Jacksonville, FL – On April 14, dozens of community members gathered on the steps of Jacksonville City Hall to demand the establishment of a permanent professional mental health team to respond to mental health crises, instead of police.

In 2025 the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was responsible for more than five killings while responding to mental health crises. Concerned community members and mothers of the victims of this police violence led by the Jacksonville Community Action Committee made their voices heard.

Protesters demanded the creation of permanent mental health emergency response team professionals, for officers on mental health calls to radio-confirm deescalation and non-lethal force only, and consequences for cops that use excessive force.

“Mental health episode should not be a death sentence,” said Amelia Moss in her speech representing the Jacksonville Community Action Committee.

After the rally, the group headed into the city council chambers to reiterate their demands in the meeting's public comment section.

During the comment section of the meeting, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee showed solidarity with sister organization Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network by demanding the trumped-up politically motivated charges on fellow organizers be dropped.

Despite attempts at intimidation by city council members and the police, the people made their voices heard.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #JCAC #PoliceAccountability #InjusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities

Jacksonville, FL – Dozens of people gathered on the steps of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Memorial Building Tuesday, April 7, marking one year since Charles Faggart was killed inside the Duval County Jail.

Faggart's family stood alongside the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC), demanding answers.

It's been a full year since Faggart, a 31-year-old food truck owner, was arrested on misdemeanor charges. His bond was set at $8500. On April 7, 2025, he was rushed from the jail to UF Health with critical injuries. The next day, Sheriff T.K. Waters held a news briefing about an injured inmate. On April 10, Faggart was declared brain dead.

Twelve months later, his family still doesn't know what actually happened to him.

No charges have been filed against any of the nine corrections officers involved. The FBI investigation Waters requested is still open, with no updates for the public. And JSO (the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office) keeps pointing to that “ongoing investigation” as the reason they won't release anything.

“We came here today because one year ago, my son was taken from us, and we still know nothing,” said Tracey Karpas, Faggart's mother.

Karpas has sued Sheriff Waters and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to force them to turn over records, including any video footage of what happened that day. That case is still pending.

The only real window into Faggart's death has come from his medical records.

Family attorneys obtained records from UF Health that tell a very different story than what JSO initially put out. Doctors who treated Faggart found:

-– No fentanyl in his system, contradicting the heavily redacted JSO report that claimed Faggart told officers he had done fentanyl.

-– No seizure, even though JSO listed a seizure as the reason for the medical emergency.

-– Taser barbs removed from his back. That detail never showed up in the redacted JSO report.

-– Multiple broken bones: nasal bone fractures, facial fractures, rib fractures.

-– Significant damage to his kidneys and liver.

-– Lung damage and signs of pepper spray exposure.

Amelia Moss, an organizer with JCAC, tied Faggart's case to the broader fight over a proposed $1 billion new jail. She argued that building a new facility won't fix the problems inside the current one; those problems will just move to a new building. The money, she said, would be better spent elsewhere in the community.

JCAC has pledged to keep standing with Faggart's family and friends until they get the answers they've been waiting for.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #CharlesFaggart #InjusticeSystem #JCAC

Jacksonville, FL— On Tuesday, March 24, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC) mobilized to Mayor Donna Deegan’s town hall meeting at Springfield Middle School. Deegan spoke about the city budget and offered the audience an overview of her priorities.

United with the JCAC, a group of mothers A Mother’s Cry, approached Donna Deegan with questions about police violence in Jacksonville, Florida. Yvonno Kemp read aloud a letter that had previously been mailed to Deegan. Kemp said she had not received a response from the mayor’s office. The letter requested a meeting with the mayor, so that mothers impacted by police violence could sit down with Deegan and work on solutions.

The five family members representing A Mother’s Cry had all lost loved ones at the hands of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO). Kemp’s son, 20-year-old Reginald Boston, was shot and killed by JSO in 2020. Since that time, Kemp has been advocating for increased transparency around JSO and demanding answers for the questions surrounding her son’s death.

Vanessa Martin, member of A Mother’s Cry, held up a framed picture of her son, Rashaud Martin, while addressing Mayor Deegan. 32-year-old Rashaud Martin was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and in October 2025 a schizophrenic episode resulted in a Baker Act. Rashaud Martin died in JSO custody soon thereafter.

Martin explained that she is still awaiting answers about her son’s death. She expressed that he was an “intelligent and loved person, struggling with mental health.” Martin is calling on the mayor to send trained mental health professionals to any scene involving a mental health crisis. Deegan agreed to a meeting with the representatives of A Mother’s Cry.

After the remarks made by A Mother’s Cry, Xavier Green spoke on behalf of the JCAC. Green said he voted for Mayor Deegan because of the promises she made regarding police accountability. When running for mayor, Deegan had positioned herself as favorable toward a civilian review board. Green said, “By executive order, you could pass a Public Safety Committee tomorrow, which would allow for community members to have some oversight in regards to policing in the city.”

