Last Updated: 7:53 p.m.
Floridians in more than 70 cities throughout the state plan to join nationwide demonstrations to protest the Trump administration on Saturday, prompting Attorney General James Uthmeier and other law enforcement officials to say they won’t hesitate to quash protests.
The protests, part of the “No Kings” movement, are set to take place the same day as the multimillion-dollar military parade in D.C. and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. [Four rallies are scheduled in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach: Two are scheduled at 9:30 a.m.–on the Palm Coast Parkway bridge over I-95, and at State Road A1A and State Road 100 in Flagler Beach. Two more are scheduled at 11 a.m.–at Palm Coast Parkway and Old Kings Road, and at State Road 100 and Belle Terre Parkway.]
Uthmeier, who along Gov. Ron DeSantis has been criticizing the protests in downtown Los Angeles against Trump’s immigration crackdown, said he wanted to put the public on notice before Saturday. Trump sent the California National Guard into the city despite opposition from Gov. Gavin Newsom, and the California governor rejected DeSantis’ offer to send the Florida State Guard, according to the Miami Herald.
“If you want to wreak havoc and destruction in Florida, we have enhanced penalties to ensure you will do time, so we do not tolerate rioting. As groups talk about assembling over the weekend, we haven’t seen much of that in Florida,” Uthmeier said during a press conference in Brevard County.
However, protests are planned in all the state’s major cities, including in front of the Florida Historic Capitol in Tallahassee, according to the movement’s website.
The messaging from Uthmeier reflects Trump’s warnings that those who protest the D.C. parade will be met with “very heavy force.”
“If you resist lawful orders, you’re going to jail. Let me be very clear about that: if you block an intersection or a roadway in Brevard County, you are going to jail,” said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. “If you flee arrest, you’re going to go to jail tired because we are going to run you down and put you in jail. … If you throw a brick, a fire bomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at because we will kill you.”
Uthmeier also announced that Florida Highway Patrol troopers would start patrolling the houses of federal immigration officials who believe they have been doxxed.
–Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix
Enough says
I guess the residents of Florida aren’t so “free” after all!! Good Ole DUH Santis!! Another loser wannabe king!! Anything his “daddy” says, he follows suit. He’s so incompetent, he can’t even think on his own; he likes to be led by his nose hairs. Another useless Repub wanting to put fear in anyone who wishes to express themselves peacefully in protest. Reminds us of what this country fought against years ago…it’s called Fascism…Nazism! Look those terns up and read the descriptions.
Proud American says
These protesters,rioters are sick individuals who should not have America as their home! Get rid of them for good right now!
Gino says
This is what we’ve become. Being constantly bullied by those in charge. As per the above Brevard Co. Sheriff almost goading people. Again typical bully crap
Bella says
Do not support this protest. However, do support free speech. Solution is to obtain proper permits if required and do not break the law. Block streets, damage property or people expect to be arrested. Freedom of speech does not include infringing on others by doing the above illegal activities.
Bo Peep says
Let us know if there are any counter protests backing law and order we would like to show up and support one of those events .
Thanks
Stop making this more than it is says
The first comment in this section is ignorant. UGH, none of them said that there couldn’t be PEACEFUL PROTESTS. We still have the freedom to do THAT. We, however, DO NOT, NOR HAVE WE EVER, had the right to break the law. If you don’t like this republican-run state, leave. Nobody is begging you to stay.
Atwp says
Protest but be safe. I believe Desantis had said if you feel threatened you can use your car against people. It was easier to vote for a Democratic President. Just saying.
JimboXYZ says
[Disallowed. Do not use this site to spread disinformation. Thanks.–FL]
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
There’s been plenty of rallies by both republicans, democrats, 50501 and Indivisible in Flagler County and all have been peaceful, other than a few from the GOP hurling words that would make their pastor blush. It will be no different on Saturday as those people exercise their First Amendment Rights peacefully again, while they still have those rights. 249 Years ago Americans had to stand up and say NO KING! Will we make it to 250 Years…….
Dennis C Rathsam says
TRUMP,S done more for the USA, in 6 months….Than Biden did in 4 years! It’s time for BIDENS traitors, to face the music….. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire!
