Eddie Speir Escorted Out After Disrupting Vern Buchanan's Speech at Sarasota Rally

Police escorted congressional candidate Eddie Speir out of a Sarasota Republican rally after he disrupted the event.

Supporters of the Bradenton Republican protested as U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, whom Speir is challenging in the Aug. 20 GOP Primary, took the stage.

Some attendees wore American Revolutionary War outfits, including one individual who was also escorted out by police.

Buchanan was one of several speakers at the Republican Party of Sarasota's candidate rally, which also featured speeches from U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, and Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power.

Outside the event, Speir claimed he was not trespassing but was denied the opportunity to speak to the crowd like other local candidates. He was asked to leave the building after shouting from the crowd during the event.

"We the people, we need to have our voice," Speir told the press outside Robarts Arena. "Somebody’s got to stand up and let people know that RINOs, while they’re pretending like they’re standing up for rights, that’s not the case."

Buchanan, a Longboat Key Republican, has represented the Sarasota-Bradenton area in Congress for 18 years. Although Florida's 16th Congressional District no longer covers Sarasota County due to recent redistricting, Buchanan has continued to support the Republican Party of Sarasota, which organized the rally. Party leaders invited him to speak at the event. Buchanan largely ignored the disruption, focusing instead on the importance of Republican unity in the November election. He emphasized the presidential contest and largely ignored his primary challenger.

"Everybody always says, well, this is the most important election. This is the year I say that because if Kamala Harris is elected, she’s the most liberal member of the Senate and everything else, further left than Bernie Sanders."

Jack Brill, chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota, initially asked Speir to sit down when he started shouting and assured there need not be any problems. When Speir remained standing, Brill directed security to escort him out.

"In my speech at the beginning of the event, I was very specific," Brill told Florida Politics. "We are going to have a very civil event. If there’s any booing or heckling at all, you will be immediately removed."

Hecklers have disrupted the Sarasota rally in past years.

Brill explained that Buchanan was invited to speak at the event due to his long-standing support of the local party, but no other Manatee County candidates were allowed to speak. Additionally, attendees were prohibited from wearing shirts promoting any candidates who were not participating in the event.