BREVARD COUNTY, FL – Ahead of nationwide “No Kings” protests scheduled for this Saturday, a Florida sheriff has issued a warning to potential demonstrators, stating that any violence against law enforcement will be met with lethal force.

Key Facts

• Sheriff’s Threat – Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey stated that if a protestor throws a brick, firebomb, or points a gun at a deputy, law enforcement will ‘kill you, graveyard dead.’
• Statewide Stance – Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier have echoed a hardline stance, citing Florida’s 2021 ‘anti-riot’ law and warning of severe penalties for unlawful assembly.
• Nationwide Protests – The ‘No Kings’ protests are a series of nearly 2,000 planned rallies across the U.S. opposing the Trump administration’s policies and what organizers term ‘authoritarianism.’

The stark warnings from Florida officials come as cities across the state and nation prepare for demonstrations expected to draw thousands.

‘Graveyard Dead’: The Sheriff’s Warning

During a press conference Thursday, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey delivered a direct and severe message to those who might engage in violence during the upcoming protests.

“If you spit on us, you’re going to the hospital and in jail,” Ivey stated. “If you hit one of us, you’re going to the hospital and jail… 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.”

Ivey’s comments were part of a broader press conference with state law enforcement leaders who emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to any violence. Governor Ron DeSantis has also stated that if a mob surrounds a vehicle, the driver has the “right to flee for your safety,” adding that if a protestor is hit, “that’s their fault.”

What Are the ‘No Kings’ Protests?

The “No Kings” rallies are scheduled nationwide for Saturday, June 14, which is Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. The date also coincides with a military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary.

According to the movement’s website, the protests are a “nationwide day of defiance” to “reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like.” The demonstrations are largely in response to President Trump’s policies, particularly concerning immigration and recent ICE raids. Over 75 such protests are planned across Florida.

Florida’s Anti-Riot Law and The Official Response

Florida officials are pointing to the state’s 2021 “anti-riot” bill as the legal backbone for their warnings. The law, passed following nationwide protests in 2020, enhances penalties for crimes committed during a riot and makes it a second-degree felony to cause more than $5,000 in property damage.

Attorney General James Uthmeier stated, “We want to put the public on notice in Florida and remind everybody, you know, we have a law that says you cannot riot. We have enhanced penalties. If you engage in this behavior in Florida, you will do time.”

The law has faced legal challenges, with critics arguing it could stifle peaceful protest. While a federal judge initially blocked the law as “vague and overbroad,” an appeals court later overturned the injunction. The Florida Supreme Court has since clarified that a peaceful protestor is not a rioter under the statute.

Critics, like Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones, have condemned Sheriff Ivey’s rhetoric as “reckless” and “dangerous,” arguing that it incites fear and violence rather than promoting safety. “The right to protest is foundational to our democracy,” Jones said. “Threatening protestors with death because they challenge injustice is exactly the type of authoritarianism our Constitution protects us from.”