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Miami Herald
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Ron DeSantis Says Drivers Have Right to Hit Protesters-Is He Right?
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been accused of "overstating the protections that drivers have" if they hit individuals who surround their vehicles during a demonstration. Tray Gober, the managing director of the law firm Lee, Gober & Reyna, told Newsweek that the governor appeared to "conflate civil protections with criminal immunity" and risked "sending a dangerous message." Since June 6, Los Angeles has been rocked by a series of protests against Immigration and Custom Enforcement raids. Some of the demonstrations have turned violent, with individuals burning vehicles and throwing rocks at the police. In response, President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Anti-ICE protests have since spread to other cities, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott has also deployed National Guard troops in his state. On Saturday, the Trump administration is holding a military parade in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. The "No Kings" movement has organized more than 1,500 demonstrations across the country to take place on the day, which is also Trump's 79th birthday. A large number of protests nationwide could mean increased interactions between drivers and people demonstrating on roads. During an appearance on The Rubin Report on Wednesday, DeSantis said drivers could legally hit demonstrators with their vehicles if fleeing for their safety. "We also have a policy that 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," DeSantis said. "And so if you drive off and you hit one of these people, that's their fault for impinging on you." Gober, who has worked as a criminal defense attorney and covered civil cases involving vehicle collisions, said the governor's comments were based on a misunderstanding of the law. "Governor DeSantis' comments appear to conflate civil protections with criminal immunity, which are distinct in both intent and effect," Gober said. "Florida's HB 1 passed in 2021 provides an affirmative defense in civil lawsuits for injuries caused to someone 'acting in furtherance of a riot.' But that is not the same as granting drivers a carte blanche to hit protesters without consequence." In 2021, DeSantis signed House Bill 1, nicknamed the "anti-riot" bill, into law. The legislation grants drivers some civil protection if they hit protesters with their vehicles while feeling threatened but not criminal immunity. "In a civil context, the Florida statute (HB1) provides that if a person is injured while participating in a riot, and they then sue for damages, the defendant can raise the plaintiff's riot participation as an affirmative defense," Gober said, adding: "In a criminal context, HB 1 does not create blanket immunity for drivers who injure protesters. Florida criminal law still requires that use of force is justified only when it meets the legal standard for self-defense." "So while DeSantis's rhetoric suggests a driver can simply 'drive off' and harm someone without legal risk, that's not what the law actually says," he continued. Gober added, "DeSantis is overstating the protections drivers have. The law he's citing offers limited civil protection in very specific cases. It does not give blanket criminal immunity for injuring or killing protesters. It also risks sending a dangerous message that civil unrest justifies indiscriminate harm." Bryan Griffin, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' communications director, told Newsweek: "It's simple: don't protest in Florida by blocking traffic or threatening people in their cars, and you won't have a problem. Even you Newsweek activists and your Experts™ should be able to keep that straight." Lorella Praeli, a co-president of Community Change Action, which is backing Saturday's protest, previously told Newsweek: "Look around-Trump and his allies are deploying the tools of authoritarianism: silencing dissent, targeting immigrants, punishing oversight, and even staging military displays for personal glorification. These aren't isolated incidents; they're part of a broader effort to delegitimize democratic norms. "This isn't normal. It's manufactured chaos, designed to instill fear and consolidate power. When a sitting U.S. Senator is handcuffed for asking a question, it should be a five-alarm fire for anyone who believes in democracy. We have to name this moment for what it is-and organize with the clarity and courage it demands." Demonstrations are expected across the U.S. on Saturday. Organizers of the No Kings protests have said: "All No Kings events adhere to a shared commitment to nonviolent protest and community safety. Organizers are trained in de-escalation and are working closely with local partners to ensure peaceful and powerful actions nationwide." Related Articles Why Flags Are at Half-Mast Across Florida TodayRon DeSantis Says Floridians Have Right to Hit Protesters With CarsRon DeSantis' PAC Defends Musk as Billionaire's Feud With Trump ExplodesFlorida Bridge Displays Pride Colors in Defiance of Ron DeSantis 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Ron DeSantis Says Drivers Have Right to Hit Protesters—Is He Right?