Sheriff Bobby McCallum answers questions about protests at county commission meeting.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                The nationwide protest over the killing of a black man by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota will impact Levy County this week with marches and a park event planned locally.

            Sheriff Bobby McCallum told Levy County Commissioners Tuesday he believes the protests will be non-violent unless outsiders from beyond Levy County’s borders arrive to agitate and stir up trouble.

            The first protest is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday in Bronson, the second for 11 a.m. Saturday in Williston and the third for 6 p.m. Saturday at Eddie Buie Recreational Park in Chiefland.

            He said protesters won’t be allowed to take over or block streets but the sheriff’s office will give them safe passage across major highways and county roads.

            The sheriff said the Bronson march is supposed to start at the intersection of Mongo and Pine Streets, go to U.S. 27A and then to the Levy County Courthouse and from there north on County Road 337 and across County Road 32.

            McCallum said the protest march in Bronson is being organized by a former Levy County resident now living in Middleburg, Fla. McCallum later corrected his statement at the protest and said the man, Michael Smith, lives in Bronson.

            “We’re trying to reach out and get information from him. Everything we know at this point, it will be peaceful,” McCallum said. “Our obvious concern is outsiders coming in and you know the problem we deal with in other parts of the county; it’s the outsiders that come in and present a problem, not our citizens; there’s always a little splinter group that will be part of that, but primarily its outsiders that primarily cause the problems.”

             McCallum said the march in Williston will start on East Noble Ave. but he wasn’t sure where it would go from there. He assumes it will go up to a nearby park and the Williston Police Department. He said the sheriff’s office hasn’t been able to make contact with the organizers.

            “Obviously we will be there to assist with that. We hope and pray that one will be peaceful,” McCallum said.

            The sheriff said he is not sure if any march is planned in connection with the protest at Eddie Buie Recreational Center in Chiefland.

            “Those three events we know are planned,” he said. “We expect the best, but we’re prepared for the worst. We don’t expect that.”

            McCallum said the organizational leader for the Bronson protests talked to Undersheriff Brett Beauchamp. He was told he would need a permit.

            “He’s putting out that he talked to us but we didn’t give permission or anything for it,” McCallum said. “Needless to say we don’t have to give that permission.”

            Commission Chairman Matt Brooks said the county doesn’t want to see any destruction of private property in Levy County.

            “I think I share some of the same fear; people coming from outside the county, non-residents using the opportunity to cause damage,” Brooks said. “Everybody’s got the right to assemble and protest. It’s a basic right in the Constitution, but people should understand that once you begin denying other people’s rights and destroying their property it all changes. It’s a very precarious time in our country. We just need to not be divisive about things and make sure we’re constantly communicating with the people in our county and make sure they understand how we feel and the condemnation we have for people who look to do evil and harm to others.”

            McCallum said the sheriff’s office has no indication that the protesters plan to take over roads. He said the sheriff’s office will assist the protesters in safely crossing U.S. 27A and State Road 24.

            “We’re going to try to provide for their safety, let them cross major highways; that’s what we face with block parties in the county. It’s the outsiders coming out and local people getting mixed up with them and it starts,” McCallum said.

            McCallum said his officers will do whatever is legally correct to enforce the laws if protesters try to take control of highways or streets. He said the sheriff’s office will maintain the peace and prevent road blockages. He said there has been a lot of talk on Facebook about rioting at Wal-Mart in relation to the protests but he said the sheriff’s office has no legitimate information to believe the rumors are true.

            The sheriff said he is aware that the protests stem from the killing of a man in Minneapolis by a police officer.

            “We don’t condone what happened. It was uncalled for. It just wasn’t right,” McCallum said.

            Commissioner John Meeks added: “It wasn’t a Christian action, it wasn’t a lawful action, it puts this county and the men and women who are sworn to protect us in a very precarious situation.”

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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting June 2, 2020; Posted June 2, 2020