(St. Petersburg, FL) — A Customs and Border Protection hiring event in Florida drew protester in addition to job seekers Tuesday.
Protesters gathered in St. Petersburg outside of a hotel where CBP officials were meeting with those interested in working for the agency.
Demonstrators voiced concerns chanting into megaphones and displayed signs as drivers entered and exited the Hilton Carillon.
Deputies and police officers were on hand to keep the peace, and no violence was reported.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said during a press conference, “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.”
CBP plans to hold the hiring event Wednesday, and protesters are expected to return for the second day.
“If you blocked the road, if you blocked the egress, you will be warned, and you will be taken to jail,” warns St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway.
Meanwhile, the agency is preparing to hold a nationwide virtual career expo next month.
That event is currently scheduled for February 18th.