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been accused of "overstating the protections that drivers have" if they hit individuals who surround their vehicles during a demonstration. Tray Gober, the managing director of the law firm Lee, Gober & Reyna, told Newsweek that the governor appeared to "conflate civil protections with criminal immunity" and risked "sending a dangerous message." Why It Matters Since June 6, Los Angeles has been rocked by a series of protests against Immigration and Custom Enforcement raids. Some of the demonstrations have turned violent, with individuals burning vehicles and throwing rocks at the police. In response, President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Anti-ICE protests have since spread to other cities, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott has also deployed National Guard troops in his state. On Saturday, the Trump administration is holding a military parade in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. The "No Kings" movement has organized more than 1,500 demonstrations across the country to take place on the day, which is also Trump's 79th birthday. A large number of protests nationwide could mean increased interactions between drivers and people demonstrating on roads. What To Know During an appearance on The Rubin Report on Wednesday, DeSantis said drivers could legally hit demonstrators with their vehicles if fleeing for their safety. "We also have a policy that 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," DeSantis said. "And so if you drive off and you hit one of these people, that's their fault for impinging on you." Gober, who has worked as a criminal defense attorney and covered civil cases involving vehicle collisions, said the governor's comments were based on a misunderstanding of the law. "Governor DeSantis' comments appear to conflate civil protections with criminal immunity, which are distinct in both intent and effect," Gober said. "Florida's HB 1 passed in 2021 provides an affirmative defense in civil lawsuits for injuries caused to someone 'acting in furtherance of a riot.' But that is not the same as granting drivers a carte blanche to hit protesters without consequence." Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking during a news conference at an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operation office in Miramar, Florida, on May 1. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking during a news conference at an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operation office in Miramar, Florida, on May 1. Joe Raedle/GETTY In 2021, DeSantis signed House Bill 1, nicknamed the "anti-riot" bill, into law. The legislation grants drivers some civil protection if they hit protesters with their vehicles while feeling threatened but not criminal immunity. "In a civil context, the Florida statute (HB1) provides that if a person is injured while participating in a riot, and they then sue for damages, the defendant can raise the plaintiff's riot participation as an affirmative defense," Gober said, adding: "In a criminal context, HB 1 does not create blanket immunity for drivers who injure protesters. Florida criminal law still requires that use of force is justified only when it meets the legal standard for self-defense." "So while DeSantis's rhetoric suggests a driver can simply 'drive off' and harm someone without legal risk, that's not what the law actually says," he continued. Gober added, "DeSantis is overstating the protections drivers have. The law he's citing offers limited civil protection in very specific cases. It does not give blanket criminal immunity for injuring or killing protesters. It also risks sending a dangerous message that civil unrest justifies indiscriminate harm." What People Are Saying Bryan Griffin, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' communications director, told Newsweek: "It's simple: don't protest in Florida by blocking traffic or threatening people in their cars, and you won't have a problem. Even you Newsweek activists and your Experts™ should be able to keep that straight." Lorella Praeli, a co-president of Community Change Action, which is backing Saturday's protest, previously told Newsweek: "Look around—Trump and his allies are deploying the tools of authoritarianism: silencing dissent, targeting immigrants, punishing oversight, and even staging military displays for personal glorification. These aren't isolated incidents; they're part of a broader effort to delegitimize democratic norms. "This isn't normal. It's manufactured chaos, designed to instill fear and consolidate power. When a sitting U.S. Senator is handcuffed for asking a question, it should be a five-alarm fire for anyone who believes in democracy. We have to name this moment for what it is—and organize with the clarity and courage it demands." What Happens Next Demonstrations are expected across the U.S. on Saturday. Organizers of the No Kings protests have said: "All No Kings events adhere to a shared commitment to nonviolent protest and community safety. Organizers are trained in de-escalation and are working closely with local partners to ensure peaceful and powerful actions nationwide."
