Florida authorities warn of the use of force if violent disturbances erupt during this weekend's protests.

Photo: YouTube video from Heraldo de México

Amid growing tensions surrounding immigration policies in the United States, particularly in the state of Florida, a controversy has erupted, generating concern and rejection across various social and political sectors. Demonstrations are expected in various cities across the state, including Miami-Dade and Broward, where Latinos are heavily represented. This has led authorities to issue warnings to uphold the country's laws and crack down on those who commit acts of violence or threaten public safety.

In 2021, the state of Florida passed so-called anti-riot legislation that stipulates that protesters could be criminally prosecuted if their behavior turns aggressive. Currently, the attorney general and at least one sheriff have issued strong statements against any form of violence.


Government authorities in Florida warned they could arrest or even use lethal force against protesters who act violently. “If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our officers, we will notify your family where to take your remains… because we will kill you. Cemetery, dead. We're not playing,” said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

Meanwhile, state Attorney General James Uthmeier warned that penalties for violators have been strengthened, as has happened in other cities across the country, such as Los Angeles. "In Florida, we've increased the penalties to ensure you'll serve time, so we don't tolerate rioting," the lawyer commented.

The statements by DeSantis and his cabinet have been rejected by human rights and immigrant organizations that intend to demonstrate peacefully in different cities, such as Thomas Kennedy of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, who stated that they would take to the streets to demonstrate without harming anyone.

"Here in Florida, there hasn't been any violence, there haven't been any large protests, so people have the right to go out and protest peacefully without being threatened in this way," Kennedy emphasized.

On the other hand, the Brevard Sheriff assured that force would be used if any of the protesters attacked any officer or official securing the streets where the protests would take place. “If you spit on us, you'll go to the hospital and jail. If you hit one of us, you'll go to the hospital and jail, and most likely get bitten by one of our big, beautiful dogs,” Wayne stated.


Kennedy believes these statements are nothing more than an attempt by the state of Florida to intimidate protesters so they won't come out to protest the immigration policies and arrests that have occurred in recent weeks. "It creates an atmosphere of intimidation in this country, which should be a democracy, the freest country in the world, where people escalate tyrannies for freedom. I don't think it's right," he emphasized.

Another activist from Tampa called on protesters to unite and defend what immigrants in Florida have worked so hard to achieve. “We need to act together, peacefully denouncing everything that's happening in Tallahassee and at the local level, where we will defend the rights of the immigrant community that has built these communities,” she said.

During the press conference, the attorney general stated that state security authorities will provide support and protection to immigration agents who experience risky situations.

The combination of Sheriff Ivy's statements and the reform led by DeSantis represents a significant tightening of Florida's protest control policy, which primarily affects Latino and migrant communities, who have staged demonstrations in defense of their rights.

Recent measures taken in Florida, Texas, and other states reflect an escalation in repression against migrant communities and protesters defending their rights. The passage of laws permitting the use of lethal force, such as the reform bill HB1 in Florida, and the massive deployment of security forces to contain protests, demonstrate a climate of polarization and confrontation.


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