No major problems reported at 'No Kings' rallies in Brevard

• ‘No Kings’ protests in Brevard County remained largely peaceful, with minor incidents like heat-related illnesses and some obscene gestures.
• Rallies coincided with nationwide protests against the Trump administration, some of which experienced violence.
• Protesters expressed pride in the peaceful nature of the demonstrations and criticized Sheriff Ivey's comments.

There were the warnings from the governor and from Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

But aside from a few people falling prey to the heat and some passers-by flashing obscene hand gestures, Brevard County’s "No Kings" protests went off without any major issues, police and community leaders reported.

There were “no real issues or concerns. For the most part it was a peaceful and respectful assembly,” Palm Bay Police Chief Mario Augello said of the rally held in the city Saturday, June 14. "They dispersed when they said they would without having to be directed."

In Cocoa, two people were overcome by the heat and humidity as temperatures pushed upward into the mid-80s, police reported there.

The rallies took place on the Space Coast and coincided with protests across the country — and hours before the large-scale military parade in Washington, D.C., organized by the Pentagon and hosted by the Trump administration.

The nationwide protests — called to denounce Trump’s presidency and the administrative changes he’s put into place — drew millions of people across the country, and tens of thousands in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.

In some of the cities, there were reports of violence, with tear gas lobbed into crowds by police in Portland, Ore., and one person was wounded after someone fired off a gun during the downtown rally in Salt Lake City, police reported. One person drove a sport utility vehicle into a crowd of rallygoers in Culpeper, Va., following what authorities said was an otherwise peaceful demonstration.

The peaceful rallies also took place in Brevard County days after Ivey made comments warning against violence at any demonstrations.

"If you throw a brick, a fir bomb 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," said Ivey, whose comments went viral nationwide through social media and other news platforms.

"We're not going to play,” Ivey said during a press conference in Titusville with the attorney general and others to reemphasize Gov. Ron DeSantis’ message that Florida would not tolerate violent protests. DeSantis also said the state would not penalize drivers who rolled through crowds in self-defense.

The violence, however, did not surface.

“(The demonstrators) did a fantastic job. I’m proud of the community for showing the world that our sheriff had no reason for making such threats. Honestly, he needs to apologize,” said Lauren Giocone, one of the protesters at the Cocoa rally. An estimated 2,000 people lined the streets at State Road 520 and U.S. 1, holding up signs and waving.

Giocone said that there was at least one truck that drove through the area repeatedly, belching smoke as it rode by. At another point, she said several pro-Trump men were seen walking through the crowd. No incidents were reported.

In Palm Bay, between 400 to 600 people gathered for the protest, Palm Bay police reported.

“That’s what America is about,” said Cocoa City Council Member Alex Goins. “Living side by side with those from different walks of life and different views."

J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter: @JDGallop.