A protestor against ICE and the ongoing mass deportations was arrested in Orange County outside a federal facility and the Sheriff issued a statement.
While guaranteeing the local right to protest and protecting First Amendment free speech, Orange County Sheriff John Mina also warned all protestors that any attempt to stop or block or hinder law enforcement officers will not be tolerated.
Local law enforcement said it was an otherwise exclusively peaceful protest at a federal facility on Delegates Drive in Orlando against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But the Orange County Sheriff’s Office confirmed one person was arrested after striking the vehicle of a federal agent.
Sheriff John Mina said that during the ICE protest, a woman approached a federal agent who was in a car and struck the law enforcement vehicle. According to the Sheriff, she was arrested on charges of Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting Arrest.
“The right of all people to peacefully assemble or protest is fundamental, and a cornerstone of every American’s First Amendment right to free speech,” Orange County Sheriff John Mina stated. “What is not protected, however, is the destruction of property or violence against any member of our community. Any attempt to assault, stop, block, or otherwise hinder any law enforcement officers from doing their jobs will not be tolerated. I want to assure everyone in our community that our deputies will always respond to ensure the safety of those who are exercising their rights peacefully.”
There are ongoing ICE operations in Central Florida, and that means there are also ongoing protests. Local Democrats have also called for Orlando and Orange County governments to stop working with ICE and to block any efforts to expand operations and deportations in Central Florida.
OCSO also posted: “We want to thank everyone who was out there peacefully exercising their right to assembly.”