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘We will kill you': Democrats, Republicans at odds over protest warning language
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — More than a dozen protests are planned in Tampa Bay over the weekend following a series of protests in Southern California. It's just a small fraction of the larger 'No Kings Day' demonstrations expressing their concerns about Trump Administration policies, specifically the way the president handles immigration enforcement. Florida has also become a state that is known for helping the Trump Administration manage ICE raids and deportations. Republican leaders, political and law enforcement, have issued stern warnings to protestors. Some of those warnings involved giving examples that could end in arrest or other deadly consequences. Apopka daughter asks for fair chance after parents detained, father deported Democrats are also giving advice to protestors, like Florida House Minority Leader Rep. Fentrice Driskell, of Hillsborough County. 'Keep your protests peaceful, do not be afraid to exercise your constitutional right, but just mind yourself, be aware of your surroundings,' Driskell said. Following protests in California and ahead of demonstrations across the state, some Republican officials took a more forceful approach after they said ICE agents and other law enforcement were threatened during protests in California. Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared on The Rubin Report conservative podcast this week. 'We also have a policy that if you're driving on one of those streets and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have the right to flee for your safety. If you drive off and you hit one of these people, that's their fault for impinging on you,' DeSantis said. Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey issued a warning on Thursday about Florida being an 'anti-riot state' after lawmakers passed the Combating Public Disorder Act in 2021. 'If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your families where to collect your remains at because we will kill you graveyard dead,' Ivey said. Driskell responded by saying this type of language is not about safety. 'All of the tough rhetoric is designed to scare people and keep them at home. It's meant to prevent people from exercising their constitutional rights and to distract from Republicans owned failed policies on immigration,' Driskell Attorney General James Uthmeier spoke at the same news conference as Ivey. The state's top law enforcement official said voters elected republicans to enforce laws and curb the number of migrants who are undocumented. 'The voters last November made loud and clear that we want to ensure law and order, we want to enforce against illegal immigration,' Uthmeier said. So far, social justice groups like the ACLU are not aware anyone has been charged under Florida's anti-riot law, which increased penalties for violent protestors and expanded the definition of a riot. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DeSantis says Florida drivers have right to hit protestors if they need to ‘flee' for ‘safety'
Video: Gov. Ron DeSantis discusses protests in Los Angeles. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — During a podcast ahead of Saturday's planned protests, Gov. Ron DeSantis emphasized that Florida drivers 'have a right to defend themselves' if they feel threatened. The governor said drivers will not be held responsible if they hit protestors, as long as it's because they are in fear for their safety. WATCH: Teen on e-bike flees from Florida woman chasing him in SUV on walking path 'If you are 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 said on an episode of 'The Rubin Report' podcast that was released Wednesday night. The governor's remarks come as people in cities across the nation, including several in Tampa Bay, are expected to engage in 'No Kings' protests in opposition to the Trump Administration and its policies. The rallies coincide with Trump's military parade in Washington D.C. to commemorate the Army's 250th anniversary. The anniversary also happens to fall on the president's birthday. Tensions have escalated amid protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles, and many have questioned the president's deployment of troops to the area — the legality of which is still being considered in federal court. There have been reports of anti-ICE protestors blocking roads, including a freeway in Los Angeles, according to the Associated Press. DeSantis has been openly critical of the demonstrations and California's response. '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, you have a right to defend yourself in Florida,' DeSantis said on the podcast Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is it legal to run over protesters in Florida? How to stay safe at 'No Kings' protests
