Florida Sheriff Wayne Ivey went viral for saying:

“We will kill you graveyard dead.”
“If you spit on us, you’re going to the hospital and then jail.”
These aren’t just words. They're a public endorsement of state-sanctioned violence. These comments are not about keeping communities safe. It’s about instilling fear.

Sheriff Ivey's statement, "we will kill you," directed at protesters, is not only dangerous and irresponsible but undermines the values of justice and equity. A law enforcement leader should inspire confidence, not fear, in the community they serve. Instead, Ivey's message incites violence, divides our community, and erodes trust in our local law enforcement.

Some defenders claim he was only targeting violent protestors. But spitting? That doesn’t justify hospitalization. And when a sheriff casually threatens death and injury from a podium, it normalizes violent overreach from those with guns and badges. If you put someone in the hospital for spitting on you, you’d be arrested. But Sheriff Ivey wants his deputies to do it with his blessing-and wants the public to applaud. That’s not justice. That’s authoritarianism.

The people of Brevard County deserve a leader who prioritizes dialogue and de-escalation over threats of violence. Sheriff Wayne Ivey's statements are not representative of the moral backbone we expect from someone in his position.

It is time for a change. For too long, our county has settled for one uncontested leader. Brevard County deserves new leadership that reflects justice, accountability, and respect for all- not aggression and intimidation. A change of office is overdue, one that will bring fresh perspectives on ensuring our community's safety without resorting to threats, fear tactics, or abuse of power.

We demand:

Wayne Ivey’s immediate resignation
Real accountability for dangerous, unprofessional, violent rhetoric from law enforcement leaders
Leadership that upholds safety and order without abusing power or encouraging violence
 
No more leaders who threaten to kill the people they serve. Sign this petition to call for his resignation and pave the way for new, professional, leadership that serves the people, not threatens them. 




Photo by Tim Shortt / Florida Today