Jacksonville Protests Call for Justice for William McNeil Jr.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Saturday, numerous individuals gathered at Friendship Fountain in downtown Jacksonville, demanding accountability in the case involving William McNeil Jr.

In February, McNeil was stopped by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office during a traffic incident. Body camera footage captures him being removed from his vehicle, restrained on the ground, and arrested. The video gained widespread attention after it showed an officer striking McNeil, provoking outrage both locally and across the nation.

Months later, McNeil’s family and supporters have moved forward with a federal lawsuit against the officers involved, Sheriff T.K. Waters, and the city of Jacksonville.

“Our goal is for William McNeil Junior to win this lawsuit and receive justice. He’s going to carry this trauma for the rest of his life, and it’s simply not right,” said community organizer Samuel Hunter.

Hunter said the protests are part of a broader push for police accountability. 

“The increasing number of people returning to city council meetings or joining the protests consistently, rather than as a one-time occurrence, indicates that people are dissatisfied with the lack of answers and justice they deserve,” stated Hunter.

Sheriff T.K. Waters addressed the case last month, informing First Coast News that the incident is more complex than what is depicted in the brief clips circulated online.

“Because context matters no matter what people think, no matter how many people act like it doesn’t, context matters and I think when you read Mrs. Nelson statement, the context and what happens on a traffic stop is much more dynamic, much more nuance than just when you see us, maybe a five or 10 second clip from from a video, and the importance was to get that out there for people to see that and then will address the other self later on,” Sheriff T.K Waters said.

Organizers say they will keep showing up until there is change.

 “We see our brothers and sisters, our aunties, our moms — one of these situations could be us … it’s that empathy you have for the next person. You want to show up for your community member, so we’ll be out here every day until we get real justice,” Hunter said.

The Jacksonville Community Action Committee says more rallies are planned as the case moves forward in federal court.