Orlando protesters arrested during peace rally
A group of protesters was arrested after refusing to leave a sit-in for the victims of the Orlando shooting in Marco Rubio’s office.
Ten protestors were arrested yesterday in Marco Rubio’s Orlando office after participating in a sit-in for the massacre at Pulse nightclub.
Dozens met at the former presidential hopeful’s office on the one-month anniversary of the massacre to honor the victims in a 49-hour sit-in.
The ten protesters were arrested on charges of misdemeanor trespass when they refused to leave the building upon its closing.
Mr Rubio’s office was the site of the sit-in because of his lack of action in the wake of the attack to establish gun safety measures that most Floridians support.
“He continues to terrorize Orlando’s LGBTQ communities of color by adhering to a platform of so-called ‘conservative values’ which discriminates, dehumanizes and denies access to the American dream,” the protesters wrote in a statement announcing their protest.
The sit-in lasted nearly 10 hours, where participants sang songs, read the names of those killed during the assault, handed over a list of demands to Mr Rubio’s staff, and held signs that said “#SitForThe49”.
The Florida senator was in Washington, but his state director met with the protesters for a little more than five minutes.
At 7 p.m. officers ordered the protesters to vacate the building, and the Orlando Police Department sent a similar message on Twitter.
“Orlando Police Department has no issues with peaceful protests, but building is private property and owners want protesters removed,” they tweeted. “We hope all remains peaceful.”
Most of the protesters walked out while singing “This Little Light of Mine,” but a dozen remained in the doorway, linking arms before being taken into custody.
A spokeswoman for Mr Rubio said he, “respects the views of others on these difficult issues, and welcomes the continued input he is receiving from people across the political spectrum.”
