ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s hiring event in St. Petersburg Tuesday was met with protesters who stayed outside the Hilton Carillon for multiple hours.
Local law enforcement told News Channel 8 they were on site to keep all parties safe.
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“If you blocked the road, if you blocked the egress, you will be warned, and you will be taken to jail,” said St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway, who was there with Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri as protesters chanted outside of the CBP hiring event.
“I do not agree with them getting larger when they are not trained to do what they are doing on the streets,” said Jessica Kelly, who was there to protest against the event.
Demonstrators used megaphones and put up their signs as cars came in and out of the Hilton Carillon.
Local law enforcement prevented them from entering private property and walking into the streets.
“We’re very respectful of everybody’s right to protest and verbalize and vocalize. They can do it safely, and they need to respect each other and not put hands on each other,” Gualtieri told News Channel 8 during a press conference.
Protesters also expressed concerns about local law enforcement’s involvement with federal authorities.
“I would ask the sheriff’s office to put themselves in these people’s shoes, I would ask them to find love in their hearts,” Kelly said.
The sheriff and chief told News Channel 8 they are simply complying with Florida law.
“We’re not going to the agriculture industry. We’re not stopping people and asking for the papers. So don’t make it that, because that’s not what’s happening in Pinellas County,” Gualtieri said.
The protest is said to continue on Wednesday morning as CBP hosts its hiring event for the second day.
“We are not saying to not have law and order, we are saying to stop shooting our citizens, stop kicking people in the face, and to start having warrants and due process,” Kelly said.