Throughout the interaction, officers worked to de-escalate the situation and asked the individuals involved to remain on the sidewalk to avoid disrupting market vendors. The Lakeland Downtown Farmer’s Market is operated by the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority (LDDA), an independent special district established under Chapter 2004-415, Laws of Florida. The LDDA’s Executive Director is appointed by the LDDA Board and is not a City of Lakeland employee. A confrontation at the Lakeland Farmers Market on May 17 sparked debate over free speech and public space use. The incident raised legal questions about the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority’s authority to restrict activity on public streets.