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The chair of the Hernando County, Florida, Democratic Get together who was arrested for allegedly hitting a person within the head with a bullhorn throughout a “No Kings” protest, mentioned that he didn’t act as an aggressor and didn’t escalate the confrontation.
Brian Stewart, 63, was charged with easy battery, a misdemeanor in Florida, and booked into the Hernando County Sheriff’s Detention Heart after the incident in Spring Hill on Saturday. He was launched later that day, data present.
Stewart mentioned he’s “not a violent individual” and that the person he was accused of hitting — a disabled veteran recognized as Thomas Michta in police experiences — was harassing others on the demonstration “in an try and elicit a response.”
“This was a peaceable occasion attended by many members of the neighborhood,” Stewart informed Fox Information Digital.
Hernando County Democratic Chair Brian Stewart arrested at a protest (Hernando County Jail)
“Sadly, a person disrupted that setting and was harassing rally attendees in an try and elicit a response,” he continued. “At no level did I act as an aggressor. I’m not a violent individual, and I didn’t hunt down or escalate any battle. I by no means anticipated that I’d be accosted or must defend myself as I did in that second.”
The incident happened as demonstrators in Hernando County and throughout the nation protested in opposition to the Trump administration’s insurance policies.
Deputies responded at round 10:30 a.m. on Saturday to the intersection of Mariner and Cortez boulevards, the place Stewart allegedly struck Michta within the head with a bullhorn.
Michta informed deputies he was strolling via the protest when he and Stewart grew to become concerned in an argument. He accused Stewart of putting him through the dispute and reported being in ache, with a visual lump on his head, in response to an arrest affidavit, WTSP reported.
In response to the affidavit, video footage captured by a witness and reviewed by deputies confirmed Stewart utilizing a bullhorn to hit the person within the head and push him within the chest.
The incident occurred as demonstrators in Hernando County and throughout the nation protested in opposition to the Trump administration’s insurance policies. (Giorgio VIERA / AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
After reviewing the video, a witness’ assertion and Stewart’s personal admissions, deputies mentioned they developed possible trigger to imagine Stewart deliberately hit the person and induced bodily hurt, the affidavit says.
Stewart declined to remark additional, saying his attorneys suggested him to not make extra public statements.
“I’ve many extra ideas to share, however my attorneys advise that I ought to defer doing so till after the case has concluded,” Stewart informed Fox Information Digital. “Out of respect for the authorized course of and on the recommendation of counsel, I can’t be commenting additional on the specifics of the case right now.”
Stewart is scheduled to seem in courtroom on April 27.
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Protesters maintain indicators and flags close to President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort through the “No Kings” nationwide day of protest, in Palm Seashore, Florida, on Could 28, 2026. (Giorgio VIERA / AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
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The Florida Democratic Get together and the Hernando County chapter mentioned in separate statements earlier this week that they “condemn violence.”
“Now we have been made conscious that our Chair, Brian Stewart, was arrested after responding to a provocation from an area agitator who threw a drink on him and yelled obscenities at neighborhood members throughout a protest,” the Hernando County Democratic Get together mentioned in an announcement to the Tampa Bay Occasions.
The Florida Republican Party known as for Stewart to be eliminated as chair over the incident on the protest.
“Violence and political intimidation haven’t any place in our state, and Floridians deserve higher than mere silence from Democrat management. Nikki Fried should instantly take away Brian Stewart from his place of management within the Florida Democrat Get together!” Florida GOP Chairman Evan Energy mentioned in an announcement to WTSP.
