What to know
- Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey warned that violent protesters will face immediate and potentially lethal consequences if they attack law enforcement officers: "We will kill you graveyard dead."
- Ivey and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said they supported peaceful protests, and Ivey encouraged people to share their opinions with one another.
- The warning comes ahead of nationwide protests, with Ivey saying Florida is not California and will not tolerate rioting or violence against officers.
By Silas Morgan
Source Orlando Sentinel
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey issued a harsh warning Thursday to protesters who use violence in his county: “We will kill you graveyard dead.”
Speaking at a news conference with Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Ivey said peaceful protests “are part of our democracy” and allowed, but anyone who uses violence or interferes with law enforcement will be met with force, potentially lethal force.
“Throw a brick, a firebomb or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at,” he said. “Because we will kill you graveyard dead. We’re not going to play.”
Ivey spoke as protests over the Trump administration’s immigration policies have rocked Los Angeles and popped up in other cities and as nationwide protests against the president’s actions are planned for Saturday.
The sheriff, in office since 2013, said if anyone tries to mob a car, they will likely be run over and dragged across the street. If anyone strikes a deputy, they will be going to the hospital and likely will be bitten by one of the agency’s “big, beautiful” dogs, he added.
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“If you let it turn violent — whoa, you do not want to do that in Brevard County. I’m going to tell you that,” he said. “You don’t want to let it happen.”
He later said, “I don’t want to hear any whining later saying ‘we didn’t know’.”
Ivey and Uthmeier both spoke from a podium emblazoned with the words, “Florida: The anti-riot state.”
The press conference was held ahead of the planned nationwide “No Kings” protests against the Trump administration on Saturday. Multiple protests are scheduled to take place around Central Florida, including in Orlando, Apopka, Kissimmee and Lake Mary.
Ivey said “riots” were already happening across the country, with law enforcement officers, including agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, targeted. Both Ivey and Uthmeier reaffirmed their support for ICE.
Uthmeier said Florida is not like California, where the Trump administration has deployed the National Guard and will be deploying U.S. Marines following protests against deportation operations being carried out by ICE.
“We have a great collaborative operation with the feds, with ICE, and we’re very, very proud to support them,” Uthmeier said.
“We are not California. We do not allow rioting in the state of Florida,” he said.
Just before he stepped down from the podium, Ivey reiterated his warning one last time.
“Go protest all you want. Do it peacefully. Stand on the mountaintops and yell your opinion, your views,” he said. “We invite that, but don’t you dare break the law, because it won’t go well for you.”
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