Sit-In Against DeSantis Leads to Arrest of Rep. Angie Nixon

A Bold Protest and the Fight for Florida’s Future

A Democratic state lawmaker from Jacksonville made headlines when she staged a sit-in protest in the lobby of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Capitol office. The protest, which took place on May 15, ended with her arrest on a trespassing charge after she refused to leave when law enforcement asked her to do so.

Rep. Angie Nixon, who is running for the U.S. Senate, chose to make a strong statement by planting herself in the governor's office. She was dressed in her signature pink attire, vowing not to leave until DeSantis met with her and agreed to another special legislative session to redraw Florida’s congressional map.

Nixon framed her actions as more than just a dispute over redistricting. She argued that the fight over the maps reflects a larger issue: the failure of state leadership to address Florida’s affordability crisis. According to her, Republican leaders are pursuing what she called an illegal partisan gerrymander while ignoring the rising costs of living and spending millions of taxpayer dollars on what she described as DeSantis' questionable priorities.

A History of Controversial Actions

This wasn’t the first time Nixon had drawn attention for her activism. Earlier in the week, she was reprimanded by the House Rules & Ethics Committee for a previous incident at the end of the redistricting special session. On April 29, she walked up and down the center aisle of the House while shouting through a small pink megaphone.

Her actions were seen as disruptive and out of line with the decorum expected in the legislative body. However, Nixon defended her behavior, saying it was necessary to draw attention to the issues she believed were being ignored by lawmakers.

The Broader Implications

Nixon’s protest highlights the growing tension between progressive lawmakers and the current administration in Florida. Her actions have sparked discussions about the role of government in addressing the needs of its citizens, particularly in areas such as housing, healthcare, and education.

She argues that the current political climate is not only failing to meet the needs of Floridians but also actively working against them. By pushing for another special session to redraw the congressional map, Nixon is trying to ensure that the voices of underrepresented communities are heard.

The Impact of Redistricting

Redistricting is a critical process that determines how voting districts are drawn, which can significantly impact election outcomes. Nixon believes that the current map is skewed in favor of one party, making it difficult for others to gain representation. She sees this as a form of political manipulation that undermines the democratic process.

By staging her protest, Nixon is not only drawing attention to the issue of redistricting but also challenging the status quo. She is calling on leaders to be more transparent and accountable, ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of all Floridians.

Looking Ahead

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the actions of lawmakers like Nixon will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Florida. Whether through protests, legislative efforts, or public advocacy, there is a growing demand for change.

The debate over redistricting and the broader issues of affordability and representation will likely continue to be hot topics in the coming months. For now, Nixon’s bold move has brought these issues to the forefront, sparking conversations that may lead to meaningful reforms.

Shortly after 5 p.m., what appeared to be a plain-clothed police officer told Nixon, a small group of her supporters and a handful of reporters they had to leave. "This is your one warning you will get right now," the man said.

Nixon asked if she had to leave, mentioning she was a lawmaker. She was told she could stand out in the hallway, but that she couldn't stand behind the doors of the governor's office. Nixon, who by that point was leaning against the counter in the lobby, didn't budge.

As reporters walked out of the Capitol, a team of uniformed and plain-clothes Capitol Police walked toward the office, with some saying media had to leave immediately. By 5:25 p.m., DeSantis' chief of staff Jason Weida posted on X: "Reprimanded and now arrested."

It appeared three others with Nixon, who were not identified, also were taken into custody earlier.

Nixon, who was not taken to jail, later confirmed with a Tallahassee Democrat photojournalist that she was arrested: "They asked if I was going to leave and I told them no. I was there for the governor. They detained me. ... I have a court date in June for a first appearance."

"... I'm annoyed. I mean, it's petty," she added. Nixon was not listed in Leon County court dockets as of 6:30 p.m.

Later Friday evening, DeSantis weighed in on X saying her arrest was deserved.

"Our office isn't a platform for this performative nonsense," he wrote.

The incident unfolded quite differently from a 2023 Dream Defenders sit-in in which the media was not removed from the building, and 14 people were arrested after they refused to leave during a protest of DeSantis' policies.

Protest tied to affordability, representation

Nixon began the one-person sit-in around 1 p.m. in the reception area, shortly after the governor signed a campus safety bill into law almost 500 miles away in Miami. She said a receptionist told her someone would come speak with her.

Nearly two hours later, no one had returned and the only visible presence was a single armed law enforcement officer in a bulletproof vest. “I’m still here. I’m not leaving,” Nixon said.

She said working Floridians are being ignored while GOP political priorities occupy center stage. “People are hurting in the state of Florida,” she said.

She described constituents facing severe financial stress, including uncertainty about housing and employment, and said lawmakers should be focused on economic relief rather than redistricting or immigration enforcement.

“We have yet to pass a balanced budget, but they instead passed rigged maps,” Nixon said. “Rigged maps to take people’s voices away.”

State budget negotiations in Tallahassee have stretched two months beyond the scheduled end of the legislative session; lawmakers are back in Tallahassee to work toward a final agreement on a spending plan for 2026-27.

No other lawmakers, Democrat or Republican, were seen at Nixon's sit-in; most had gone home for the weekend after leadership said there'd be no further work on the budget till the following week.

Criticism of spending priorities

Nixon also criticized what she said was $92 million spent on portable toilets tied to the “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention effort. “They spent that money while people, veterans, are living under bridges,” she said. “We should be ashamed. He should be ashamed.”

Her protest unfolded under the watch of law enforcement. A detachment of at least five Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers were stationed nearby, including one standing in the reception area just out of direct view. Despite the presence, Nixon remained seated and continued speaking with reporters.

Earlier, she was overheard telling fellow protesters she would be joining them in Selma, Alabama, for a mass voting rights march on May 16. But Nixon told a reporter she was prepared to stay as long as necessary — even overnight — until she gets a response from the governor.

“I have no problem sitting here until tomorrow morning. I have no problem sitting here until whenever,” she said.

More from Angie Nixon

Nixon also released this statement late Friday evening:

"Floridians are under attack. Governor DeSantis has continued his politically brazen pattern of drawing and pushing rigged maps so his party can choose leaders instead of voters choosing their elected leadership.

"My constituents didn’t send me to Tallahassee to sit silently while the Governor and his allies trampled their rights. That's why I joined advocates in bearing moral witness with a clear demand: reverse this politically motivated action. I’m urging state officials to do what’s right for our state and its people. I sat down because it was the clearest way to stand up to this governor and his overreach. Instead of arresting me for speaking out for the people of this state, we should focus on the real issues battering everyday Floridians: voting rights, housing affordability, child care, healthcare, and Medicaid expansion.

"All Floridians — including elected leaders — should speak out on the governor’s misplaced priorities and this flagrant attack on democracy. I sat down because it was the most clear way to stand up to this governor and his overreach. The only way to cure this challenge is for the governor to return maps to previous versions. In the same way that he created new, harmful maps, he could call on this legislature to revert to earlier versions."

Florida Times-Union Metro Editor Scott Butler contributed to this report.

James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com and is on X as @CallTallahassee.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sit-in against Gov. DeSantis gets Rep. Angie Nixon arrested