At least 1,800 “No Kings Day” protests are expected for June 14 nationwide, with more than 70 planned in Florida and two in Brevard County, where the sheriff had issued a startling warning against violence.
The day is set to be a “national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from President Trump and his allies.”
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey had two days earlier declared Florida the “anti-riot state” and made controversial statements about how his deputies would respond to violent protesters.
Ivey said that peaceful demonstrations “are part of democracy – we invited people to share their opinions. That’s what our country is all about.”
“The key word in that is ‘peaceful.’ And if it’s peaceful, us and law enforcement are going to make sure you have a safe environment to do it in that. That’s part of that process.”
But “If you let it turn violent, you do not want to do that in Brevard County.”
“If you throw bricks or firebombs or point a gun at our officers, we will notify your family where to collect your remains because we will kill you, graveyard dead."
