'We will kill you': Florida sheriff warns protesters not to attack deputies
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Officials warn: Rioters in Florida could face jail, even death
At a June 12 press conference, Florida AG James Uthmeier and Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey warned protesters about possible consequences for violent acts.
A Florida sheriff warned immigration enforcement protesters that law enforcement would "kill you, graveyard dead" if they become violent toward deputies.
"If you hit one of us, you're going to the hospital and jail, and most likely get bitten by one of our big, beautiful dogs that we have here," Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said at a June 12 news conference.
"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, because we will kill you, graveyard dead. We're not going to play."
The comments came after a week of protests in Los Angeles against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, as Florida officials warned would-be protesters in advance of expected rallies around the nation June 14 that Florida is not California. The state leaders said any rioting would be "nipped in the bud right away."
The remarks, including the threat of death against violent protesters, drew criticism from the ACLU of Florida, which warned the states' sheriffs that they would have to pay millions of dollars in damages if they use excessive force against protesters.
"Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey's violent and provocative threat to 'kill' protesters exercising their First Amendment rights is extremely un-American, and unbecoming for an elected leader sworn to protect the public," the state's ACLU chapter said in a post to social media.
Since President Donald Trump took office in January and started acting on his campaign promise of mass deportations, ICE and related agencies have quickly escalated efforts to remove undocumented immigrants, prompting anti-ICE protests to spread to cities nationwide. In some cases, peaceful protests have turned to chaotic scenes with clashes between local law enforcement and protesters accused of throwing rocks and even Molotov cocktails.
Ivey said at the news conference that peaceful protest is "part of our democracy" and welcome in his county.
"The key word in that is peaceful," he said. "If you let it turn violent ... you do not want to do that in Brevard County."
Florida passed an "anti-riot" bill in 2021 that says peaceful protesters can face criminal charges if their actions become violent. On June 9, Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state has "drawn (the) line very clearly" between protesting and rioting.
About 2,000 "No Kings Day" demonstrations are planned around the country on June 14. According to the No Kings website, as of June 10 over 75 of the protests (including multiple in a single city) are planned across Florida.
Florida will 'never become California,' officials say
At the June 12 news conference, law enforcement officials remained steadfast in their support of federal anti-illegal immigration efforts and vowed to protect ICE officers who are "being put in harm's way just for doing their jobs."
"Florida will 'never become California,'" Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said.
He said if ICE officers feel they are being intimidated or threatened while in Florida they will be able to notify the Florida Highway Patrol, which will provide "routine check ups and patrols."
FHP Col. Gary Howze said in the past several months the state has detained more than 2,000 undocumented immigrants.
Larry Keefe, the executive director of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, said the state will add riot response tactics to its "blueprint" for mass deportation so other states may follow suit.
"There's no reason other states shouldn't have the backs of the federal law enforcement officers and their families while they're in California or in any of the other states," said Keefe, the former top federal prosecutor for north Florida.
Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Maine police officer arrested by ICE agrees to voluntarily leave the country
A Maine police officer arrested by immigration authorities has agreed to voluntarily leave the country, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Monday. ICE arrested Old Orchard Beach Police Department reserve Officer Jon Luke Evans, of Jamaica, on July 25, as part of the agency's effort to step up immigration enforcement. Officials with the town and police department have said federal authorities previously told them Evans was legally authorized to work in the U.S. An ICE representative reached by telephone told The Associated Press on Monday that a judge has granted voluntary departure for Evans and that he could leave as soon as that day. The representative did not provide other details about Evans' case. Evans' arrest touched off a dispute between Old Orchard Beach officials and ICE. Police Chief Elise Chard has said the department was notified by federal officials that Evans was legally permitted to work in the country, and that the town submitted information via the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify program prior to Evans' employment. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin then accused the town of 'reckless reliance' on the department's E-Verify program. E-Verify is an online system that allows employers to check if potential employees can work legally in the U.S. The town is aware of reports that Evans plans to leave the country voluntarily, Chard said Monday. 'The town reiterates its ongoing commitment to meeting all state and federal laws regarding employment,' Chard said in a statement. 'We will continue to rely on the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and the E-Verify database to confirm employment eligibility.' ICE's detainee lookup website said Monday that Evans was being held at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island. However, a representative for Wyatt said Evans had been transferred to an ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts. ICE officials did not respond to requests for comment on the discrepancy. It was unclear if Evans was represented by an attorney, and a message left for him at the detention facility was not returned. ICE officials said in July that Evans overstayed his visa and unlawfully attempted to purchase a firearm. WMTW-TV reported Monday that Evans' agreement to a voluntary departure means he will be allowed to leave the U.S. at his own expense to avoid being deported.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Judge dismisses part of lawsuit over ‘Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center
