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About a dozen people were arrested Wednesday night while protesting at the Florida Capitol office of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, authorities said.
The 14 arrested were charged with misdemeanor trespassing and booked into the Leon County Jail, Gretl Plessinger, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, told the Tallahassee Democrat.
“Once the building closes, unless you have an office in the Capitol, you won’t be able to be here,” Plessinger said, citing Department of Administrative Services policy.
The arrests were made by the Florida Capitol Police and the Florida Highway Patrol, he said.
The protesters said they refused to leave until they had a meeting with the governor. The protest was organized by a human rights group called Dream Defenders.
A series of controversial bills have passed and become law in this legislative session, which ends Friday. They include an abortion ban, illegal immigration restrictions, and legislation targeting drag performances, the LGBTQ community, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.