Green added, “Jacksonville is one of the only cities in the state without any form of civilian review.” Green also passed out a one-pager to the town hall attendees about JCAC’s demand for a Public Safety Committee.

The Jacksonville Community Action Committee is holding their next general body meeting on Thursday, April 16. They invite community members to join and to follow them on Instagram @jaxtakesaction.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InjusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #JCAC

Jacksonville, FL – On January 24 families who have lost loved ones at the hands of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office rallied at James Weldon Johnson Park, outside of Jax City Hall. The event, organized by the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, centered on shared frustrations over delayed investigations, a lack of communication from authorities, and narratives that misrepresent their loved ones.

The families detailed a common experience of seeking basic facts, such as autopsy reports and investigative findings – only to face procedural delays and silence. This collective frustration has sparked a new effort to organize directly among the affected families to address what they describe as a systemic failure of accountability.

The families of Charles Faggart, Rashaud Martin, Devon Gregory, Reginald Boston Jr, and Alquan Suydam, along with other families negatively impacted by police violence in Jacksonville all rallied to remember their loved ones.

Chants of “Justice for Charles” or “Justice for Rashaud” could be heard all through the area. Someone from each family addressed the crowd, demanding answers.

The newly formed Families Coalition is forming with clear demands – Jax cops stay out of mental health crises, timely release of all information to families, and civilian oversight over the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office through a Public Safety Committee. They gathered to push back against characterizations of their loved ones, insisting the public deserves a full and honest accounting of each incident.

Organizers from the Jacksonville Community Action Committee stated the rally highlights a shift from the often depicted “isolated” cases to showing this is a systemic issue across the city. The growing coalition plans to bring its demands directly to city, leveraging collective power to challenge the current process and continue the demand for community control of the police.

Yvonno Kemp, mother of Reginald Boston Jr. who was killed by JSO in 2020, ended the program reading a letter on behalf of the mothers to Mayor Donna Deegan, pushing that she meet with the families.

The rally ended with a candlelight vigil where emcees yelled the names of the lost loved ones, with the crowd chanting “Say their name!”

The families and the JCAC vowed to keep up the fight.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #JCAC #KillerCops #PoliceCrimes #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican

Jacksonville, FL – In a powerful show of solidarity, nearly a dozen families directly harmed by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) united at Café Resistance on Thursday, December 19.

The “Justice for the Holidays” event was standing room only, organized by the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC), transforming a space of shared grief into a rallying point for organized action against a sheriff’s office with a notorious record of excessive force. The gathering highlighted many cases and struggles.

The evening was charged with personal testimonies from family members.

The mother and sister of Rashaud Martin, who was killed in JSO custody in October after a mental health episode, spoke. The grandmother of Devon Gregory, who was shot over 23 times by JSO officers, demanded answers. The wife and young son of Justin Knight, who was found beaten and dead after being arrested by JSO, shared their story of loss and the fight for transparency. Yvonno Kemp, mother of Reginald Boston who was killed by JSO in 2020, pledged to keep fighting not just for her son, but for all families.

Xavier Green of the JCAC stated, “Families and loved ones affected by police violence are the glue to our movement for police accountability and justice. This event was about building more community and organization with the families and the fight for community control of the police.”

Families also condemned JSO's use of aggressive surveillance as a tool to intimidate families from speaking out.

Moving from testimony to demands, the families united behind an agenda for action: justice for each individual lost; and the advancement of the community’s call for community control of the police with a civilian-led Public Safety Committee. These demands continue in direct response to JSO’s escalating violence, with 15 officer-on-civilian shootings this year alone.

Families and community members who attended left motivated to keep up the fight. At the end of the event, organizers and families in attendance wrote down dates of action coming up in the new year and ended with their fists up reciting “Assata’s chant.”

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #JCAC #Feature

Jacksonville, FL – On August 29, the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA) held a protest against Governor DeSantis's planned concentration camp within the Baker County Correctional Facility. The protest took place within the center of Jacksonville, at the city's own Friendship Fountain.

After JIRA mobilized over 700 people to Camp Blanding on July 19, Governor Ron DeSantis changed the location of the planned detention camp from Camp Blanding to the Baker County Correctional Facility. The site was previously shut down in 2021, with inhumane conditions being one of the cited reasons.

A JIRA speaker called the project the “Baker Cruelty Camp” rather than the “Deportation Depot” as Ron DeSantis has dubbed it, stating, “Let's be clear: people were tortured in this building. Guillermo Serrabi was held in solitary for 88 days – he was assaulted by a guard who ruptured his eardrum, and he was denied medical care. Ana Doe, a survivor of trafficking, was placed in solitary, stripped, restrained and sexually mocked by guards! This is this facility's legacy. This is what DeSantis is reopening!”

The Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance organized the event which drew support from Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, Jacksonville Community Action Committee, Students for a Democratic Society, the UPS Teamsters Union, FloridaRising, 50501 Veterans, the Malaya Movement, and the Democratic Socialists of America.