Florida-Immigration-Detention Center MIAMI (AP) — A federal judge in Miami issued a split decision in a lawsuit over the legal rights of detainees at the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' dismissing part of the suit and also moving the case to a different jurisdiction. U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz issued the decision late Monday, writing in a 47-page ruling that claims the detainees at the facility don't have confidential access to their lawyers or to hearings in immigration court were rendered moot when the Trump administration recently designated the Krome North Processing Center near Miami as a site for their cases to be heard. The judge heard arguments from both sides in a hearing earlier Monday in Miami. Civil rights civil rights attorneys were seeking a preliminary injunction to ensure detainees at the facility have access to their lawyers and can get a hearing. The state and federal government had argued that even though the isolated airstrip where the facility is located is owned by Miami-Dade County, Florida's southern district was the wrong venue since the detention center is located in neighboring Collier County, which is in the state's middle district. Judge Ruiz had hinted during a hearing last week that he had some concerns over which jurisdiction was appropriate. 'Much has changed since the complaint's filing,' Ruiz wrote. Six of the plaintiffs have met with lawyers through videoconference, though they claimed the conferences are not confidential since they are not in an enclosed room and staff is close by and in listening proximity to the detainees. A subset of detainees alleged they are eligible for bond hearings and their lawyers have been 'unable to access — yet alone identify — the proper court for those hearings." But Ruiz noted the facts in the case changed Saturday, when the Trump administration designated the Krome facility as the immigration court with jurisdiction over all detainees at the detention center. Ruiz wrote that the case has 'a tortured procedural history' since it was filed July 16, weeks after the first group of detainees arrived at the facility. 'Nearly every aspect of the Plaintiffs' civil action — their causes of action, their facts in support, their theories of venue, their arguments on the merits and their requests for relief — have changed with each filing,' the judge wrote. The judge granted the state defendants change of venue motion to the Middle District of Florida, where the remaining claims of First Amendment violations will be addressed. The state and federal government defendants made an identical argument last week about jurisdiction for a second lawsuit in which environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe sued to stop further construction and operations at the Everglades detention center until it's in compliance with federal environmental laws. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami on Aug. 7 ordered a 14-day halt on additional construction at the site while witnesses testified at a hearing that wrapped up last week. She has said she plans to issue a ruling before the order expires later this week. She had yet to rule on the venue question. ___ Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Schneider reported from Orlando, Florida. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Outrage erupts over Proud Boys recruiting billboard near Clinton County school
Social-media outrage over a Proud Boys billboard placed near a Breese high school erupted over the weekend and resulted in dozens of phone calls to public officials and a statement from Gov. JB Pritzker's office. Christine Sohnrey, 60, of New Baden, was among those who posted photos of the billboard on Facebook. 'Yes, that Proud Boys,' she wrote. 'The violent extremist hate group tied to January 6th. And now their garbage is staring our kids in the face every single day on their way to school. 'This is not just a sign. It's an attempt to normalize hate. To recruit. To intimidate. To tell our children that violence and white supremacy are welcome in our community. Well, they're not. Not here. Not ever.' Sohnrey and others are expected to attend a Clinton County Board meeting on Monday night to voice opposition to the billboard. The Proud Boys is a far-right, neo-fascist militant organization that has been associated with political violence, including the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Federal prosecutors secured seditious-conspiracy convictions against top Proud Boys leaders, including former Chairman Enrique Tarrio, who received a 22-year sentence. President Donald Trump pardoned Tarrio and others when he returned to office in January for a second term. The Southern Poverty Law Center identifies the Proud Boys as a 'hate group,' and the Anti-Defamation League describes the organization as 'extremist.' Canada designated it 'terrorist entity' in 2021. The billboard went up in Clinton County late last week, according to County Board Chairman Brad Knolhoff. It's along old U.S. 50, just outside of Breese, near Central Community High School. 'Faith, family, freedom, brotherhood,' the billboard reads. A laurel wreath, which symbolizes victory, is shown with the terms 'stand back' and 'stand by' from Trump's controversial comments about the Proud Boys during a 2020 presidential debate. The billboard encourages people to join the organization and lists a phone number with a 618 area code and website address. A call to the number on Monday indicated that the voicemail was full. Gov. JB Pritzker's office denounced the billboard's placement, saying it has no place in Illinois. 'A few wasted advertising dollars will not change the fact that there are millions of Americans who, regardless of political affiliation, know them as an extreme fringe organization that does not reflect who the people of Illinois are,' spokesman Alex Gough wrote in a statement. The Proud Boys didn't immediately respond to an interview request submitted through the organization's website on Monday. Knolhoff said the county is willing to listen to area residents, but officials can't require the billboard to be taken down because of the First Amendment right to free speech. 'I don't like anything that comes (into our county) that sows division, whether it's from the far right or the far left,' he said. 'Anything that is meant to be controversial, I'm not a fan of it. 'But I'm not the person who decides what gets to be stated and what doesn't. That's not my job. I can personally dislike something, but I have no authority to restrict someone's speech, and people should be glad that I don't have that authority.' Knolhoff said he has received about 20 calls of concern about the billboard, including one from as far away as Seattle, Washington. Dustin Foutch, school superintendent for Central District 71, also received calls, including one from a New Jersey woman. Foutch said only a couple of students had mentioned the billboard, but he sent a statement to district parents to keep them informed. 'At Central, we love our students and EVERY child is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve,' he wrote. 'We believe that all students have the right to attend a school where they can be themselves and feel safe, and we work extremely hard to make that possible. 'Our hope is that this billboard will give parents, and our community at-large, the opportunity to discuss what values we stand for, and we are optimistic that the advertisement will not be used to sow hate and division. 'Clinton County is known as a place where we take care of our neighbors, and it is that virtue that makes this an awesome place to live and work.' Breese Mayor Kevin Timmermann emphasized that the billboard is on county land, though his city is closest to it. He said legal counsel has cautioned officials to 'watch what we are saying about it.' 'For me personally, I am very opposed to this,' Timmermann said. 'I am totally opposed to it. I am concerned about it, yes. But right now I have no authority over that sign.' The Proud Boys billboard originally was paired with a sign advertising St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese. On Monday afternoon, a worker moved the billboard to the other side of the stand so it was facing the opposite direction. He declined comment.
