Top Florida Democrats arrested at abortion rights protest. Here’s what they’ve said since

Grethel Aguila

Two top Florida Democrats were among about a dozen people arrested by Tallahassee police during an abortion rights protest outside the Capitol. What do they — and the public — have to say about that?

Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party and former Commissioner of Agriculture, and Lauren Book, Senate minority leader, were arrested Monday night on misdemeanor charges of trespassing on property after warning.

Videos of the arrests during the protest against the proposed ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy have exploded on social media. The group sat in a circle, holding hands while singing “Lean on Me.” Then, Tallahassee police came and handcuffed them.

READ MORE: Leading Florida Democrats Fried, Book arrested during abortion protest in Tallahassee

On Tuesday, Fried spoke out about the arrests in a series of tweets, urging people to “f****** vote.”

“We protest to honor the sacrifice of all the women who came before us, and all the women who are coming after us,” Fried said. “Women’s rights are human rights. And human rights must be inalienable.”

The Florida Democratic Party also shared a statement in support of Fried and the others arrested for “defending a woman’s right to choose.”

“Florida Democrats will not back down in our defense of abortion rights,” the tweet said. “Our Chair made that clear tonight.”

Sen. Lauren Book holds hands with roughly a dozen activists while protesting SB 300, which would place a ban on abortions after six weeks in Florida, while singing “Lean on Me,” Monday, April 3, 2023. The bill was passed by the Senate earlier in the day.
Sen. Lauren Book holds hands with roughly a dozen activists while protesting SB 300, which would place a ban on abortions after six weeks in Florida, while singing “Lean on Me,” Monday, April 3, 2023. The bill was passed by the Senate earlier in the day.

Book, D-Plantation, spoke to reporters about the arrests.

“It became very very clear very, very quickly this was escalating,” Book said. “But we were committing to sitting alongside these women who were going to give all of themselves to protect a woman’s right to choose.”

Others, including civil rights attorney Ben Crump, weighed in on the arrests on Tuesday.

“I applaud these brave women for using their VOICES to fight for women’s rights!”

Dean Obeidallah, lawyer and host of a SiriusXM show, shared the news and offered some of his commentary.

“This is not America-it’s DeSantis-stan!!”

Rep. Dottie Joseph, D-North Miami, said:

“Florida is not free.”

And a Twitter user called Fried’s and Book’s arrests a “despicable” stunt.

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