Fight Back News Service and the Committee to Stop FBI Repression are circulating the following call to action from Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network.

On May 27, 2025, three organizers, including two Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network members, were unjustly arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) after being targeted during a city council meeting. Conor Cauley was violently attacked by JSO officers, and is facing up to 10 years in prison for felony charges of resisting arrest with violence and battery of a law enforcement officer. Activists Leah Grady and Dragon Belloit were also arrested.

Videos of the arrest clearly show that the only violence came from JSO officers. These are trumped-up, bogus charges. Sheriff T.K. Waters publicly stated he wants to make an example out of these activists in order to silence people who use their right to protest Jacksonville’s involvement in the genocide of Palestinians.

With one week to go before Conor’s trial, we need to be louder than ever to demand that these charges get dropped. Every single call helps!

Please call and email the office of State Attorney Melissa Nelson and Prosecutor Kelli Lynn Shobe at (904) 255-2500 – press 0 to reach the front desk and ask to leave a message for Nelson or Shobe.

You can email them at SAO4th@coj.net and kshobe@coj.net

Here is a sample script for calls or emails:

Hello, my name is [FIRST NAME, LAST NAME], and I am a resident of [CITY, STATE]. On May 27, 2025, three community members, Conor Cauley, Leah Grady, and Dragon Belloit, were arrested and brutalized during a city council meeting simply for speaking up against the genocide of Gaza. Thousands witnessed the viral video in which one member of the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, Conor, was violently grabbed by the neck and flipped over a row of benches. Yet, the State Attorney’s Office has persisted in launching a campaign of clear political repression by targeting Conor with two felony charges. No jury of our peers would convict someone who JSO threw over a row of chairs and the State Attorney’s Ofice is wasting taxpayer time and money by refusing to drop these charges. I am calling to demand that sheriff T.K. Waters fire both the arresting officers, Maykel Aliaga-Ruiz and Donovan Davis, and that State Attorney Melissa Nelson drop all charges against Conor Cauley, Leah Grady, and Dragon Belloit immediately.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #CSFR #Featured

Jacksonville, FL – On Wednesday, April 8, students at the University of North Florida gathered to protest Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback, a vehement racist and xenophobe, who was allowed to speak on campus.

The protest was organized by Jacksonville Students for a Democratic Society and drew more than 20 students to picket the building where Fishback was giving his speech. Signs read “No racist governor” and “Fishback hates immigrants.”

During his campaign for Florida governor, Fishback has appealed to the emerging far right section of young voters. He has stated that he views all immigrants, documented and undocumented, as invaders. Recently, he also came under fire after a viral video showed him telling a Black man he should be lynched.

Students picketed the building for more than three hours, braving rain, cold weather and intimidation from police.

The demonstration drew much opposition from Fishback’s supporters, but some were swayed by the protest, admitting they didn't actually know Fishback’s stances beforehand.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #StudentMovement #SDS

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 April 4, the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA) hosted a vigil with approximately 30 people in attendance, at Memorial Park. This vigil is in respect to and mourning for the individuals who have been killed at the hands of ICE, especially those who have been killed within the detention camps that are located throughout the U.S.

This comes after news that this year's detention center deathrates are the highest of the last 20 years. Hand in hand with the Legalization For All Network, JIRA highlighted some of the following deaths in particular: Ruben Ray Martinez, a Chicano who was shot by the Department of Homeland Security; Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a Myanmar refugee who suffered abuse and neglect from Border Patrol; Alberto Gutierrez-Reyes, who died of medical neglect while within ICE custody, and Daphy Michel, a Haitian asylum seeker who died of medical complications after being detained by ICE.

“No man should have the power to make the decision of whether you belong based on legal status, let alone a city cop,” said a member of the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance. This was said in direct reference to the way these death rates are exacerbated by the establishment of 287(g) agreements, which are legal programs in the U.S. that allow local law enforcement to act in place of ICE. This is something that JIRA says they're fighting to see removed entirely.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #JIRA #ICE

Jacksonville, FL – Around 6000 people marched at the No Kings rally, joining millions protesting across the country.

Protesters started at Friendship Fountain, took the streets and marched across the Main Street Bridge before stopping at the Duval Courthouse for a rally. They chanted, “We want justice you say how? Hands off Iran now,” “When immigrant rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!” Other chants included ones denouncing Trump along with calling for a free Palestine and Black lives matter.

Organized by a coalition of groups including 50501 NE FL, Indivisible Jax, Beaches Activists Movement, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, 50501 Vets Jax Chapter, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and others, this rally drew a large number of protestors united in opposing the Trump agenda.

Organizers vowed to have more mobilizations like this in the near future.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #NoKings #Trump #PeoplesStruggles #Iran #ImmigrantRights

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 Wednesday March 12, Jacksonville Students for a Democratic Society held a teach-in on the history of SDS and the Black Liberation Movement.

