Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, senator among 11 arrested at abortion protest

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried and Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book were among about a dozen demonstrators who were handcuffed and arrested at an evening protest for abortion rights outside Tallahassee City Hall.

The protesters, condemning the state's proposed six-week abortion ban, were taken away by police while sitting in a circle and singing "Lean on Me" inside a barricaded area of a park that was closed at sunset.

They were warned by police that if they didn't leave the area, they would be subject to arrest. As a large contingent of police approached, protesters yelled "shame, shame" as everyone was cuffed and walked to the parking garage beneath City Hall and loaded into a Tallahassee Police Department van.

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In a press release, a police spokesperson wrote that "TPD assisted in ensuring a safe environment" for demonstrators as they "peacefully protested."

"After multiple warnings throughout the day, protestors acknowledged they understood that anyone refusing to leave the premises at sundown would be subject to arrest," the spokesperson wrote. "This evening, after sunset, the majority of the crowd left the property while 11 people refused to leave despite numerous requests. They were subsequently arrested for trespass after warning."

"TPD encourages individuals exercising their First Amendment right of peaceful assembly to do so in accordance with the law. TPD supports non-disruptive demonstrations and works diligently to protect and uphold the rights of citizens every day."

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The Florida Democratic Party was quick to respond to the arrests.

"BREAKING: Florida Democratic Party Chair @NikkiFried was arrested in Tallahassee for defending a woman’s right to choose," it wrote. "Florida Democrats will not back down in our defense of abortion rights. Our Chair made that clear tonight." The tweet included a donation link.

Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, tweeted that "Florida is now where freedom goes to die," and Florida Planned Parenthood Action urged the public to tell Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey they are "disgusted by the arrest of peaceful protestors."

Rick Wilson, the founder of the Lincoln Project, a Republican group created to oppose former President Donald Trump that has also taken jabs at Gov. Ron DeSantis, wrote: "I’m eager to hear what the free-speech absolutists have to say about this."

Christian Ziegler, the chair of the Republican Party of Florida, called the arrests a Democratic stunt.

“Clearly no respect for law enforcement or the rule of law,” he tweeted. “Conservatives win. Democrats lose. People continue to flock to Florida.

How the stage was set for arrests

The sunset showdown was set early in the day, hours before the Florida Senate would pass a six-week abortion ban on a largely party line vote.

Opponents outside Tallahassee City Hall gathered at 8 a.m. for what they promised to be multiple days of protests in Tallahassee to defend "reproductive freedom."

OccupyTally believed it had a city permit for a rally this week, but said it was revoked by officials.

The city said it tried to work with the protestors but then realized the group wanted people statewide to come and occupy the plaza in front of City Hall for an extended period of time, which the city won't permit.

The possibility of people sleeping on city property raised liability questions, said Tallahassee City Commissioner Curtis Richardson, a former state lawmaker himself.

And city spokesperson Alison Faris said the city had tried to work with the organizers on the permit, “however due to the size of the crowd they are expecting, and their desire for overnight camping, we are simply unable to accommodate them.”

Thursday Tallahassee erected a sign along the walkway into City Hall that bans overnight camping.  No one seemed to notice it until Monday morning when the protesters incorporated it into their makeshift graveyard for abortion rights.

Richardson examined the sign. Nearly two dozen protesters milled about nearby before heading to the Capitol to disrupt lawmakers.  He said the sign was not specifically meant for OccupyTally.

“But nobody had ever asked to camp out in front of City Hall before,” said Richardson.

Kat Duesterhaus of Florida Now said the city’s decision made the coalition sad but didn't change any plans.

Before sunrise Monday, a cross-generation of women, high school students in jeans, college-age wearing fishnet stockings and cowboy boots, middle aged women in t-shirts, and a senior with knitting needles in hand set up tables along West Jefferson Street and unloaded cases of water,  boxes of apples, bananas, and oranges, 150 toasted bagels, along with signs, banners, and flags.

“This is an open rebellion. What DeSantis and the Republican Legislature is doing, we are not putting up with,” said Debbie Deland, the President of Florida Now.

SB 300 imposes a six-week abortion ban, contingent on the state Supreme Court upholding a 15-week ban that went into effect last year. A legal challenge argues the ban violates a privacy clause in the state constitution that has previously upheld abortion rights in Florida.

The coalition of Florida Now, Women’s Voices of Southwest Florida, Progress Florida’s Reproductive Freedom Program and Indivisible Pro Choice Pinellas has raised $15,000 for the protest.

They understand the city does not want them camping on the plaza after sunset.

But Sarah Parker of Women's Voices of Southwest Florida said it's Tallahassee's choice to ask them to leave, but she and others chose to come to Tallahassee to protest "DeSantis using women's bodies to advance a his career."

“We acknowledge at sundown that they may ask us to leave. We will make our personal decisions at that time. This is a big deal for us,” said Parker, who added she hopes television cameras are there when its decision time for the city and protesters.

Those television cameras, it turns out, were there.

This is a developing story, check back for more details.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Lauren Book, Nikki Fried, top Florida Democrats, arrested in abortion protest