Protests And Assembly
Fla. Stat. 870.02 — three or more meeting to breach the peace, and Fla. Stat. 870.04 — the command to disperse
Unlawful assembly. If three or more persons meet together to commit a breach of the peace or any other unlawful act, each commits a misdemeanor of the second degree. A person arrested for it is held in custody until brought before the court for admittance to bail.
The command. When persons are unlawfully, riotously or tumultuously assembled, the officers the section lists go among them, or as near as is safe, and command them in the name of the state to disperse immediately and peaceably. A person who refuses or neglects to depart when required is deemed one of the persons unlawfully assembled.
The right to assemble and to speak comes from the state and federal constitutions, and permits for marches and the use of public places are set by local rules; neither is on this page. Whether a particular order was lawful, or a particular gathering unlawful, is a question of fact and law for a licensed Florida attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Fla. Stat. 870.02 — Unlawful assemblies
- Fla. Stat. 870.04 — Specified officers to disperse riotous assembly
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Florida attorney.