As dozens of protesters gathered atop the hill at Friendship Fountain, Monica Martinez with JIRA said, “This cruelty doesn't just affect those who end up inside its walls. This puts a target on the back of every immigrant in northeast Florida. Right now, ICE is operating indiscriminately – kidnapping and attempting to deport community members regardless of their status, tearing families apart and terrorizing our communities.”

Martinez then talked about a person recently detained within Duval County: Diana Marcela Mieja, owner of a small business within the Springfield area of Jacksonville.

“This is not abstract!” Martinez said. “She was detained by ICE after a mental health crisis. She is a legal resident, a business owner, a beloved member of our community. This is who they are targeting! This is why we fight!”

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #ICE #JIRA #JPSN #JCAC #SDS #FloridaRising #50501 #Teamsters #MalayaMovement

Jacksonville, FL – Over 100 community members gathered at Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park, August 9, to demand justice for William McNeil Jr.

McNeil was brutally beaten by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) officer after a traffic stop in February 2025. The officer shattered McNeil’s car window, forcibly removed him from the vehicle, and assaulted him. The protest, organized by the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC) in collaboration with McNeil’s family, amplified calls for accountability.

Xavier Green of the JCAC told the crowd, “Jacksonville police do not serve and protect – they occupy and terrorize. They carry out the same mission as the overseer’s whip: control by any means necessary, in defense of white supremacy.”

Attendees chanted “Justice for Will!” between speeches from family members and organizers. McNeil’s family praised his character and shared how traumatic the experience has been for him.

Despite pressure from the community, including a coalition letter signed by multiple organizations, the state attorney’s office has yet to reopen the investigation.

Jamil Davis linked the struggle to liberation theology, calling this injustice a “table-flipping moment” for the community. “Just as Jesus flipped the commerce tables,” he said, “what’s being sparked now is a revolutionary moment.”

The JCAC remains committed to fighting alongside Will and his family for justice. They are also continuing their campaign for a Public Safety Committee, which would help hold violent officers accountable.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #JCAC #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality

Jacksonville, FL – The Jacksonville Community Action Committee, the Families of William McNeil Jr and Charles Faggart, along with dozens of other community members gathered at the steps of State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office Saturday, August 2. The emergency rally was in response to the viral video showing the brutalization of William McNeil Jr. during a traffic stop. They demanded the reopening of the investigation into McNeil’s case, and justice for all victims of police terror.

McNeil Jr. was pulled over on February 19, for the minor traffic violations of not having his headlights on in inclement weather and not wearing a seatbelt. This “routine” traffic stop was escalated by Officer Bowers when he broke McNeil’s window and punched him in the jaw. One of the speakers at the event, McNeil’s uncle, said, “I have been an activist for a long time. I never thought I would be standing up here fighting for the rights of my nephew.”

When protesters first arrived at the state attorney’s office they were met with heavy police presence. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office had about six officers and squad cars blocking off the block and several other surrounding areas. They had several officers monitoring in the parking garage across the street as well as about ten officers circling the area on bicycles throughout the rally.

Sierra Jones Frishman of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee said during the rally, “We don’t need the police to keep us safe, we keep us safe.” There were speakers from organizations across the city all chanting the same thing, “No justice! No peace! No racist police!”

The Jacksonville Community Action Committee with support from the family sent an open letter signed by over ten community organizations to Melissa Nelson’s office, including Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, Florida For All, and Black Voters Matter.

The McNeil family, with support from the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, will be having a rally for William on Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m., at Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing Park

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #JCAC

Jacksonville, FL – On June 14, an estimated 4000 protesters transformed downtown Jacksonville into a sea of resistance against the Trump administration's escalating attacks on immigrants, free speech and essential government services. The “No Kings Day” demonstration marked one of Northeast Florida's largest mobilizations in recent memory, with participants decrying Trump's policies at the federal level and local Trump style anti-immigrant measures being passed at the city council level.

“This country is under attack from top to bottom,” said JIRA organizer Maria Garcia. “Whether it's Trump's economic policies hurting working families, his racist rhetoric demonizing immigrants, the ICE raids terrorizing our communities, or activists being targeted – nobody is safe from this administration's attacks.”

The Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance anchored the protest, and their “Stop the deportations” banner led the waves of demonstrators through the city center. Chants of “We want justice – you say how? Stop the deportations now!” reverberated off buildings as the diverse crowd, including labor groups, faith leaders, and allied organizations like the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network and the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, demonstrated growing opposition to the administration's agenda.

The unprecedented turnout sent a clear message about Northeast Florida's resistance to policies that have seen activists targeted, families separated, and communities living under constant threat of raids. With Jacksonville's immigrant population facing dual assaults from federal crackdowns and local legislation, organizers emphasized that attacks on any vulnerable group represent an attack on all working people.

