No Kings protest against ICE arrests: Florida sheriff warns protesters they will be killed if this happens

A protest is planned this weekend across the U.S. against the rise in ICE arrests. The protests started in Los Angeles last Friday and are expected to grow during Trump’s birthday parade. In Florida, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey gave a scary warning to protesters during a press conference on Thursday, as per reports.

He said that if anyone throws a brick, firebomb, or points a gun at police, “we will kill you, graveyard dead.” He added, "We will notify your family where to collect your remains." He said if you block roads or intersections in his county, you’ll go to jail. If someone tries to run away from arrest, the cops will chase and catch them, and they’ll still go to jail, according to the report by Independent.

If protesters surround a car and stop it, he warned they could be run over and dragged. Ivey also said, if you spit on a police officer, you’ll go to the hospital first, then jail. If you hit an officer, you’ll also go to the hospital and jail, and might get bitten by their police dogs. He clearly said, “We’re not going to play.”

Sheriff Ivey's past & controversies

Sheriff Ivey is known for making dramatic press conferences and jokes with serious warnings. In 2021, his officers seized 770 pounds of marijuana. He joked online, asking if someone had “lost or misplaced it,” and said they could contact the Narcotics Agents to “reunite” with it, according to reports.

But the joke came with a serious warning: having more than 20 grams of cannabis in Florida is a felony, and people could face 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. In 2023, a man sued Sheriff Ivey, saying Ivey put him on a “Wheel of Fugitive” video on social media without cause. The man said his image and name were shown several times in 2021, and this ruined his job chances, as stated in the report by Independent.

The same day as Ivey's warning, Trump’s National Guard deployment in California was allowed to continue. This happened after the Trump administration successfully appealed a ruling by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, as per reports.

FAQs

Q1. Why did the Florida sheriff give such a strong warning?
He warned protesters not to get violent during rallies against ICE arrests.

Q2. What is the “Wheel of Fugitive” controversy about?
A man sued the sheriff for wrongly showing his name and photo in a crime video.