“No one is free until we are all free.” A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
Thousands of neighbors and friends filled the little neighborhood park in the San Marco area of Jax to demand systemic change and to call for justice for George Floyd and all victims of police violence. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-3-2020.
Thousands marched through the San Marco area just south of downtown to call for police accountability and racial justice. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-3-2020.
A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
“Latinos for Black Lives.” A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
“Silence is violence.” A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
“Black lives matter.” A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
“Black lives matter.” A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
March organizers were well prepared and were joined by a large team of peacekeepers, medics, and legal observers. A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
“No justice, no peace.” A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
”Release all JSO body cam footage.” Currently, footage is held by JSO for years before release. A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
We have a lot of work to do in the months and years ahead. This will be one of the key actions that each of us can and must take. A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
This is what democracy and diversity looks like. A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Jail. Jacksonville, Florida, 5-30-2020.
“Stop killing black people. Enough is enough.” A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Courthouse. Jacksonville, Florida, 6-6-2020.
“Stop killing us!” A scene from the protest for social justice and police accountability at the Duval County Jail. Jacksonville, Florida, 5-30-2020.
Thousands of our neighbors and friends have been turning out daily to peacefully call for police accountability and racial justice after the killing of George Floyd. These have been the largest, most diverse civil rights marches in Jax history. In the most recent of the daily protests on June 6, over 8000 came out, with crowds stretching for over a mile in the streets surrounding the Duval County Courthouse.
The Jax community turned out to fill the Avondale UMC at the Jax Lights for Liberty vigil, one of hundreds of events held around the US and the world. Over two hundred neighbors and friends joined in the call for justice and the closure of detention camps like the one in Homestead, Florida—this despite heavy rains in Jax and a resulting last-minute change in venue. Some speakers shared their experiences with asylum seekers hoping for fair and humane treatment, while others bore witness to the abuses taking place in the camps themselves.
This is a busy weekend of protest against Trump’s ongoing family separation and imprisonment policies with no less than four actions taking place. Despite last week’s Executive Order, kids are still separated, families who have not committed a crime are being imprisoned indefinitely, and parents are being a given a choice of being deported immediately (back to whatever dangerous situation they were fleeing) without a hearing on their asylum claims OR potentially losing their children forever.
Indivisible Jax Riverside, Women’s March Jax and a diverse coalition of many other community groups and individuals are joining nationwide protests to demand change. Come out if you can to add your voice against these cruel and illegal actions being done in our name.
March for the Children — Friday, June 29 at 3:30pm – Outside of the ICE Office located at 13077 Veveras Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32258. Follow the link for important details on parking and protest guidelines. www.facebook.com/events/223071225156476
Families Belong Together Protest at ICE Detention — June 30, 10am-12am at the Baker County Detention Center in MacClenny. This event will be attended by Central Florida and Jacksonville Women’s March, as well as other organizations. We are attempting to gather a large crowd to keep the heat turned up on I.C.E. until more is done to reunify children and families. Check out this link for details. www.facebook.com/events/495170534234407/?ti=cl
Families Belong Together Protest — June 30, 3pm-5pm in front of Jacksonville City Hall. Join this protest to bring more awareness locally. Check out this link for details. act.moveon.org/event/families-belong-together/20212
Vigilia por las Familias Unidas (Vigil for United Families) — Saturday, June 30 at 7pm at Drew Park. This vigil is being led by members of the Hispanic community. www.facebook.com/events/1950401148337247/
A day after neo-Nazis and white supremacists marched violently on an American city, people in Jax of all colors, faiths, genders and backgrounds stood together with the people of Charlottesville against the hate. Candles were lit and a moment of silence was observed in remembrance of those who were killed or injured while defending love and equality.