Florida Democrats get fundraising influx after leaders arrested

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – The Florida Democratic Party has received an influx of donations after two of their leaders were arrested during an abortion protest in Tallahassee Monday night.

Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book and Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried were arrested by Tallahassee police after multiple warnings, according to the Tallahassee Police Department.

They were joined by other protestors in a demonstration against the six-week abortion ban making its way through the Florida Legislature.

“Florida Democratic Party raised $15,861.40 from 461 online contributions yesterday. That’s the most online money and donors to @FlaDems since the day before Election Day (505 donations),” Fried announced.

“It’s not overwhelming, but it’s a start. Help us keep fighting!!!!”

At the protest, professional photos were taken of Fried and others being arrested in the city, which Fried promoted shortly after being released by law enforcement.

Video shows Fried and Book being put in handcuffs after sitting in a circle with protestors.

The police department said the the city had been working with protest organizers for over a week; however, due to the size of the crowd they were expecting and their desire for overnight camping, they were informed last Friday of the city’s inability to accommodate them.

“Upon the group’s arrival to City Hall today, they were allowed to utilize the property during normal operating hours. After multiple warnings throughout the day, protestors acknowledged they understood that anyone refusing to leave the premises at sundown would be subject to arrest,” the police department’s statement said in part.

Prior to the protest, organizers with #OccupyTally said the news media is invited Monday “to witness any arrests that may happen.”

Following the arrests, the OccupyTally Twitter account said protesters “knew what was going to happen.”

“We knew what was going to happen. We made conscious choices to engage in civil disobedience to protect our rights to bodily autonomy,” the account said.

State Republicans called the incident “performance art.”

“How un-equitable for the Florida Democrat Party Boss and Democrat Florida State Senator to have their mugshots protected from release, while those who joined them for the political stunt and arrest, have their mugshots released,” Florida Republican Party Chair Christian Ziegler said in a statement to Florida’s Voice.

“In a show of equity, Fried and Book should authorize the release of their mugshots to the public,” Ziegler continued.

“Both Nikki Fried and Lauren Book choose to get arrested last night after repeated warnings. There is no reason that their mugshots should be hidden while those they encouraged to get arrested with them are not. I encourage both of them to voluntarily waive the protection if they truly want to stand side by side with those that were with them, otherwise it’s just more hypocrisy and performance art,” said Republican Party Vice Chair Evan Power.

Lydia Nusbaum and Amber Jo Cooper contributed to this report.