Skibum says
The idiots in Tallahassee are at it again! Protests are certainly NOT the same as riots! To protest is an American tradition, and besides that, protests are constitutionally protected as a method of free speech as long as the activity is peaceful. A riot on the other hand, for those in Tallahassee who need such a visual reminder, is what occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 where thousands of drumph’s maga mushbrains attacked and injured more than 100 federal police officers while breaking into and damaging that federal building. Their unlawful actions included building a makeshift gallows on the Capitol lawn while chanting “Hang Mike Pence!” and storming through parts of the Capitol building hoping to kidnap and do harm to Speaker Pelosi. THAT is the definition of a “riot”, despite the unmitigated gall of drumph to reward that dangerous and illegal behavior of more than 1500 convicted rioters with presidential pardons, all because they were his own maga supporters!
Now our own unhinged governor has publicly stated that it is perfectly okay for people in vehicles to run down any “no kings day” protesters here in the state of Flori-DUH… what could possibly go wrong? It seems both our state and federal government has been turned completely upside down, not to mention our top elected officials showing us that they are completely bankrupt of morality and decency!
DIANE ERRAIR says
My comment goes for whatever you believe, whatever side of the aisle you are on…………this country is for the people and by the people. The politicians work for us! If any of the people don’t agree or like what’s going on, the constitution that our country is based on, gives us the right to peacefully protest to make our voices heard. Its a right. For some to say protestors are “sick people” is ignorant and I am very sure if they themselves don’t like something the politicians are doing, they would then want to be able to speak out. Officials threatening shooting protestors and that vehicles can run protestors over is intimidation to stop the people from complaining in protests so they will shut up and politicians can then get away with whatever they want. If we can’t speak out, we are a third world /communist/ dictatorship country! We are free………this is what we love about america. Being free and staying free, means standing up for what concerns us.
DIANE ERRAIR says
Unless protests get out of control, which police will take care of those people, then we cannot ever give up our right to free speech, our right to protest what we don’t like seeing going on, because this country is by the people and for the people…..The politicians work for us. When we don’t feel they are working for us, or doing things against what we believe, the right to say so is what’s great about our country. Give up no rights. You give up even one right that we have in our constitution, they will take all of them away. Then we have bigger problems.
T.H.E. says
In most cases, peaceful protests are disrupted with violent reactions by people that don’t agree with them. Let people speak. That’s Freedom . That’s having Rights. Taking that away makes us NOT a FREE AMERICA that is for the people and by the people. All sides will NOT like that lifestyle, that’s for sure
Tom E. says
Protesting is a Right of Every American, in America, under the American Constitution, which makes America a Free Country. If anyone breaks the law in America, they get arrested, and in America they get due process (to have an opportunity to defend themselves). If guilty, the American justice system handles them. If innocent, they are very thankful to live in America and have the proceesses we have……that protect all Americans.
OCEANTIQUES says
YIKES, GET over Biden people! Trumps President. No matter who it is, It’s not about ONE MAN RUNNING THE SHOW. IT’S ABOUT following the Constitution which protects our RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS. IF YOU aren’t bothered by losing any of your rights and freedoms, that’s your choice, but this is AMerica with a Constitution that protects the rest of us. If you aren’t bothered by what this administration is doing, to everyone and why…..then you just aren’t paying attention.
This Country is FOR THE PEOPLE and BY THE PEOPLE, we hire politicians..they work for us. They are not working for us, the rich getting richer and the rest of us losing what our tax dollars are suppose to be used for.
when you get a leader that doesn’t follow the rules…….we lose our freedoms and rights, now we lose our services, our benefits, and going into the pockets of the RICH in tax breaks????? the only people not caring about that are billionaires.
Cutting benefits and federal programs, cutting cancer, alzheimer research, cutting education………..WE PAY FOR ALL THOSE……
I WANT THEM BACK.
I DON’T CHOOSE THAT MY TAX DOLLARS ARE PAYING FOR A 50 MILLION DOLLAR MILITARY PARADE FOR TRUMPS BIRTHDAY, TO ALLOW POOR CHILDREN TO STARVE, TO BE LIED TO ON A DAILY BASIS, WHEN WE PAY THEIR SALARIES!!!!!
