ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An ordinance the Orange County Board of Commissioners was considering that would establish limitations for picketing a residence of a person who is a target of criticism, objection, complaint, ridicule or other protest has been withdrawn.
At the request of Sheriff John Mina and with support from Mayor Jerry Demings, the ordinance would have specifically prohibit picketing on public property such as sidewalks and streets within 150 feet of a home.
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The ordinance was prompted after hundreds protested in front of the Windermere home of Derek Chauvin, who was later convicted of murdering George Floyd. The protests lasted for nine days, and during that time Mina said that the home was splashed with paint and racist remarks were written in chalk.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, there were social media posts threatening to burn the Windermere home down.
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Mina said at least two arrests were made.
Lawanna Gelzer participated in many of those protests, seeking justice for Floyd.
“Police brutality is a serious matter here in Central Florida,” she said. “If you stop killing innocent people and shooting people in the back we wouldn’t be outside someone’s home.”
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Demings has repeatedly said that reasonable limitations can be placed on the exercise of free speech without violating the first amendment. And he said that the ordinance proposed would protect the well-being and tranquillity of residential areas.
