‘We will kill you’: Brevard County sheriff escalates rhetoric ahead of Florida anti-Trump protests

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, an outspoken Republican and vocal Donald Trump ally, made headlines on June 12, 2025.

During a tense press conference addressing upcoming anti‑Trump and anti‑ICE protests, he warned: “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, because we will kill you, graveyard dead.”

The growing anti‑Trump protests and “No Kings” events

Ivey’s remarks come amid a surge of anti‑Trump protests nationwide. On June 14, demonstrations dubbed “No Kings Day”—organized by the 50501 Movement—are planned across at least 24 U.S. cities, including Miami, Broward County, and Los Angeles.

Who is Sheriff Wayne Ivey?

Ivey rose to prominence in central Florida as a hardline law-and-order figure. He has repeatedly defended aggressive enforcement, especially around immigration and Trump-aligned demonstrations. While pledging to allow lawful protests, he has drawn a stark and intimidating boundary: any violence against his deputies warrants lethal retaliation.

Why this rhetoric sounds the alarm

Such language from an elected official is deeply unsettling. Threatening people with deadly force—even in reaction to violence—raises profound concerns about lawful restraint and democratic rights. Civil liberties advocates argue this risks excessive policing and militarization of local law enforcement: The rhetoric alone sends a menacing signal to anyone contemplating dissent.

In South Florida, local organizers have emphasized the importance of nonviolence and plan to maintain peaceful crowds. There were Florida-wide anti‑ICE rallies earlier this year, such as the April 5 “Hands Off!” protests, where participants raised banners against Trump and Musk.

Rising tensions in L.A. spotlight escalation

Elsewhere in the country, L.A. has emerged as a flashpoint. Tens of thousands have protested ICE raids, prompting a significant federal response: 2,000 National Guard troops, 700 Marines, and 4,000 Guardsmen were deployed under the Insurrection Act in early June.

Mayor Karen Bass imposed an 8 p.m. curfew after clashes involving flash-bangs, rubber bullets, and arrests. Civil rights advocates have condemned the federal military presence, warning it evokes authoritarian tactics and risks civil rights violations.

A chilling effect on Constitutional rights

Meanwhile, aggressive rhetoric by Sheriff Ivey mirrors the escalating tensions elsewhere, and it’s especially alarming in a democratic society. It fosters a chilling effect on constitutional rights to protest and reinforces the normalization of deadly force as a political tool. Surveillance of journalist arrests, such as the forcible removal of Senator Alex Padilla at DHS events in L.A., adds to the sense that democratic space is shrinking.