Jacksonville rally demands McNeil arrest probe reopening
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Dozens gathered to demand that prosecutors reopen an investigation into the violent February arrest of McNeil.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Dozens gathered outside the State Attorney’s Office in downtown Jacksonville on Saturday, demanding prosecutors reopen the investigation into the violent February arrest of William McNeil Jr.

McNeil was pulled over by Jacksonville sheriff’s officers during a traffic stop earlier this year. Body camera video shows officers yanking him from his vehicle, pinning him to the ground and arresting him — footage from McNeil’s cell phone showing officers punching him in the face quickly went viral and sparked public outrage.

“He’s the type of kid that any parent white, black, Hispanic or whatever, would be proud to have, and just because he was driving down in not a good neighborhood with dreads in his head, they decided to pull him over,” William McNeil Jr.’s uncle said.

The State Attorney’s Office later determined the officers involved did not violate any criminal laws — a decision activists say must be revisited.

“Weed need to make sure that the officers are fired, indicted and convicted to the highest of the law or nothing. That’s what we want. We want actual justice,” said Samuel Hunter, community organizer.

14 local organizations, including the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, are backing the call for a reopened investigation and full accountability.

JSO says it cannot comment on the case due to pending litigation. But protesters say silence is not an option.

“That is his legal counsel. So we always firstly respect with his legal counsel what he wants, what his family wants, but we will be right alongside every step of the way to support him and come out here and use our bodies, use our voices to put pressure on the people in power to make sure justice is served,” Hunter said.

Organizers say Saturday’s rally was only the beginning — and if the State Attorney doesn’t respond, more protests could follow.

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