‘Grim Reaper’ lawyer darkens Florida beaches, protests re-opening too soon

A lawyer in Florida’s Panhandle has taken it upon himself to dress as the “Grim Reaper” to garner attention for his protest of beaches reopening too soon—his concerns are that beachgoers are still endangered by the potential of contracting coronavirus.

To the delight of many who have been cooped up while abiding shelter-in-place protocols, Walton County government decided to reopen their beautiful beaches, with Gulf of Mexico waters lapping their shoreline. Despite social distancing and related regimens to help thwart contagions, the “Grim Reaper” did not come to comb the beaches for shells; instead, he openly opined his feelings and intimidated folks (especially kids) in the process.

Daniel Uhlfelder, dressed in an all-black Grim Reaper costume including a long-handled black scythe, walked the coastline and conveyed his message. Whether in swimwear or a ghoulish getup, his rights to express himself were evident. But a dark figure on a bright beach stands out (not necessarily in a good way) and garnered the attorney free publicity when news crews showed up to record his anti-beachgoer protest event.

For the media cameras, Uhlfelder said, “The Grim Reaper represents death…this is a deadly virus.” He wants beachgoers to stay home, explaining, “I thinks it’s premature that we open our beaches. The danger of bringing all these people to our area and spreading the virus, I think it’s going to prolong the recovery we have.”

Presumably his gloomy attire was also intentioned to meet his goal by scattering people away. The opposite effect occurred.

Many beach revelers did not care for his extreme depiction and candidly rebuked Uhlfelder. One beachgoer stated, “The public here are none too pleased to see his presence here on the beach.” Another was generally suggestive: “I think he should go somewhere else and protest because he don’t belong here.”

One young lady pretty much hit the nail on the head, saying, “A lot of little kids keep asking questions and they’re like ‘Is he here to kill us?'” Yikes: freedom of speech is his right, despite seeming poor judgment in how he appears while exercising his rights.

Another teen framed it just right: “That’s the one negative guy walking around, you know what I mean, saying that corona kills. Yeah, we understand that.”

An online commenter emphasized her opinion via a pathological view: “He’s reliving the days of being a hall monitor.” First Amendment rights cut both ways.

If this exercise of self expression parallels any of Uhlfelder’s courtroom tactics, one may imagine the eye-rolls from judges when he walks in with his clients. According his his law firm website, Uhlfelder “is highly skilled and efficient in conducting the strategic and tactical preparations that can make or break a case.” Fair to say he met his standards with the Grim Reaper routine. Not only this, but Uhlfelder is also in the news for filing a lawsuit against Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis whose recent orders waved the green flag for beaches to consider reopening while also trying to maintain social distancing principles.

In a bit of irony, Uhlfelder is “the first non-minority member of the Okaloosa County Branch of the NAACP, serving as Chair of the Legal Redress Committee. He was recently awarded the NAACP’s Foot Soldier in the Sand Award by the NAACP for his work in the area of civil rights.” Wonder if the “Foot Soldier in the Sand Award” was in any way inspiring for Uhlfelder, his gloomy getup, and his traipsing among beachgoers.

Speaking of his “work in the area of civil rights,” what about the the civil rights of Florida beachgoers whose state government greenlighted visits on its beaches? Selective crusade?

Although Uhlfelder’s law practice website indicates he is a “member of the Republican Party of Florida Jewish Leadership Advisory Council, his self-identified “Grim Reaper Beach Tour” is asking for donations which, according to Uhlfelder, will go to “various Democrats running for federal office this year.” Definitely a PAC didn’t see coming, or wish they didn’t see walking Florida beaches.

Uhlfelder vows to tour all around Florida, to protest beaches which have re-opened. Here is what those relaxing in the outdoor environs of tropical Miramar Beach observed: