against anti-Asian discrimination packed a courtroom in Tallahassee on Tuesday as a federal judge heard arguments over a new state law that makes it a crime for certain Chinese citizens buy a home in Florida.
"The core issue is that people who are living here, working here, raising families here. Those people should be able to buy homes in Florida," said Ashley Gorski, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, who's representing the plaintiffs.
U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor heard arguments on Tuesday in a lawsuit challenging part of SB 264, which places restrictions on land ownership for some people who are lawfully in the U.S., but come from a "foreign country of concern."
Under the measure, citizens whose primary residence is in one of six other countries, including Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria, may not purchase property larger than 2 acres and within five miles of a military installation.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the measure in May. In a press release, DeSantis defended the prohibition on land sales to those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, which he defended as "the United States' greatest geopolitical threat."
Judge Winsor explained to attorneys that he'll need time to issue a decision, but one should come "sooner, rather than later." "These are very complicated issues," he said.
About 50-60 demonstrators gathered outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee following the hearing on Tuesday afternoon. Many of them traveled from outside the Capitol, including some from Southeastern states, including Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina.
For Chowei Zhu, who drove 10 hours from North Carolina, attending the hearing in North Florida was the "right thing to do."
"I firmly believe that there should be no discrimination against people based on their national origin, and I also believe that this moment will go down in history," Zhu said. "I'm here to witness history alive."
