Last weekend, there were many “No Kings Day” protests held around the country including here in Brevard County.
And, it was no surprise that protests in Palm Bay and Cocoa took place without violence. No one hurled molotov cocktails at police, there was no use of tear gas, rubber bullets or hoses to disperse the crowds, cars were not overturned and set ablaze and no store windows were smashed for looters to take advantage of.
As I wrote last week in a column, that’s because the people of Brevard County are ― for the most part ― peaceful, law-abiding citizens who love where they live. It doesn’t matter what side of the immigration issue you come down on ― personally, I don’t really understand why people are protesting the removal of those who entered this country illegally or who overstayed their visas and are breaking the law by remaining ― we, as Americans, have the right to peaceably protest.
Join them, honk in support, yell an opposing view and wave signs and flags in support or opposition or ignore the protests all together. It’s your right, as long as its peaceful.
And, again, Brevard’s protests for the 24 years I’ve lived here have been nothing but peaceful.
That’s why I felt the remarks by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey were unneeded at the least and incendiary at the most.
In case you missed it, Ivey held a press conference a few days before the planned protests promising the use of deadly force against anyone who “threw a brick, firebomb or pointed a gun at one of his deputies,” during any protests.
I would think anyone foolish enough to hurl dangerous objects at another human being would still be smart enough to know there exists the possibility their victim fights back. If you throw a firebomb at a police officer, you run the risk of being shot, right?
That’s one of the reasons I felt the sheriff’s remarks were unnecessary. But also, this isn’t L.A., Chicago, or New York. It’s not even Orlando or Miami. This is Brevard County. Those are my thoughts, but I’m curious to hear yours. That brings us to the Question of the Week?
Do you feel the sheriff’s comments about using deadly force were appropriate and why?
You can simply cast your votes on the ballots above.
You can scan the QR code that is on the print edition page or go to https://www.floridatoday.com/opinions-columns/.
Please leave a comment telling us why you voted the way you did. In order for your comment or email to be published on our website and in next week’s print edition, you must include your first and last name.
You can also shoot me an email with “Sheriff” in the subject line. I look forward to reading your responses.
Last Sunday I asked:
Do you think Brevard County – recognized as having one of the fastest growing economies among mid-sized communities – will continue its upward trajectory? Why?
Results:
Yes: 82.14%
No: 17.86%
Here’s what you had to say:
It will continue growing until a point where the infrastructure crumbles. Municipalities are not respecting long time residents. That’s why I moved from Cocoa Beach.
— Sarah Elliott
Brevard’s exponential growth will self-actualize into its downfall. The damage being done to our environment will negate many of the draws to our once pristine and beautiful, nature-rich environment. Despite the efforts of numerous passionate, dedicated, highly-qualified environmental groups and community-driven clean-up programs, the powers that be in Brevard do not sufficiently support restoration and preservation of natural Brevard.
The Indian River Lagoon cannot handle the exponential growth that I’ve been here to witness since the ’70s, as realistic measures to mitigate the damage of overcrowding and over-building have not been supported.
We can’t even safely swim in our once-non-toxic rivers anymore. We’ve been warned not to eat fish from our waters. Watching helplessly as manatees die in the river while the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission angels fight to save them is horrific. Reading about our beloved and highly endangered right whales losing their calves to cruise ship strikes, witnessing the disappearance of the dolphins who would swim by to play with our dog at the dock, seeing the mountains of trash pile up along “528 Beach” thanks to careless tourist and some locals … it’s heartbreaking.
Our environmental soldiers are vastly outnumbered. When the “attraction” of Brevard’s beautiful lagoon and wildlife areas literally reek or give way to concrete pavement, and faux grass, tourists and businesses will leave, but leave their “footprints” behind. Too many industries, too much building and too much tourism are literally supplanting the very nature that drew them here, and surpassing the efforts of our very dedicated and vastly underfunded environmental restoration and cleanup efforts.
Post-Shuttle, a balance between restoring the economy and preserving the natural environment should have been paramount. As a child of the space race and a local business owner, that was the intention of the families and business at the time … but somehow we lost our way. Brevard’s growth cannot continue, when our environment cannot handle the growth of the last 30+ years. We need balance for anyone and anything to prosper in Brevard.
— J. Carey
As chair of the Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce in 1989, and having lived here since the early ’50s, I have never seen a more robust, well-balanced economy. Like Rob Stuart said on TV yesterday, as he retired from two decades of public service in Orlando, when asked if he had any regrets, he answered with a chuckle, he wished he was 10 years younger. Me too.
— Lloyd Behrendt
I am all for growth in Brevard until its to much growth, and that is the point we have gotten to in Brevard, in my opinion.
Roads seem jammed more often. Apartments are sprouting up all over the county. Drivers are always in a rush. We have the growth, but not the infrastructure to support the growth. Check SR 524 as an example. Two large apartment complexes done and occupied and two more large apartment complexes under construction, all on a two-lane road.
I feel our elected officials, have let us down, by overbuilding without the structures to support the growth.
— Robert “Bob” Socks
Contact Torres at jtorres@floridatoday.com. You can follow him on X @johnalbertorres
Multimedia editor Rob Landers contributed to this report.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Question of the Week: Were the sheriff’s comments about using deadly force appropriate?
Reporting by John A. Torres, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