The multi-national crowd of attendees were taught about the lives and contributions of three influential Black Panthers, those being Assata Shakur, Dr. Huey P. Newton and Chairman Fred Hampton, and their contributions to the student movement today.

Attendees spoke about the misrepresentation of Black liberation movements within media and education, as well as the tactics used by the Black Panther Party that are seen in political organizing today.

Discussion of the influence of the Black liberation movement has on local Jacksonville organizing shed light on the of inspiration that each leader provided to political organizing to this day.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #StudentMovement #BlackLiberation

Jacksonville, FL – On Sunday, March 15, in response to the U.S. and Israel aggression on Iran and Lebanon, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN) took to the streets, and a coalition of organizations joined them to protest the unjust war.

This mobilization of about 80 people to downtown Jacksonville came hot off the heels of the rally JPSN organized on February 28, the day of the first strike on Iran.

Shayne Tremblay, a member of JPSN, addressed the crowd, “Against the will of the American people, Donald Trump has started a war. A war that has already displaced millions of Iranians. A war that has killed thousands of people in Iran and Lebanon. A war that has killed hundreds of children.” The crowd yelled back in response, “Shame!”

Banners reading “Hands off Iran” waved in the wind beside signs reading “End aid to Israel,” as well as Palestinian flags. Many people at the rally spoke on the relationship of this war to the genocide in Palestine, and chants of “Free, free, Palestine” echoed throughout the downtown.

Organizations from a variety of movements were in attendance, including The Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, and Take Em’ Down Jax, Students for a Democratic Society, Democratic Socialists of America, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and more.

There was some rain, but the crowd held strong. People walking past the rally stopped to listen to the speakers. A member of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression stated, “The aggression we see from the U.S. in Iran, and from Israel in Palestine, is an extension of the aggression we face here at home.”

There was a contingent of proud union members in the crowd, and a general sentiment of the importance of the working class in opposing these wars.

Wells Todd, a veteran activist with Take Em’ Down Jax, spoke on the need to transform our unions into fighting organizations. A rank-and-file Teamster asked the crowd, “Do we, workers, want this war? Does this war benefit us?” The crowd shouted back: “No!”

A team of marshals stayed on the lookout for any counter-protesters; they also passed out water to the attendees.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #Iran #JPSN

Jacksonville, FL – On Sunday, March 8, the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA) honored International Women’s Day with a community event at Lovelace Park. The slogans for the event were, “Stand with immigrant women!” and “No ICE!”

Different Central and South American nations were represented within the performances, and a Puerto Rican band played live music. Event attendees danced along to the music. Performers came dressed in traditional attire to pay homage to their home countries. The event programming was in both English and Spanish to accommodate the multilingual crowd. Lovelace Park is situated in a large immigrant community, so Spanish was the primary language for many attendees.

Vanessa Alvarez, JIRA organizer stated, “Immigrant women are facing escalated levels of violence and discrimination at the hands of border patrol, ICE, and local police forces,” adding, “reproductive violence in detention centers that is not garnering sufficient outrage. Immigrant women in detention are not receiving healthcare.”

Many organizations cosponsored the event and had tables set up around the perimeter, including Jacksonville Community Action Committee, Planned Parenthood, Florida Rising, Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Maria Garcia, JIRA organizer said, “The women in detention centers should not be forgotten. We need to continue to uplift their names and stories.” Garcia, talked about Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian woman who was detained in March 2025. Kordia is being held at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas.

Garcia stated, “The struggles these women are facing are connected with so many other struggles. So, we all need to work together for a shared liberation.”

The Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance is holding their next General Body Meeting on March 21. They invite community members to join and to follow them on Instagram @jira.jax.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InternationalWomensDay #ImmigrantRights #WomensMovement

Jacksonville, FL – On Wednesday, March 4, Jacksonville Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held an ICE rapid-response training for students at the University of North Florida. In total, 15 students attended.

This comes just weeks after SDS launched an ICE rapid response group due to the rise in ICE sightings near and on campus. Previously, reports either spread as rumors, or simply sat unverified, contributing to rising fears.

During this training, students were informed about how to spot ICE, and what steps to take. This included the SALUTE method of reporting ICE sightings, which helps people to assess the situation and take appropriate action.

Each attendee received a pamphlet that included a condensed version of all the information laid out in this training, along with a section to tear off that holds information about key Constitutional rights and information on what to do if an ICE officer shows up at the door.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #SDS #ImmigrantRights

Jacksonville, FL – On March 3, around 30 community members and organizers rallied in front of the Federal Courthouse that once housed the office of Florida Senator-turned Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.

The action was called by the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN) to stand in solidarity with Cuba and Venezuela, as well as Iran, Lebanon and Palestine as the Trump administration rapidly escalates its wars across the globe.