As the march concluded, the energy shifted toward next steps – including pressuring Mayor Donna Deegan to veto Ordinance 2025-0138 and building broader opposition to the Trump administration's policies. The demonstration's size and discipline showed Jacksonville's capacity for organized resistance, with participants vowing to transform Saturday's show of force into sustained political action.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #PeoplesStruggles #Trump #NoKings #JCAC #JPSN #JIRA

Jacksonville FL – On May 28, over 200 community members rallied at Duval County Jail to demand the release of three community members who had been arrested and brutalized while attending a city council public comment meeting the afternoon before.

Many organizers for the rally had been protesting and doing bail support through the night without sleep, including Leah Grady of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), who had been released on bail at 3:30 a.m. that morning and immediately took up work to organize a rally for her comrades to be released.

When asked about the rally, Grady said, “It was very heartwarming to see the Jacksonville community come together for all charges to be dropped against us and for the remaining two people to be released. At an emergency action organized in less than 24 hours, we were able to pull together many different local organizations together, rain or shine, in a truly remarkable act of solidarity. I'm eternally grateful for the Jacksonville community, for the work that the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network has been doing to forge these relationships and mobilize against political repression and against the genocide of the Palestinian people.”

With a rally called by Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN), multiple groups including Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC), Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA), the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (NAARPR), Take ‘Em Down Jacksonville (TEDJ), FRSO, and others spoke to the crowd about the need to strengthen their movement and build an action-oriented unity to defeat the rising political repression.

“JSO wants to beat us into submission, they want to make an example out of us, they want to intimidate us, but are we scared?” shouted Monique Sampson of FRSO at the rally. The crowd replied with a booming “No!” “We're not scared of detention, we're not scared of arrest, we're not even scared of death, because all of those things, every single last one of those things is a small price to pay for freedom in our lifetimes!” she continued, to cheers and applause.

At the end of the rally, with the community invigorated, the group marched to the release center of the jail and continued to chant slogans to demand the release of the organizers for over five hours until their demands were met. Community members remained standing and shouting even through two separate rainstorms. At 8 p.m., one of the two remaining organizers was released, and finally at 10 p.m., Conor Cauley, a leading organizer in JPSN and FRSO general member, was released.

“What struck me most about the attack was that when I made eye contact with the cop, we both knew what was about to happen and that it wasn't about resisting arrest,” said Conor after being released. “I'm very grateful for the local community I have here, their efforts probably saved my life, and their solidarity provides a life worth living.”

JPSN intends to build a campaign around demanding the charges be dropped, including two felony charges being faced by Cauley, and for Maykel Aliaga-Ruiz, the officer who brutalized Cauley, to be fired.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #InJusticeSystem #JCAC #JIRA #NAARPR #JPSN

Jacksonville, FL – On Sunday, May 25, at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office headquarters, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC) garnered over 100 community members to recognize the five-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Jacksonville was one of many cities that answered the national call by National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, “All Out for May 25” to remember all victims of police terror and the heinous signing, April 28, of President Trumps Executive Order 14288.

“Executive Order 14288 specifically promotes, ‘aggressively policing communities.’ You tell me this, what is more aggressive than holding your knee on the neck of a man for nine minutes while he begs for his life? Was what we saw with George Floyd not aggressive?” said Ash Chatmon, communications committee member of JCAC. “When Breonna Taylor was killed in her own home, was that not aggressive? When Jacksonville’s Charles Faggart was beaten and killed by officers in that jail, when his family was brushed aside and relegated to finding out about their loved one through the media, was that not aggressive?”

Sunday’s demands included justice for all victims of police crimes, that Congress pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and community control of the police nationwide. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has killed more people this year than the officers had in all of 2024. Dozens of people have told their stories to JCAC about the consistent and unchecked abuse and torture that continues in the Duval County Jail, all while the mayor and city council field proposals for a $1 billion jail.

“These patterns have to be recognized and addressed. We have to learn from each other the way these agencies so clearly learn from each other. And we have to make our voices heard for all those who have had their voices robbed from them from these white supremacist, nationalist agendas!” said Gonzalo Kleinick, from the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance.

The event was organized by Jacksonville Community Action Committee, and co-sponsored by Take ‘Em Down Jax, The Red Alliance, Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, Jacksonville Immigrants’ Rights Alliance, Jacksonville Students for a Democratic Society, 50501 Northeast Florida alongside a coalition of 10 other local grassroots organizations in the city.

Organizers and community members chanted as the rain fell, “Transparency now, we won’t back down” and “If we don’t get it shut it down!” with signs reading “Justice for Charles” and “We remember.”

“There is a movement growing in this city and we must continue to build it stronger than ever,” said Michael Sampson II, the co-chair of NAARPR. “Those in power should fear the people more than they fear the Sheriff or the interests of the ruling class here in Jacksonville.”

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #NAARPR #JCAC #GeorgeFloyd

Jacksonville, FL – 250-plus people gathered on the steps of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) Memorial Building on Sunday, April 13, demanding justice for Charles Faggart and all other victims of police brutality.

