Derrek Vaughn | The Valdosta Daily TimesValdosta Police Chief Brian Childress and Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk met with the organizer of the Impeach Trump Rally and pro-Trump supporters Wednesday to set the ground rules for the protests scheduled for Friday, April 28. 

VALDOSTA — “I don’t care if you’re for Trump or not. I could care less. I don’t want any trouble. It gets stupid, it’s over.”

Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress’ blunt words were addressed to the small group gathered in his office Wednesday morning to discuss anti-Trump and pro-Trump rallies slated to unfold downtown Friday.

Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk sat at his side, and he made it clear there would be no tolerance for any troublemakers at the rallies.

“I have 400 vacant rooms in my jail, and I have plenty of people to put you there. We’re going to be there in force,” Paulk said.

Tom Hochschild, a member of the Georgians for the Impeachment of Donald Trump, was at the meeting, and a few feet away sat staunch Trump supporters Tara Brandau and her boyfriend Ryan Barnett.

Their crews will gather at the Lowndes County Courthouse Friday to protest for and against the nation’s 45th president.

Hochschild’s group has secured the proper permits to hold its Impeach Trump Rally from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the sidewalks and lawn surrounding the courthouse.

Brandau’s group has a permit to gather on the sidewalks across the street from the courthouse from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The pro-Trump counter-protest developed after the impeachment rally was announced on Facebook last week.

The street will create a natural barrier between the two groups.

Paulk and the Childress held the Wednesday meeting to get ahead of any possible violence or chaos at the protests, they said. They made their positions crystal clear: no insults, no threats, no fighting.

“If this gets stupid and I hear profanity, or somebody crosses that street trying to engage somebody, we’re going to shut it down,” Childress said. “Our objective is to let y’all have your rights (and) freedom of speech. But outside of that, no foolishness. We’re not playing.”

Childress added that none of the protesters should show up armed.

“There ain’t no reason for somebody to bring a gun or pepper spray,” Childress said. “This is going to be peaceful. The only people that need guns and pepper spray and tasers are the deputies and officers.”

The law enforcement leaders said they would hold Hochschild and Brandau personally responsible if people from either group acted up.

“I don’t care if you know them or not, you’re the one who signed this permit. I’m blaming you,” Childress said to the two group leaders. “If somebody on your side gets out of hand, you go and talk to them. If they won’t shut up, then you let us know and we’ll deal with it.”

Both sides said they don’t want any trouble when Friday comes.

“We want to gather for two hours, say our peace, then go home. We do respect your right to have freedom of speech, and we hope you’ll respect ours as well,” Hochschild said to Brandau.

Brandau agreed.

“I’m not here to start trouble,” she said. “This is not about anyone getting hurt. We’re just standing up for our president. Y’all have your issues against the president, and I understand. Y’all want to speak, and we want to speak. But I do not want anybody hurt.”

When the impeachment rally was announced on Facebook last week, the online comments quickly devolved into heated bipartisan bickering and name-calling, reflecting the bitter political division that has seared the country ever since the early stages of the Presidential election.

“This kind of bullcrap is foolishness.” said Childress, holding up a printed page of some of the Facebook comments. “These threats, this nonsense ain’t going to happen.”

Commander Bernard Robinson of the Valdosta Police Department said law enforcement’s top priority is keeping everyone safe and sound.

“We’re there to make sure everyone is safe. Our goal is not to arrest anyone. That’s a last resort, not the first resort. We just want it to be peaceful,” he said.

But Paulk made it clear he would not hesitate to lock up anybody who stirred up trouble.

“If anybody argues with one of my people for one second, they’re going to finish the argument at the jail,” he said. “I don’t mind people expressing their views, but when you violate Georgia law, you’re going to ride and it won’t be in your car.”

Childress encouraged Hochschild and Brandau to shake hands as a sign of respect when the protests end Friday, something they did involuntarily at the end of Wednesday’s meeting.

“Valdosta and Lowndes County doesn’t have to be like the rest of the country. This doesn’t have to be a confrontation,” Childress said.

“You can believe what you want. That’s everybody’s right. (That) doesn’t mean we can’t be civil about it.”