“Some of you may be asking: ‘Why is a Palestine organization calling an action for Cuba?’” said JPSN organizer Ryan Delaney. “Because when the U.S. kidnaps the president of Venezuela, cuts off critical oil to the country with the longest standing recognition of a Palestinian state in the Western hemisphere, and starts redirecting that oil to Israel instead, it becomes impossible to ignore that the struggle of every nation under the thumb of imperialism is bound together.”

JPSN organizers spoke to the crowd about the developments in Iran and Lebanon, as well as the longstanding solidarity between Palestine, Cuba and Venezuela, and what the oil blockages mean for the Cuban people before tying it back to JPSN’s campaign to end collaboration between Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) and the war profiteers that have been fueling the genocide in Palestine such as Maersk, ZIM, and Mediterranean Shipping Company.

Jacksonville-based Navy ships and helicopters were photographed participating in the U.S.– Israeli attack on Iran, and the USS Iwo Jima that President Nicolás Maduro was transported on during his kidnapping was subsequently docked in Jacksonville’s Mayport. Many of the weapons and munitions used in the genocide in Palestine that are produced by war profiteering factories in the Black Belt South are in turn shipped through Jacksonville.

The crowd left with a clear call to action – JPSN is organizing to end JAXPORT’s deadliest contracts with war profiteers in order to end Jacksonville’s complicity in war and genocide. JPSN called on all people of conscience to join them in order to get involved in the Genocide Out of Jaxport campaign.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #Iran #JPSN

Jacksonville, FL – On Wednesday, March 4, students at the University of North Florida gathered to protest U.S. and Israeli war on Iran, which has killed over 1000 people.

The protest, which was organized by Jacksonville Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), drew over a dozen students and received support from many more passing by. Chants of “No boots on the ground, no bombs in the air, U.S. out of everywhere!” echoed off nearby buildings, making the protest audible across half the campus.

SDS member Kevin Brosan led the protest, “This is the average excuse from the U.S.; that the hearts of our government and politicians are so full of love that they bomb countries overseas, claiming that they care about their people. But we have seen in this very country, in our very streets, that they don’t care about the lives of the people.”

Lorelai Dodge of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) told the crowd, “The people want these wars to end, but neither party will end them as long as political power remains in the hands of the war profiteering class. The only way to change that is with a movement to put political power into the hands of working and oppressed people.”

All speakers emphasized that whatever the official U.S. and Israeli narrative about Iran may be, it is not the job of the United States to interfere in the affairs of other countries. They argued that the brutal bombings of Iran were a violation of the rights and sovereignty of the Iranian people.

The protest attracted some hostility from conservative students. Multiple agitators tried to rush the crowd, and others harassed protesters from the sidelines, but protest security volunteers kept the opposition contained.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #StudentMovement #Iran #SDS

Jacksonville, FL – Over 100 community members in Jacksonville took to the streets on February 7 to demand ICE out of their city. Protesters filled the streets with chants such as, “ICE out of Jax now!” and “No hate! No fear! Immigrants are welcome here!”

This protest comes in the wake of escalations that ICE has enacted on people across the country, as well as news that the Trump administration plans to buy large warehouses to convert into detention facilities like the ones just recently purchased in cities such as San Antonio, Phoenix and Philadelphia.

Speakers condemned the actions ICE has taken against those speaking up for their communities, such as Ya'akub Ira Vijandre, who has been held in ICE detention in Folkston, Georgia since October of 2025 for his pro-Palestine activism.

Speakers echoed words of grief, as they urged the crowd to remember those murdered by ICE, like Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good. They also connected their struggles to the struggles that immigrants currently face in this country, reminding us that we are all fighting the same enemy.

Organized by the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA), this call to action had local activists from organizations throughout Jacksonville speak in solidarity with JIRA. Organizations who spoke at the rally included the Jacksonville Palestinian Solidarity Network, Jacksonville Community Action Committee, 50501 Veterans, Florida Rising, Democratic Socialists of America, Students for a Democratic Society, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

JIRA organizers ended the rally by urging those in attendance to join an organization if they have not already done so. They also planned more calls to action such as their upcoming event on February 15, which is part of a larger call to action by the Legalization for All network. This event is focused on supporting the VISIBLE act put forth by Florida politicians Angie Nixon and Carlos Guillermo Smith. JIRA also has a general body meeting on February 28 for those interested in joining the organization.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #JIRA #L4A

Jacksonville, FL – Over 1000 people marched through downtown and packed the courtyard outside the federal courthouse here on January 27, demanding justice for Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

The emergency action, called by the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA), came after Pretti’s killing on January 24. Speakers connected his death to the killings of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and Renee Good, and to local immigration enforcement through the 287(g) agreement between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO).

Organizers urged the crowd to turn anger into organization, explicitly calling on people to join JIRA to build power and fight to end the 287(g) pact.