Charles Faggart was a 31-year-old Jacksonville resident. He owned and operated the Chop it Up Charlie’s food truck. Faggart died from “catastrophic injuries” while in the Duval County Jail.

On April 1, Faggart was arrested and processed in the Duval County Jail on misdemeanor charges. His bond was set at $8500. On April 7, Faggart was transported from the jail to UF Health hospital with critical injuries. Then, on April 8, Faggart’s bond was reduced, and Sheriff T.K. Waters called a news briefing about an inmate being injured. Waters expressed that nine corrections officers were stripped of their duties pending a criminal and administrative investigation.

On April 10, Faggart was pronounced brain dead. During these developments, JSO made minimal efforts to keep Faggart’s family informed. Faggart’s family has still not been given insight into how Charles sustained the injuries that led to his death. Sheriff T.K. Waters has formally requested that the FBI join the investigation, which marks the first time Waters has made this request in his tenure as the Jacksonville Sheriff. Since announcing this, Waters has also expressed that he will not offer details pertaining to this case, as it is an “open investigation.”

The Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC) organized the rally in response to this police brutality and lack of JSO transparency. Many organizations and community members joined the JCAC to demand justice for Faggart. Faggart’s family and friends were the largest group in attendance.

His mother, Tracey Karpas, tearfully addressed the crowd saying, “I am so thankful for the 31 years I got with him, but I should have gotten at least 31 more, and I’m sorry I can’t speak anymore.” Faggart’s 6-year-old son was also in attendance, wearing a shirt to honor his father’s memory. Those in attendance demanded that Sheriff T.K. Waters and JSO release the names of the corrections officers involved in the killing of Charles Faggart, as well as the footage accounting for this incident.

Sam Hunter with the JCAC spoke to the crowd, emphasizing that JSO does not get to be “judge, jury, and executioner.” Hunter connected the demands for Faggart’s justice with the community’s disapproval for a $1 billion new jail. He explained that the same systemic issues within the current jail will persist in a new jail. Community members have been consistently mobilizing to city council meetings to demand an overhaul of the current jail systems, rather than the development of a new jail that demonstrates the same internal problems of the current overcrowded jail.

The rally progressed into a march around the perimeter of the jail. People shouted, “Justice for Charles” and “No justice! No peace!” People also shouted chants honoring other victims of JSO’s brutality, including Harold Kraai, Jamee Johnson, Kwame Jones, Justin Knight, Leah Baker, Dejuane Hayden, Reginald Boston, Devon Gregory and D’Angelo Stallworth. The chants were loud enough for the inmates inside to hear.

ON Monday, April 14, after the previous day’s rally, the names of the corrections officers were released. Of the nine officers, four have prior complaints. The nine corrections officers are as follows:

Sgt. W.H. Cox #76320

Ofc. T.C. Pennamon #88613

Ofc. G.L. Mckinnis #86574

Ofc. D.D. Thomas #82590

Ofc. M.E. Sullivan #84331

Ofc. P.L. Collins #88641

Ofc. A.K. Maygoo #88643

Ofc. E. Kurtovic #84333

Ofc. J.J. Bullard #88012

Sergeant William Cox and officers Eldar Kurtovic, Gecolbe Mckinnis and Matthew Sullivan all have past complaints, ranging from an inability to conform to work standards to apparent “incompetence.” All officers have been required to do formal counseling due to these complaints.

Also released on Monday, April 14 was a heavily redacted JSO report chronicling the incident that led to Faggart’s death. Each part of the report pertaining to the actions of the officers was redacted. Faggart’s family learned about this report in tandem with the public. They received no prior notification.

The Faggart family has called for prosecutions of all the cops involved, along with the release of all video footage.

The JCAC has pledged to keep up the fight.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #PoliceBrutality #JusticeFor #JCAC #Feature

This opposition is due to issues regarding mass incarceration, police and state violence, redlining, housing insecurity, immigrant safety, and the outrage caused by city council approving a morgue in the Brentwood neighborhood. This morgue was built despite Brentwood residents’ objections toward the construction of a morgue, and it was built less than 500 feet from a school.

Since 2024, when Councilman Ron Salem formed a committee to discuss the funding and relocation of a new jail, the council has made its best attempt to keep this project quiet and out of the public sphere. It is for this very reason that the JCAC has been adamant about keeping this campaign front and center for all to witness and have a say.

The JCAC stood alongside Take ‘Em Down Jax (TEDJ), Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN), Metro Gardens Neighborhood Association, Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA), Jax Tenants Union (JTU), and The Red Alliance.

Wells Todd, a veteran activist, TEDJ front-runner and respected Jacksonville elder, stated, “These jails are built not only to oppress us and use us for free labor, but also as an alternative to providing communities their needs.”

Attendees also heard from Metro Gardens lead activist, Lydia Bell, about how the demands of Brentwood are being ignored, which is a direct reflection of the council’s intent to pursue financial gain at the expense of Black and brown communities. The jail is a continued representation of the council’s desire to save the best for themselves, while regular working class people are forced to pay the price.

City leaders have been vague about the location of this new jail. There is discussion of its construction on either the Westside or the Northside. The Westside is representative of many white working-class neighborhoods. The Northside is representative of many historically Black neighborhoods that continue to struggle against redlining and systemic racism.

After making it clear how far-reaching an issue the jail is for every aspect of community health, Jacksonville residents filed into the chambers to make their voices heard, yet again proving to be the collective majority.

Residents argue that the funds would be better invested into an all-encompassing “People’s Budget,” focusing on housing, education, food access, and more. JCAC member Ash Chatmon stated, “We want to see our money go to programs and institutions that meet our needs. Mass incarceration is a parasite that sucks the life and resources out of our community, and it fails to solve any of the underlying issues. This is not a jail issue, this is a policy issue; this is a manufactured problem.”

Despite these concerns, Jacksonville City Council has made it clear that they are most focused about the possibility of what could develop where the current jail sits – an ideal riverfront property with a central location.

A resident stated, “We no longer come to city council to try to appeal to council members’ morality, as they have proven to be lacking. We speak to them in words they understand: Reallocation of votes and funding. When our rights and needs are held over our heads like a carrot on a stick, we refuse to chase false promises and instead turn to face our neighbors and community at large.”

As succinctly stated by activist and community member Denise Scott, “The power of the people is greater than the people in power.”

The Jacksonville Community Action Committee says the fight in opposition of a new jail is ongoing, and they plan to be at all upcoming city council meetings to make their voices heard.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #Jail #JCAC #PeoplesBudget

Jacksonville, FL – Around three dozen community members gathered in front of Jacksonville City Hall on Tuesday late afternoon to say no to a projected billion-dollar proposal to build a new jail and incarcerate more Jacksonville residents.

Organized by the Jacksonville Community Action Committee and attended by other organizations such as the newly formed Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, Take Em Down Jacksonville, Jax Queer Coalition, Red Alliance for Justice, Metro Gardens Neighborhood Association, Jacksonville DSA, along with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Attendees heard chants of “No new jail” along with chants of “Money for jobs and education, not for mass incarceration.”

“We are here to say no to shady backroom deals with developers,” said Monica Gold, an organizer with the JCAC. “Conditions in the jail should be fixed now, not spending a potential billion dollars on a new jail to lock more people up while schools are being shut down!”

The current Duval County Jail is designed to host 2189 inmates but currently holds at least 2600 inmates, according to reports. Its horrible conditions are well known, with many inmates dying due to negligence and poor healthcare services.

The talk about moving the jail has been a major topic pushed by the city council and the mayor’s office the past year. The current jail is located in downtown near the Saint John’s River, a spot developer have been eyeing to build unaffordable high rise appartments.

Many have spoken out against attempts to build the jail on Jacksonville’s Northside of town, the home of a large Black community.

“Our communities are constantly told there is no resources for after-school programs, infrastructure and other social services yet the city can find a billion for a new jail? Just tells you what they think of us and our communities,” said JCAC organizer Xavier Green. “We demand a real People’s Budget, people over profit, community over cages.”

After the rally, many went inside to city council where they spoke out against a new jail proposal.

The JCAC and coalition partners have vowed to keep organizing around this issue until the proposal is stopped.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #JCAC

The protest, organized by the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA), brought together a diverse coalition of activists, families, students and labor unionists to demand an end to deportations and the persecution of immigrant neighbors.

The event highlighted growing concerns over the close collaboration between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, as well as the erosion of sanctuary protections in schools and places of worship. Protesters also voiced their support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and criticized President Donald Trump's executive orders, which have fueled anti-immigrant policies and fear within the community.

The protest was a vibrant display of unity, with attendees waving signs and flags, chanting, and drawing honks of support from passing cars, trucks and buses. Many vehicles displayed small flags representing countries in Central and South America, symbolizing the cultural ties that bind Jacksonville's immigrant community.

Maria Garcia, a representative of the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, delivered a powerful speech, declaring, “Immigrants are our neighbors. They are sown into the fabric of our city. And we must keep showing up to reject these backwards policies. We have a responsibility to protect our neighbors!” Her words resonated with the crowd, which responded with chants of “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido” (“The people united will never be defeated!”) and “From Palestine to Mexico, all these walls have got to go.”

Monica Martinez, also a representative of JIRA, a public school teacher and first generation Venezuelan immigrant, stated, “Este último mes, ha sido un mes fuerte para mis estudiantes inmigrantes y americanos. Es evidente de que hay mucha preocupación en las escuelas de todas partes. Desde los adultos, a los estudiantes, y también los padres. Hay mucha inseguridad, cuando las escuelas deben de ser un espacio de aprendizaje y seguridad para nuestros niños. Los niños se merecen ir a recibir sus estudios sin miedo de que ICE vaya a detenerlos para deportar a sus familias.” Martinez explained the harmful impact that these policies have had on her immigrant students and families.

