More than 75 protests occurred in Florida on June 14.
Law enforcement arrested six people across Florida during
"No Kings" protests , a nationwide movement
protesting the Trump administration . The six arrests on June 14 occurred in Tallahassee, Orlando, Ocala and Panama City Beach areas, said Casey Smith, the spokesperson for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This
department's Facebook page also touted how protests were handled statewide — with no blocked roads and no property damage. "While other states saw chaos, Florida's demonstrations stayed peaceful and controlled this weekend. A testament to Florida being the law and order state," the agency said in a Facebook post. ZERO blocked roads. ZERO property damage. While other states saw chaos, Florida’s demonstrations stayed peaceful and... More than 75
"No Kings" protests were held in Florida , but the American Civil Liberties Union — part of the coalition organizing the protests — said in a statement more than 5 million people participated in over 2,100 rallies and protests across the country. The June 14 protests were a "nationwide day of defiance" against the Trump administration, with an overarching theme that no person is above the law, and the president is not a "king." It coincided with President Donald Trump's birthday and during a military parade Trump hosted on the streets of Washington. Here are the incidents in which law enforcement arrested protesters or counter-protesters across Florida. (The USA TODAY Network – Florida does not name those arrested only on misdemeanor charges.):
Tallahassee
One arrest came from Capitol Police in
Tallahassee , after a counter-protester reportedly approached a protester yelling as the protestor recorded him with a phone. The man smacked the phone out of the other person's hand, was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge and bonded out the same day.
Ocala
Ocala police arrested three people, including two counter-protesters and one protester. A Silver Springs man was arrested on two counts of battery after being accused of pushing people at the protests. Michael Loren of Dunnellon was arrested on one count of battery and one count of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. In police bodycam footage, Loren was shown wearing a shirt affiliating him with the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, and an officer found brass knuckles in his front right pocket. Protestors cheered as officers escorted Loren to the police car in handcuffs. A 35-year-old protestor from Belleview was arrested on a battery charge. Officers wrote in the probable cause affidavit that the victim told officers that the person arrested "physically touched" her. In bodycam footage, the arrestee said the woman was antagonizing protesters and said, "I didn't touch her." Officers reported no injuries despite the three arrests, said Jeff Walczak, the Ocala Police Department's public information officer: "We remain committed to fostering an environment where citizens can exercise their rights peacefully, and we encourage open communication with protest organizers to help ensure safe and successful events."
Orlando and Panama City beach areas
It's not immediately known who was arrested relating to the "No Kings" protests in Orlando and Panama City Beach areas, but FDLE said an arrest came from each of those two areas. The Orlando Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff's Office both said no arrests occurred in "No Kings" protests under their jurisdiction. The Panama City Beach Police Department and the Bay County Sheriff's Office are pending comment.
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at . On X: @stephanymatat.
