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By Gabe Whisnant
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Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey had an ominous warning to violent protesters and rioters ahead of Saturday's "No Kings" rallies against President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
Ivey said in part at a Thursday press conference, "If you 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. Because we will kill you, graveyard dead. We're not going to play."
Newsweek has reached out to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office via email on Thursday afternoon for comment.
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Why It Matters
Protests against the president's policies kicked into high gear over the weekend, when ICE raided several neighborhoods in Los Angeles with high immigrant populations and labor-intensive industries. The raids sparked ongoing anti-ICE demonstrations across the city and, while most of them have been peaceful, some have devolved into violence, with demonstrators throwing water bottles, Molotov cocktails, cement and other materials at law enforcement.
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What To Know
The Republican sheriff also said, "If you spit on us, you're going to the hospital, then jail. 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 we have here."
"If you try to mob rule a car in Brevard County — gather around it, refusing to let the driver leave? In our county, you're most likely going to get run over and dragged across the street."
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, a Republican, backed Ivey's stance, which followed remarks by GOP Governor Ron DeSantis, who recently suggested that drivers could run over protesters if they felt the need to flee for safety.
"You don't need to sit there and wait while people smash your window and damage your vehicle and put your family in jeopardy. You drive. Just drive," Uthmeier said at the press conference.
Uthmeier added that the state is taking steps to protect ICE agents by penalizing individuals who publish their personal information, or "doxx" them.
In Los Angeles, since the start of the protests against ICE raids on Friday, nearly 400 people have been arrested or detained. A majority of these arrests occurred on Monday.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) reported that over 80 people were arrested in connection with protests on Wednesday. The majority of these arrests were for failure to disperse.
Hundreds of protesters have been arrested, many detained and then released, across multiple cities, including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Seattle and Spokane, Washington.
What People Are Saying
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told the Rubin Report: "And so if you drive off and you hit one of these people, that's their fault for impinging on you. You don't have to just sit there and be a sitting duck and let the mob grab you out of your car and drag you through the streets."
No Kings protest organizers: "A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events."
What Happens Next
Activists are coordinating a protest on June 14, targeting the Washington, D.C., military-style parade planned by the Trump administration on Flag Day, which coincides with the president's birthday.
The "No Kings" group, which is organizing the protest, is recruiting volunteers online and working with local chapters in more than 30 states with over 100 other organizations.
Update: 6/12/25, 3:40 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Update: 6/12/25, 3:55 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Update: 6/12/25, 4:10 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Update: 6/12/25, 4:24 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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