“The same force that murdered Alex is terrorizing our city through 287(g) traffic stops and raids. We are fighting the same enemy,” said JIRA organizer Maria García.

As temperatures dropped during the event, protesters were undeterred and a participant suggested a new chant to the crowd: “We’re not cold, we’re not afraid! Alex taught us to be brave!” It was quickly taken up by the entire assembly as they marched through the streets of downtown Jacksonville.

“I do have family that is undocumented. Both my parents were undocumented. So growing up, I lived in constant fear,” said local participant Crystal Aguilar. “Seeing so many people come out today in support of families like mine is amazing.”

The rally ended with a clear call to action: Unite all who we can to beat back ICE, end the deportations, and dismantle Trump's racist, reactionary agenda.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #ICE #KillerICE #JIRA

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– On Tuesday, January 20, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) quietly set up a recruitment table on the University of North Florida campus. Shortly after, a member of Jacksonville Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) reported the table’s presence, and the group quickly organized an emergency protest.

SDS mobilized to the area where CBP was tabling, staging a demonstration with anti-ICE signs and distributing immigrant rights information to passing students.

Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, the university responded with force, dispatching several police officers to defend the table. These intimidation tactics didn’t work, however, as students continued for hours to cheer on the protesters and shame the CBP officers.

The protest ultimately rendered CBP’s recruitment effort ineffective, as it drew a wave of support for the students and discouraged most people from visiting the CBP table. By the time the CBP team left campus, SDS had attracted more new recruits than they had, and they learned the hard way that ICE and their partners in crime are not welcome at UNF.

UNF’s decision to allow CBP to table on campus came in the immediate wake of the murder of Renee Good. At the same time, campus police continue a clandestine cooperation with ICE through the 287(g) agreement. Despite university administration making it clear where they stand, the wave of support for this emergency protest showed UNF students are ready to fight ICE activity on campus.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #SDS #StudentMovement

Nearly a dozen local organizations and chapters of larger activist organizations sponsored the event, speaking in solidarity with JIRA and their demands. Among them include Freedom Road Socialist Organization, National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, DSA, 50501 NEFL and 50501 Veterans, JCAC, JPSN, SDS, and Black Voters Matter.

JIRA and other speakers honored many who have become victims of political repression, such as Ya'akub Ira Vijandre, Mahmoud Khalil, Leqaa Kordia, and Jeanette Vizguerra; or have been murdered by ICE like Keith Porter Jr, Renee Nicole Good, Silveria Villegas Gonzalez, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, and Alex Pretti who was killed that very morning.

In the wake of so many harmed by ICE, whose agents have been sighted in greater frequency in Jacksonville during recent weeks, JIRA punctuated the rally by marching throughout the streets of Jacksonville's city, with chants such as “Whose streets? Our streets!” and “ICE out of Jacksonville now!”

When speaking on the importance of the action, a member of JIRA said, “Countless people for their skin color, their accent, their language, their heritage, their culture, are living in fear; scapegoated by this administration for the crime of who they are.”

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #ICE #JIRA

Jacksonville, FL – On Wednesday, January 7, students at the University of North Florida gathered for a banner-drop demanding the school be declared a sanctuary campus. The demonstration, organized by the Jacksonville chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), was the latest in a long line of protests against the university’s cooperation with ICE.

The UNF Police Department is a member organization of the voluntary 287(g) agreement, which authorizes officers to receive training from ICE to carry out immigration arrests on their own authority. Students have consistently protested this agreement since it was finalized on July 7, 2025, but university administration has so far been unwilling to listen to their student body.

The banner drop, which was held over the university’s busy food court, attracted positive attention and encouraged several students to join SDS in their ongoing struggle.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #StudentMovement #ImmigrantRights #SDS

Jacksonville, FL – On Saturday, January 3 nearly 100 Jacksonville residents rallied to condemn U.S. military strikes on Venezuela, and demand the immediate release of the kidnapped President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. Protesters rallied outside of .U.S Senator Rick Scott’s office, who in October of 2025, alluded to the illegal kidnapping of the President Maduro and his wife, stating, “something is going to happen.”

The emergency rally was called earlier that day by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and was endorsed by numerous organizations, including: the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, the Jacksonville Immigrants’ Rights Alliance, the Jacksonville chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, and many more.

Rally emcees led the crowd in energetic chants, with echoes of “Hands off Venezuela” reverberating across the streets of downtown.

“We must organize to demand the immediate end to U.S. military operations in Venezuela, and we must reject Donald Trump’s lies,” stated Maria Garcia, rally emcee and member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Garcia continued, “This is a battle for Venezuela’s future, and a battle for ours. Does the world belong to the people, or to the U.S. empire?”

To stay updated with upcoming events in Jacksonville hosted by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, follow us on social media at @frsojax.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela