A Democrat Party chairman allegedly knocked a disabled military veteran in the head with a megaphone at a No Kings rally in Florida on Saturday.
The woman who spent months telling Floridians to attend those exact rallies has not said a single word about it.
Her name is Nikki Fried – and her silence is the story.
The Arrest Democrats Are Pretending Did Not Happen
Brian Stewart – chair of the Hernando County Democrat Party – was arrested Saturday afternoon at a No Kings protest in Spring Hill and charged with misdemeanor battery.
According to the Hernando County Conservatives, Stewart shoved a disabled military veteran who had come to the event as a Trump supporter, then drove a megaphone into his head.
The veteran received treatment from EMS and firefighters on scene.
Stewart was booked at 12:47 p.m. and bonded out two hours later for $1,000.
His arraignment is scheduled for April 27.
The maximum penalty under Florida law: one year in prison, twelve months probation, and $1,000 in fines.
https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2038435310762147934?s=20
Neither Stewart, the Hernando County Democratic Party, nor the Florida Democratic Party issued a statement.
Fried Built This Movement – Now She Owns What Happens Inside It
In June 2025, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried was actively promoting the No Kings movement across the state.
She reshared a post from Gavin Newsom urging people to attend.
She posted on X: "We the people are always more powerful than the people in power."
https://twitter.com/NikkiFried/status/1936388771781443985?s=20
She told Floridians to show up.
They showed up.
And on Saturday, one of her own county chairmen allegedly turned the movement's megaphone on a disabled veteran who dared to disagree.
Fried has not condemned it.
She has not called for Stewart's removal.
She has said nothing.
Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power didn't wait. He issued a direct demand to Fried on Monday: remove Brian Stewart from his leadership post immediately.
"Violence and political intimidation have no place in our state, and Floridians deserve better than mere silence from Democrat leadership," Power said. "Nikki Fried must immediately remove Brian Stewart from his position of leadership in the Florida Democrat Party!"
"The fact that this occurred at a far-left 'No Kings' protest only underscores how dangerous and inflammatory rhetoric from the radical Left continues to spill over into real-world violence. Leadership is measured by action, and the silence from Florida Democrats is deafening."
This Is Not the First Time Power Called Out No Kings Violence
Last September, after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University, Power called out Florida Democrats for mocking Kirk's death at No Kings rallies.
He demanded that Florida Democratic congressmen Jared Moskowitz and Darren Soto condemn the "violent and extremist rhetoric" displayed at those events.
Democrats stonewalled him then too.
Now Power is making the same demand again – this time with a mugshot attached.
Fried promoted the movement.
She told her people to show up and be powerful.
One of her own county chairmen took that to mean a disabled veteran's head was a fair target.
She built this. She owns it.
Sources:
- Michelle Vecerina, "Florida GOP demands removal of Hernando County Democratic chair after arrest in alleged attack on disabled veteran at 'No Kings' rally," Florida News, March 30, 2026.
- "Hernando Democratic Party chairman arrested, Republican Party of Florida calling for immediate removal," FOX 13 Tampa Bay, March 30, 2026.
- "Chair of Hernando Democratic Party Arrested, Charged with Simple Battery After Confrontation with Counter-Protester at No Kings Protest," Hernando Sun, March 28, 2026.
- "Florida Democratic chair Nikki Fried throws support behind 'No Kings' protests against Trump," FL Voice News, June 11, 2025.
- "Florida's political parties call on each other to denounce political violence and hateful rhetoric," Florida Phoenix, October 22, 2025.
