Miami– The city of Miami and other towns in southern Florida are prepared for two important protest days amid the growing tension generated by violent acts in Los Angeles and other cities in the country.
The first demonstration is convened for Saturday 14 under the motto “No Kings”. The concentration points include the friendship torch (Torch of Friendship) in the center of Miami, the Pride Park in Miami Beach, Young Circle in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale Beach.
The second protest is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, in front of the Miami City Council, in opposition to Program 287 (G), which allows local authorities to collaborate with ICE in immigrants.
These calls take place in a national context loaded, after the recent migratory operations in different cities and the disturbances registered in Los Angeles, where the protests resulted in acts of vandalism and confrontations with the forces of the order.
Peaceful manifestations
June 14 protests are organized by the indivisible progressive network and the 50501 movement, both with a wide national presence.
Raquel Pacheco, one of the organizers in southern Florida, said the event will be peaceful. “We communicate with the police, which has been phenomenal. If someone seeks to antagonize, we detect it immediately,” he said.
As for the protest of June 17 against program 287 (G), organizations such as the Florida immigrants coalition have shown concern about the threats of the prosecutor and the Sheriff.
“Here in Florida there has been no violence. People have the right to protest without being threatened in this way,” said activist Thomas Kennedy.
WARNINGS OF STATE AUTHORITIES
In response to this type of calls, Florida’s attorney general James Uthmeier launched a couple of hard days ago warnings at a press conference, next to the Sheriff of Brevard County, Wayne Ivey.
“We are not California, we do not allow riots in the state of Florida,” said Uthmeier, directly allusion to the events in Los Angeles.
Beside him, Sheriff Ivey was even more direct: “We will kill you. Dead and buried,” he said, referring to those who try to assault order officers during the demonstrations.
Both statements had the support of Governor Ron Desantis, who recalled that Florida has a law against riots since 2021. “In the minute in which you cross that line, you will face a serious rejection and you will be responsible,” warned the state president.
So far, neither the city of Miami nor the Miami-Dade County have issued official pronouncements on the protests. Mayor Condal Daniella Levine Cava has maintained a moderate position on migratory issues. In April he requested to inspect the Krome detention center before complaints of unhealthy conditions.
For his part, the mayor of Miami Beach, Steven Meiner, has shown firmness in security issues since his election in 2023, although he has not pronounced directly on the next protests.
Recently, Miami-Dade County postponed a vote on an agreement with ICE to access inmate records, after the pressure of activists. The debate was rescheduled for June 26.
Background in South Florida
South Florida has a history marked by social mobilizations. In May 2020, peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd degenerated in disturbances in the center of Miami, with burning and looting vehicles.
During that day, the initially peaceful demonstration became violent when groups of people began to launch objects against the Police and cause basty of business of the center of Miami.
The propitious chaos forced the authorities to declare the state of local emergency, impose a touch of curb and display tactical units to restore order.
Also, in April, demonstrations “Hands Off” against Trump policies brought together thousands of people in several cities in Florida.
On June 5, protests were also registered at the Krome detention Center, where Cuban migrants held in the prison establishment formed the “SOS” letters with their bodies to denounce precarious conditions, after the cancellation of the temporal protection status (TPS).
The manifestations announced in Miami are emerging as a fire test for the balance between freedom of expression and maintenance of order. While the organizers defend the peaceful character of the protests, the state authorities have raised the tone of their warnings.