Anyone protesting in Florida may want to keep an eye on traffic. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Floridians have the right to hit protesters with their car if they felt threatened, and state and local officials said "rioting" could bring jail time, or even death. The governor's comments came ahead of "No Kings" protests planned in nearly 80 cities in Florida on June 14, part of almost 2,000 to be held across the country for Americans objecting to President Donald Trump's policies and the escalating immigration raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The protests are scheduled to counter Trump's planned massive military parade in Washington, D.C. "We also have a policy that 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," DeSantis said on The Rubin Report on June 11, "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 sit there and just be a sitting duck and let the mob grab you out of your car and drag you through the streets. You have a right to defend yourself in Florida," he said. In a Fox News interview, DeSantis said local police, county sheriffs, Highway Patrol and even the National Guard will be ready to stop any violence or 'unrest' at the statewide protests. 'It's a bad decision to try to pull that nonsense in Florida,' DeSantis said. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey was even more direct. "If you throw a brick, a fire bomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains, because we will kill you, graveyard dead," he said at a press conference with Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and other lawmakers. If you plan to attend or participate in a protest in Florida, here's what you should know. Florida law does not specifically say people can drive into crowds. But it does provide civil (not criminal) immunity by allowing anyone charged with causing property damage, personal injury or even death to plead self-defense because their actions "arose from" someone "acting in furtherance of a riot." Self-defense is what James Alex Fields Jr. claimed when he was found guilty of murder in 2017 for driving into a protest, hitting and killing civil rights activist Heather Heyer while she was counterprotesting the white nationalist Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville. Between May and October 2020, there were over 100 incidents of drivers driving into crowds of protesters, and at least eight of them were in Florida, reported. In May 2020, a Georgia man drove his pickup into a crowd of marchers protesting the death of George Floyd. No criminal charges were filed. DeSantis signed a sweeping "anti-riot" bill in 2021 in the wake of the George Floyd protests to increase punishments for people who violently riot, loot and destroy properties and add several new crimes including "mob intimidation" and "aggravated rioting," calling it the "strongest anti-rioting, most pro-law enforcement piece of legislation in the country." HB 1 was blocked in the courts for being potentially unconstitutional, chilling against free speech, and overly vague about what defines a "riot." The Florida Supreme Court ruled in favor of the new law in 2024, clarifying peaceful protesters should not be arrested if involved in a protest where violence occurs, and an appeals court allowed the state to enforce it. Protesters are not permitted to willfully obstruct the "free, convenient, and normal use" of any public street, highway, or road. Gatherings of three or more people to commit a break of the peace or commit unlawful acts are considered unlawful assemblies, a second-degree misdemeanor. Knowingly protesting within 500 feet of a residence, cemetery, funeral home, house of worship, or other location when a funeral or burial has just occurred, will occur soon, or is occurring is a first-degree midemeanor. A riot is defined as a violent public disturbance involving three or more people acting to assist each other in violent and disorderly conduct. It is a third-degree felony. Aggravated rioting, a second-degree felony, is a riot consisting of 25 or more people where great bodily harm or property damage is caused, someone displays or uses a deadly weapon, or blocks safe movement of a vehicle by force or threat of force. Inciting a riot is a third-degree felony. Aggravated inciting a riot, a second-degree felony, occurs if the suspect incites a riot resulting in great bodily harm to a non-participant, property damage in excess of $5,000, or supplies a deadly weapon to another person or teaches them how to prepare one for use in a riot. Committing assault in furtherance of a riot is a first-degree misdemeanor; an aggravated assault is a third-degree felony. Burglary during a riot is a first-degree felony. Any group of three or more who act with common intent to use force or threaten to in order to compel someone else into changing a personal viewpoint against their will commits "mob intimidation," a first-degree misdemeanor. Battery against a law enforcement officer in a riot means a minimum term of six months in jail. Defacing or damaging a memorial or historical property worth more than $200 is a third-degree felony. Destroying one is a second-degree felony. Defendants who cause personal injury, wrongful death or property damage to protesters in a riot may claim self-defense. The law "does not prohibit constitutionally protected activity, such as a peaceful