JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday said drivers who are threatened won’t be held responsible if they hit protesters because they have a right to defend themselves.
“If you’re driving on one of those streets and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have a right to flee for your safety, and so if you drive off and you hit one of these people, that’s their fault for impinging on you,” DeSantis told podcaster Dave Rubin in an episode of “The Rubin Report.” “You don’t have to sit there and just be a sitting duck and let the mob grab you out of your car and drag you through the streets.”
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DeSantis made the comments as protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and raids from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have broken out across the country. And more rallies in nearly 2,000 locations are planned Saturday for a nationwide “No Kings Protest” orchestrated by the 50501 Movement, including in Florida.
Protests in major cities have created major traffic jams as people have taken to highways.
In a news conference earlier this week in Jacksonville, DeSantis denounced the violence in the protests happening on the West Coast and said that won’t be tolerated in Florida.
“Do not even try to shut down the streets (in Florida),” DeSantis said. “We’re going to make sure that you don’t do that.”
The governor said law enforcement will be ready to take the proper measures if necessary.
“We are not going to allow that to happen in Florida. I know people are talking about, ‘Hey, there’s going to be demonstrations around the country.’ The line is very clear,” DeSantis said. “Peacefully talking about what you want to do or what you want to see or having any type of those discussions is fine, but the minute that crosses the line, we’re not going to just sit idly by and let the inmates run the asylum.”
According to current Florida statutes, it is a constitutional right to protest, but there are a few rules to keep in mind:
- It is a misdemeanor to willfully interrupt or disturb schools, religious assemblies, or gatherings for lawful purposes.
- Protests are prohibited within 500 feet of residences, cemeteries, funeral homes, or places of worship during funerals or burials, including one hour before and after the event.
- It is illegal to advertise that individuals are unwelcome based on their religion in public establishments.
Penalties for violating these laws can include fines and imprisonment.
On Wednesday, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of a man accused of making threats against protesters on social media.
“Look as a Jacksonville resident of I see any large gatherings to protest ice I’m going to grab my buddies tow truck and plow through every ignant [sic], un-american swine I see protestong [sic] the deportation of ILLEGAL immigrants, since you believe in them so much why do you go with,” the man was accused of writing.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday he has ordered the deployment of more than 5,000 Texas National Guard troops, along with more than 2,000 state police, to help local law enforcement manage protests against President Trump and the ongoing federal immigration raids.
Abbott’s announcement did not detail where the troops were sent, but some were seen at a protest Wednesday night in downtown San Antonio near the Alamo. That protest drew hundreds of demonstrators but did not erupt into violence.
