Local democratic groups are urging protesters who plan to gather in downtown Ocala this weekend to peacefully protest the current administration’s policies in the wake of riots in Los Angeles, which prompted President Donald Trump to deploy the Marines and National Guard to the city.
The Marion County Democratic Party, Ocala Blue Dots, and other local organizations will hold another “No Kings” protest on Saturday, June 14. The protest is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Ocala’s Historic Downtown Square.
In a statement posted to the Ocala Blue Dots’ Reddit page, which provides regular updates on local Democratic events and rallies, a group moderator reminded members that the group supports peaceful protests and will not condone or “start violence” of any kind.
On Friday, June 6, protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles turned violent. Many of the protests turned violent, with demonstrators physically confronting local police and ICE personnel.
On Saturday, June 7, protestors clashed with law enforcement officials again. President Trump responded by deploying the California National Guard, which brought several hundred personnel to the city.
On Monday, the Pentagon mobilized hundreds of Marines in the city, increasing the total number of deployed personnel to almost 1,000.
Visit OcalaBlueDots.org for more information on the protests and the organization.
