Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey issued a harsh warning Thursday to protesters who use violence in his county: “We are going to kill you graveyard useless.”
Talking at a information convention with Florida Lawyer Normal James Uthmeier, Ivey stated peaceable protests “are a part of our democracy” and allowed, however anybody who makes use of violence or interferes with regulation enforcement will probably be met with pressure, doubtlessly deadly pressure.
“Throw a brick, a firebomb or level a gun at one among our deputies, we will probably be notifying your loved ones the place to gather your stays at,” he stated. “As a result of we’ll kill you graveyard useless. We’re not going to play.”
Ivey spoke as protests over the Trump administration’s immigration insurance policies have rocked Los Angeles and popped up in different cities and as nationwide protests towards the president’s actions are deliberate for Saturday.
The sheriff, in workplace since 2013, stated if anybody tries to mob a automotive, they’ll possible be run over and dragged throughout the road. If anybody strikes a deputy, they are going to be going to the hospital and certain will probably be bitten by one of many company’s “huge, lovely” canine, he added.
“Should you let it flip violent — whoa, you do not need to try this in Brevard County. I’m going to inform you that,” he stated. “You don’t need to let it occur.”
He later stated, “I don’t need to hear any whining later saying ‘we didn’t know’.”
Ivey and Uthmeier each spoke from a podium emblazoned with the phrases, “Florida: The anti-riot state.”
The press convention was held forward of the deliberate nationwide “No Kings” protests towards the Trump administration on Saturday. A number of protests are scheduled to happen round Central Florida, together with in Orlando, Apopka, Kissimmee and Lake Mary.
Ivey stated “riots” have been already taking place throughout the nation, with regulation enforcement officers, together with brokers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, focused. Each Ivey and Uthmeier reaffirmed their help for ICE.
Uthmeier stated Florida just isn’t like California, the place the Trump administration has deployed the Nationwide Guard and will probably be deploying U.S. Marines following protests towards deportation operations being carried out by ICE.
“We’ve got an amazing collaborative operation with the feds, with ICE, and we’re very, very proud to help them,” Uthmeier stated.
“We aren’t California. We don’t enable rioting within the state of Florida,” he stated.
Simply earlier than he stepped down from the rostrum, Ivey reiterated his warning one final time.
“Go protest all you need. Do it peacefully. Stand on the mountaintops and yell your opinion, your views,” he stated. “We invite that, however don’t you dare break the regulation, as a result of it received’t go effectively for you.”
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