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13 Protesters Booted from Innisbrook After Marco Rubio Heckled
Protesters were seated at various tables at Tuesday morning's breakfast at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio spoke to RNC delegates, others were outside the building.
Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputies escorted 13 protesters off Innisbrook property, after hecklers interrupted U.S. Senator Marco Rubio's address to RNC delegates during a breakfast at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club Tuesday.
"They were warned that if they ever come back they will be arrested," said Marianne Pasha, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Public Information Coordinator.
Pasha says that while the delegate breakfast was underway at Innisbrook Hall, deputies saw a mini-van drop off a man near the hall. Deputies confronted the man when they saw that he did not have credentials for the event. Deputies also saw other people outside the hall who appeared to be demonstrators, according to Pasha.
At the same time deputies were speaking to the suspected protesters outside the hall, other protesters were inside the hall heckling Rubio.
A middle-aged man with a tattoo on his neck who had been sitting at one of the tables shouted, "Hey Rubio!" about midway through the senator's speech.
"We demand that the GOP stop whoring themselves out to the big money interests that are raping this planet and trying to squeeze every last dime out of the working class," he yelled,according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Marco shot back with a humorous response while delegates showed their support for him. Then other hecklers in the audience stood up to speak.
A woman who identified herself as Cara Jennings of Palm Beach stood up while Rubio was speaking and shouted, "The Republican agenda doesn't work for America." She was drowned out by hundreds of delegates chanting, "USA, USA," according to TBO.com.
Pasha says that state authorities escorted the hecklers from Inverness Hall. Sheriff's deputies escorted all 13 protestors off Innisbrook property.
"Everybody was very cooperative and provided I.D.," said Pasha.
Seven of the protesters were women, six were men. Pasha said most of the protestors were from Florida and lived in places like Spring Hill, Boca Raton, Lake Worth and Tampa.
Pasha says that there are no plans for the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office to increase security at Innisbrook during the RNC, but security might be reconfigured a bit.
"We have a very visible presence there," she said.
RNC delegates from Florida and South Carolina are staying at the resort. Security has been tight; however Innisbrook's restaurants have remained open to the public during the event.
Swiffer Wet Jet
3:27 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Some people totally lack any class!
Jessie James
2:49 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
Yup,Just like U
A.j. Simkatu
11:20 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Because people that call 13 year old Chelsea Clinton a dog are really classy folks. When a Republican protester is tossed from a Democrat event they all scream about their 1st Amendment rights and say that people are scared of listening to "the people". It's silly to pretend that Republicans hold an upper hand on being classy. http://rackjite.com/rush-limbaugh-names-13-year-old-chelsea-clinton-the-white-house-dog/
Bulldog
3:36 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Yeah damn delegates, how dare they chant over the top of people.. What no shoes were thrown?
rick barasso
8:01 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Rubio spreads his lies and those that speak the truth get arrested? USA USA USA
Howard
9:36 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Yes - arrest the protesters for interrupting him. But - if you're Republican and you heckle the president of the USA while he's delivering his State of The Union address - if you shriek that he's a "liar" - well, that's free speech. However, anyone else would have been thrown out and told that if they ever came back they'd be arrested.
Jessie James
2:46 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
Howard I could not Agree with You MORE!!!!. I have NEVER seen a sitting President of this United States be so DISRESPECTED in all My years. Members of Congress,Supreme Court Judge's, Hell That Republican Screwed Up The President's swearing in, like that was an Accident. J.R. ((Chief)). I want ALL you Republicans To Hear This,ROMNEYDONTCARE!!!!. OBAMACARE FOR EVER!!!! 4MOREYEARS!!!! THEY MAKE COMMENTS LIKE "WE WILL NEVER AGREE WITH ANYTHING HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE". How can anything get done with People like that. Mr. L.Graham and J.B.(Cry). Speaker of the House, My A.. Move this Country Forward MR.PRESIDENT. Thank You Sir. "PPACA"
Harry One
12:01 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
Trillions of dollars hidden in chi banks
Harry One
12:02 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
Communism a failed system