WAKE UP PEOPLE!
oceantiques says
Our taxes are paying for this $$$$$$$$ military Birthday parade.
Our taxes are paying for armed masked men invading our communities.
Our taxes are paying for farm workers to be stolen so we can’t get our produce at a fair price.
Our taxes are paying for home repair workers to be stole so we can’t get our homes built and repaired at a fair price.
Our taxes are paying for terrorizing and removing healthcare workers, house and hotel cleaners, hotel and school maintenance people….and all the people that do the jobs at the lowest pay, that we won’t do and we benefit from.
Our taxes are paying for shipping people out of the Country that are actually legally here.
Our taxes are paying for the federal programs simply deleted.
Our taxes are paying leaders salaries that are NOT following the Constitution, lying to us, and threatening us if we want to exercise our free speech and freedom to assemble.
Our taxes provide the federal funding that’s now being withheld from colleges, universities, public TV and for RESEARCH that are suppose to be getting that money.
Our taxes provide federal funding thats now being withheld for research for illnesses, for feeding the poor and for helping the elderly and disabled, that supplement education…..
I DO NOT BELEIVE EVEN MAGA SUPPORTERS WOULD WANT TO PAY THEIR MONEY FOR THINGS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY JUST TO PUT IN THE POCKETS OF BILLIONAIRES IN TAX BREAKS FOR THEM.
WE THE PEOPLE NEED THE TAX BREAKS AND THE PROGRAMS, AND HEALTHCARE THEY’RE TRYING TO DELETE TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE BILLIONAIRE’S TAX BREAKS.
RECOGNIZE THE LIES AND WATCH WHAT THEY ARE DOING…..BE SMART.
I WANT ALL MY TAX MONEY THAT’S BEING MISUSED, WITHHELD AND PUT IN THE POCKETS FOR TAX BREAKS FOR BILLIONAIRES AND TRILLIONAIRES, ALL REFUNDED TO ME.
EVERYONE SHOULD BE DEMANDING THIS.
.
OCEANTIQUES says
ONE MORE THING……WE ARE BEING THREATENED IN FLORIDA IF WE EXERCISE OUR RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH AND ASSEMBLY……THAT IF SOMEONE RUNS US OVER, IT’S OK AND THAT WE CAN BE SHOT DEAD BY POLICE.
WHY? BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID THE TRUTH WILL GET OUT.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF AMERICA THAT TRUMP & FRIENDS ARE CAUSING.
Laurel says
It is so shocking to me, that people who have lived in the USA all their lives, want to suppress all those who want to continue the freedoms they have enjoyed. There are those so drowning in the orange Kool aid, that they no longer care for the constitution. They suggest us Americans to move. Trump continues, daily, to divide us up.
Are the rest of you finally starting to get it now? I certainly hope so.
What Else Is New says
Well said, Tom E. I would add just one reminder as did another reader. The January 6th riot at the Capitol of the United States of America killed and severely injured many officers. Many have been arrested and jailed, only for the ignorant and cruel President to pardon those criminals. Just goes to show the character of the person with his finger on the scary button. He is so ignorant he wants to abolish the Constitution. It is legal to peacefully assemble. I have been a part of countless peaceful rallies, marches and protests in both St. Augustine and Palm Coast. Never have I seen those participants breaking the law by rioting and severely injuring officers or others as happened on January 6th! The President of the United States continues to break the law and SCOTUS sometimes assists in his crimes. I plan to be in Palm Coast protesting Trump’s multi-million dollar parade, his refusal to follow the Constitution, his cruelty toward poor people, people of color, foreign students, the undocumented, the citizens of the United States, the environment, other countries, etc., etc. We are living in a police state.
Atwp says
Dennis what good has Trump done for the country? Thousands lost their federal jobs, tariffs, high grocery prices. He wants a military parade for his birthday, @the cost of millions. Why not cut that from his so called big beautiful bill? Trump and Musk has done very little if anything to help their blind voters. Believe me the tanks will cause damage to the roads, knowing Trump he will blame Biden.