protest," according to Florida statutes. First and foremost, the "No Kings" website tells participants not to bring any weapons, act in accordance with local laws, and de-escalate any potential confrontation with law enforcement or anti-protesters. Public protests are protected in the United States by the First Amendment and are legal in public areas providing you are not blocking car or pedestrian traffic or blocking access to government buildings. That said, law enforcement may interpret your intentions differently and some may act with force. The Human Rights Campaign advises protesters to scope out the area of the protest ahead of time and identify multiple routes out of the area. An offline-accessible map can help. During the protest, remain aware of your surroundings and what's happening around you. Protest signs and sunscreen are just the beginning. Experts at Physicians for Human Rights suggest bringing the following: Backpack or string bag: You won't want anything bulky and you'll want your hands free. Face mask or bandanna, hat and sunglasses: Useful for helping to shield your eyes from pepper spray or tear gas, can also protect you from identification by law enforcement or online doxxing if that's a concern. Water: Stay hydrated. Bring as big a bottle as you can, with a squirt top in case you need to quickly wash off your skin or eyes. Glasses: Avoid wearing contact lenses, which can trap irritating chemicals. If you must wear contacts, wear shatter-resistant goggles with a tight seal. Avoid wearing makeup. Comfortable clothes, closed shoes: Pick neutral colors without obvious slogans or easily identifiable markings. Consider bringing a spare change of clothes in case what you're wearing gets sprayed. Identification, contact information: Make sure you can identify yourself (and your citizen status). Write your emergency contact info on your skin. If you have a lawyer, write that number, too. A few days of any vital medication: Ideally, they should be in a labeled prescription bottle. Cash: In case you need bail. Snacks: High energy, high protein munchies are preferred. Many organizations advise protesters to leave their phones at home to protect their privacy as they can easily be tracked. If you must take your phone, keep it turned off until you need it and, before you go, disable Face ID or fingerprint security and stick with the 6-digit passcode instead. You may also consider buying a cheap secondary phone to use. According to the No Kings website, more than 75 protests (including several in some cities) are planned across Florida as of June 10. ➤ Find an event near you Apalachicola Apopka Boca Raton Boynton Beach Bronson Casselberry Clermont Center Lake Park Clermont City Hall Clermont Town Cocoa Coral Springs Davenport Daytona Beach DeLand Delray Beach Ellenton Englewood Fernandina Beach Fort Lauderdale Fort Myers Fort Walton Beach Gainesville Hollywood Inverness Jacksonville Duval County Courthouse Beach Boulevard and Hodges Boulevard Key Largo Key West Kissimmee Lakeland Lake Mary Lake Worth Beach Largo Leesburg Marathon Miami Miami Beach Mount Dora Naples New Port Richey New Smyrna Beach Ocala Orlando Orange City Orange Park Palatka Palm Bay Palm Beach/Mar-a-Largo Palm Beach Gardens Palm Coast Palm Harbor Panama City Pensacola Ninth Avenue/Airport Boulevard The Graffiti Bridge Plant City Poinciana Port Charlotte Port St. Joe Port St. Lucie Riverview Sarasota University Parkway J.D. Hamel Park Sebastian Sebring Spring Hill St. Augustine St. Johns County St. Petersburg Tallahassee Tampa The Villages Venice Vero Beach West Palm Beach According to the ACLU of Florida, the First Amendment generally prohibits restrictions based on speech content; however, this does not mean that the Constitution completely protects all types of speech in every circumstance. Threatening someone with violence is not protected, and government official can place "reasonable" restrictions on the time, place and manner. Your rights are strongest in "traditional public forms" such as streets, sidewalks and parks, but you can be asked to disperse if you are blocking car or pedestrian traffic. You may also protest at government buildings as long as you don't block access to them or interfere with the purpose of it. When you are lawfully present in a public space, you have the right to photograph or video anything in plain view, including federal buildings and the police, the ACLU said. Law enforcement may not confiscate your photos or video without a warrant and may not demand you delete anything, but they can order you to stop if you're interfering with legitimate law enforcement operations. In Florida, that can be a wide definition. The "HALO" law – Honoring and Listening to Our Officers – went into effect in January. Under the law, if a first responder such as law enforcement, firefighters and medical personnel ask you to back off in the course of their duties, you must move 25 feet away or face a second-degree misdemeanor charge punishable by up to 60 days in jail or a $500 fine. (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Fla Gov. DeSantis OKs running over No Kings protesters if threatened