The protest also saw participation from other local organizations, including the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, and the University of North Florida's Students for a Democratic Society. The diverse turnout reflected the broad coalition of support for immigrant rights, with working people, parents, children, elders and students standing shoulder to shoulder and demanding an end to the deportations, for legalization for all, the termination of attacks against immigrants, and the protection of DACA.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #JCAC #JPSN #SDS #JIRA

Jacksonville, FL – On January 20, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a broad coalition of 20 organizations united to bring out over 150 people to the Duval County Courthouse to protest Trump’s agenda. Hearing from speakers representing various struggles, the people of Jacksonville affirm their fight for national liberation movements, workers, immigrants, LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights and more.

With a backdrop of the American flag, the Jacksonville community stood committed to making Trump’s America ungovernable; “We are here to honor Dr. King’s dream by being Trump’s nightmare,” said a member of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee.

The crowd also heard from organizations such as the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Students for a Democratic Society. To combat Trump’s racist, reactionary agenda over these next four years, these organizations stressed the necessity of uniting various people’s movements. Passersby could hear the crowd chanting, “The people united, will never be defeated!”

A second Trump term promises an escalation of discrimination and repression of Arab communities, reminiscent of the 2017 Muslim ban. Far from an anti-war administration, the impunity provided to Israel by the U.S will not lessen.

“The last 15 months of genocide in Gaza and the persistence of resistance has given new life to people’s movements all around the globe, signaling a decline of imperial powers and a broadening of political consciousness. We must use this moment not to relax our fight for Palestinian liberation, but to escalate it,” said Ryan Delaney from the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network.

A general theme heard throughout the evening was of perseverance; that the people must not despair and instead get organized. It was emphasized that over the next four years, the people in Jacksonville will not falter in the struggle against Trump's agenda.

#JacksonvilleFL #Jax #JCAC #Trump #Inauguration #JPSN #FreePalestine #MLK #MLKday #FRSO #SDS

Jacksonville, FL – On November 7, Jacksonville community organizers gathered at the courthouse to denounce the recent election of Donald Trump as the 47th resident, following his victory.

More than 250 people joined the protest, chanting, “When Trump says get back, we say fight back!” Speakers addressed the flaws in the U.S. electoral system, with Michael Sampson, of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, stating “it doesn’t matter which party is in power, we have to demand a People’s agenda.”

Jpess Machin of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization noted, “Kamala and Trump unfortunately have more similarities than differences. They are both pro-Israel, pro-NATO, pro-sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela, pro-police, and more.” Machin went on to critique the Biden administration’s billions in funding for Israel, which has fueled imperialist violence in Palestine.

The election in Florida also brought key ballot measures for Florida voters, including Amendment 4, defending the right to abortion, and Amendment 3, proposing the legalization of recreational marijuana. Both received majority support – 57% for Amendment 4 and nearly 56% for Amendment 3 – but Florida’s undemocratic 60% threshold for ballot measures blocked their passage. Maria Garcia, member of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, called this a “shame,” saying, “Governor Ron DeSantis spent over $50 million of taxpayer money trying defeat abortion rights, yet Amendment 4 got more votes than he got last election!”

Event organizers called on attendees to join an organization and contribute to the struggle against capitalism and imperialism, emphasizing that the fight for justice, human rights, and liberation would continue, regardless of the electoral outcome. Many groups attended the protest, including the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, UNF Students for a Democratic Society, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and Take Em Down Jax. The demands of the protest were endorsed by multiple organizations including Black Lives Matter.

These demands were end of police brutality; no to mass deportations and legalization for all; standing up for LGBTQ rights; free Palestine and stopping U.S. aid to the Israeli war machine; stopping the attacks on reproductive freedom, and standing with student rights to free speech.

Organizers reaffirmed that the people united will never be defeated and committed to ongoing resistance against Trump’s agenda.

#JacksonvilleFL #PeoplesStruggles #Trump #FRSO #JCAC #JPSN #UNFSDS #TakeEmDownJax

Jacksonville, FL – On Saturday afternoon, October 19, the steps of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) became a platform for calls for justice as over 80 people rallied to honor Dejuane “Woo” Hayden, a 30-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by police officer Bradley Griffitts. Organized by the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC), the event drew family, friends, and community members demanding accountability and answers.

Protesters carrying signs reading “Justice for Dejuane” and “Community control of the police,” chanted in unison, demanding transparency in the investigation surrounding Hayden's death. The atmosphere was a mix of grief and determination as those closest to Hayden shared emotional testimonies about his life and the impact of his loss. “You can’t get a life back, and we just want some accountability,” said Hayden’s friend.

The incident took place last week, when officers accused Hayden of committing gang-related activities. The JCAC, family, and friends argue that at the time of the shooting, Hayden was attempting to run away and did not pose an immediate danger to the officers or the public. Community members expressed that shooting an unarmed man in the back as he runs away is not justified, highlighting the historical use of murderous tactics by JSO.