FlaPharmTech says
The Brevard sheriff actually said “graveyard dead”. So eloquent. Looking forward to No Kings Day tomorrow! Dennis, you, too, are invited to this non-partisan, peaceful, historic event. I know you’re a lost cause, but I thought I’d extend the invite. Cheers!
Deborah Coffey says
Okay. We’ve been duly warned and threatened. See you all at the protest! I do not intend for my 9 great grandchildren to live in a Nazi America led by an incompetent president and his know-nothing lackeys.
joe says
“The Brevard sheriff actually said “graveyard dead”.
Bull Conner would have been proud of this racist lout.
Laurel says
If I watch anything on TV, the next 24 hours, it will probably be a movie. It’s so hard to escape the bone spurs ego, on any channel.
May I recommend “Cabaret?” Maybe not. It explains how we got here.
D.E. says
Well for the first time in my life as a really old person, I participated in a NO Kings protest and what I took away from that experience is realizing that the same FREEDOMS THAT ALLOW ME TO PROTEST, ARE THE SAME FREEDOMS THAT ALLOW THE TRUMP SUPPORTERS GOING BY TO GIVE ME THE FINGER.
TOM says
A lot of peaceful protestors exercised their rights by being part of the no king protests today with the beautiful atlantic ocean in the background on a beautiful sunny florida day. While we held our signs asking to protect the rule of law, asking to protect our neighbors and fellow human beings being terrorized lawlessly, with no due process, asking for the politicians to stick to their oaths to the constitution, all words on our signs……..While the opposition in vehicles passing by us, were revving their motors, screaching their tires, pretending they were going to drive into us, yelling at us shaking their fists out their car windows and men, women and even children giving us the finger. What is suppose to be a difference of political opinions and policies……is very much also a difference in morals and values.
Tom E says
Maybe Trump supporters will understand it this way: My Freedom to Protest is the same Freedom that lets you give me the finger while i’m doing it.
de says
to “Proud American” that said protestors are “sick and should leave the country”. If you were a “proud American”, you would understand AMericans have a Constitutional Right to protest, that is what makes Americans Proud….having rights and freedoms! It allows you to even write that comment.
tom says
The Freedoms I have to protest, are the same Freedoms you have to drive by using vulgar language and bulgar gestures at me.
de says
My Right to protest in a protest rally, is the same Right you have to drive by and protest me doing it.
That Right is part of the Constitution that gives All People their Rights and Freedoms.
It’s the same Constitution that this administration is NOT following anymore and keeps saying they want to delete it.
Why would they not follow the Constitutional law or want to delete it. Because that gets rid of us from standing up crooked, dishonest and money hungry politicians, that take our tax money and pocket it instead of giving us healthcare and all the other programs our money is suppose to be paying for .
I protest the Rich getting rich politicians stealing our money, our benefits and our programs. next election, everyone of them will be fired.
Why would they want us to not have our rights and freedoms anymore? So we can’t do anything about it. They take all our tax. money that pays for the programs they ended, and they pocket that money making themselves rich.
I don’t think ANYONE in this Country wants what’s happening, it’s just some can’t see what’s going on, they are too star stuck.
Tom E says
There use to be a divide over just political policy, now it’s a divide over values and morals, truth tellers and liars, poor and ultra wealthy. Our leaders were suppose to be for the common good, now they are for their own good. Things are bad and it can’t end up too good the way it’s going. I am disgusted by the side that professes to acting under God’s will, being the same people ending aid to poor countries, ending food programs, ending disease research, discriminating based on color, age and even sex are putting themselves out there as the Religious ones……..makes me remember the warning of “false prophets”.
joe says
“These protesters,rioters are sick individuals who should not have America as their home!” says “Proud American”
Apparently, you know nothing of American history….the country was FOUNDED on protest.
Why is it that right-wingers like “Proud” have for decades been vehemently opposed to the main foundations of the country they claim to love? Our Founders believed it essential to have:
An informed citizenry
A free press
An independent judiciary
Apparently, “Proud American” and his ilk love some other country – it damn sure isn’t the real America.
Ric Scott says
The wars was suppose to be over on day one. 200 trade deals. The groceries cheaper. Instead its world war 3 and people protesting in the streets.