Jacksonville, FL – Hundreds gathered Tuesday afternoon, June 27,in downtown’s James Weldon Johnson Park across from City Hall to remember Ben Frazier, a well-known civil rights activist and elder in Jacksonville, Florida who passed away this past Saturday, June 24, after a bout with cancer.

Frazier, founder of the well-known Northside Coalition of Jacksonville (NCOJ) was a force to be reckoned with in Jacksonville. The NCOJ,started in 2016, was vital in the fight for police accountability along with successfully fighting to rename public schools named after confederate generals, and taking down confederate monuments.

Community activists, including those from the Jacksonville Community Activist Committee (JCAC) along with other groups, elected officials, such as State Representative Angie Nixon and Jax Mayor-elect Donna Deegan, all spoke to the crowd about the greatness of Frazier and how much he will be missed.

“Don’t let anyone sanitize the legacy of Ben Frazier,” said Michael Sampson, a leader in the JCAC that worked closely with Ben Frazier and the NCOJ over the past few years. “Ben Frazier fought for civilian oversight of police, fought to take down symbols of white supremacy, fought for economic justice and labor rights. When we fight, we must remember how Ben fought for us so we must continue his legacy by fighting for what he would have fought for.”

Maceo George, another leader in NCOJ along with being on the executive board of the local Central Labor Council and former president of the local chapter of the Letter Carriers said at the event, “I was glad that he would know, that his name would live forever and that's what we're going to do because we're all going to be Ben Frazier, whenever we're out here.”

Groups plan to remember Ben Frazier’s legacy fighting for the racial and economic justice.

His family wrote the following release after his passing, “It is with love and heartfelt sorrow that the family of Benjamin McVickers Frazier, Jr. shares the news of his passing just one day after his 73rd. He was surrounded by family and close friends as he courageously ended his nine-month battle with cancer at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at Shands Hospital in Jacksonville.

The family asks for privacy during this difficult time and will announce memorial information when details become available.

Ben was a longtime broadcast journalist who became the first Black anchor of a major news show in Jacksonville. He was also an award-winning civil and human rights leader, a tireless voice for the voiceless even as he underwent cancer treatment. Ben received the NAACP’s Rutledge H. Pearson Civil Rights Award for his advocacy and outstanding contributions to civil rights over many decades.

Ben was extremely proud that he spoke at the United Nations. He talked about it frequently.

He fought for equality among Jacksonville’s citizens, equity in our neighborhoods, and integrity, transparency, accountability and compassion in our government.

He will be missed sorely by family, friends and the Jacksonville community”

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