“They keep saying ‘gang member,’” Hayden’s brother said about JSO. “As soon as they see two, three people, they label it as gang members. We’re just a bunch of kids.”

The JSO has stated that officer Griffitts has been placed on paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.

Organizers from the JCAC emphasized that the rally was not just about Hayden's death but part of a broader movement to address systemic issues within law enforcement.

At the rally, the JCAC presented a four-point list of demands aimed at addressing what they view as persistent issues with the JSO and broader systemic problems in law enforcement. The demands focus on immediate action and long-term reforms to improve public safety and accountability.

The JCAC is calling for the immediate disbandment of the JSO Gang Unit, which they say disproportionately targets Black and brown communities and contributes to over-policing. Advocates argue that the unit's practices often involve aggressive tactics that escalate situations, leading to unjustified arrests and murder. According to JCAC organizers, dismantling the JSO Gang Unit would be a step toward ending the criminalization of communities of color and redirecting resources toward community-centered approaches to public safety.

One of the central demands is the firing and indictment of Officer Bradley Griffitts, who was identified as the officer involved in the shooting of Dejuane Hayden. The JCAC shed light on Griffitts’ history of complaints and uses of force, murdering two individuals in six years, warranting his immediate dismissal and prosecution. The organization is urging local officials to take decisive action to hold him accountable, citing the need for justice in the wake of Hayden’s death and to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The JCAC is advocating for the creation of a Public Safety Committee, which would serve as an independent oversight body to review police conduct and address community concerns. The goal is to foster greater transparency and community involvement in decisions regarding public safety, providing a platform for civilians to have a say in police policies and practices.

Finally, the JCAC demands stronger measures for police accountability, including the mandatory release of body camera footage in cases of police shootings, a reduction in qualified immunity protections for officers, and stricter disciplinary policies for misconduct. The organization is pushing for reforms that would not only hold individual officers accountable but also address systemic problems within the department.

For Hayden’s family and friends, the path to justice remains long and uncertain, but the community vowed to keep fighting. “My little brother was a good person,” Hayden’s brother said. “Long live Woo,” the crowd chanted.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #JCAC

Jacksonville, FL – On Saturday, August 24, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC) held its annual Black August event, remembering the tradition of what Black August means to the struggle for Black liberation, along with spotlighting various struggles happening in the community. Around 70 community members attended the event, which took place at Cafe Resistance off Soutel Road, one of the centers of the Black community in Jacksonville.

Presenters spoke about what Black liberation means to them, along with hearing a brief political education about the fight for Black self-determination in the deep South. Along with political education, various speakers from different community grassroots organization spoke, including Anthony Brown with the Red Alliance for Justice, who spoke about the need to fight redlining and the need to fight for Black ownership of our communities.

Natassia Woods, the mother of La’Keian Woods, spoke about, the fight for justice for her son, who was brutalized by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office cops last year. She spoke about why groups like the JCAC are important, because if it wasn’t for family and the community fighting, her son would still be in prison facing bogus charges. Due to efforts by JCAC alongside the family, the trumped-charges against La’Keian Woods were dropped.

The event also had performers from poets to dance performers delight the audience with a showcase of their arts. At the end of the event, JCAC honored longtime community activist Wells Todd with Take Em Down Jacksonville, who has been in the struggle for well over 40 years. Wells Todd spoke about, the need to fight for Black liberation and the only way we can get Black liberation is if we abolish imperialism.

The JCAC hosts also spoke about the need to continue to fight for community control of the police through a Public Safety Committee, along with fighting for a People’s Budget that prioritizes city money going to the community, not just for more cops.

The community members who attended event enjoyed food and drinks and heard about upcoming events. For more information on the JCAC, visit jaxtakesaction.org or Jax Takes Action on social media.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #InjusticeSystem #JCAC

Jacksonville, FL – On Monday, July 29, around 75 attendees gathered at Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park in Jacksonville for a vigil honoring the life of Sonya Massey.

Speakers pointed out how tragically common it is for police to kill people in the communities they claim to protect and serve. The need for a Public Safety Committee in Jacksonville was a common sentiment from community members who spoke at the vigil.

“It is unacceptable that Black people have to live in fear of being harassed and killed by police even when they are the ones who called them,” said event co-organizer Kiana Blaylock. Community members chanted, “Say her name – Sonya Massey.”

Organized by the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, speakers from multiple community organizations, including the Transgender Awareness Project, Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, Take Em Down Jax, UNF Students for a Democratic Society and the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity network reflected on the loss of Sonya Massey.

After a moment of silence, event organizers encouraged vigil attendees to get involved for the fight for civilian oversight through a Public Safety Committee in Jacksonville.

#JacksonvilleFL #Jax #JCAC #UNF #UNFSDS #SDS #SonyaMassey