INSIDER
Bodycam footage shows protesters arrested in May after attempting to disperse
Read full article: Bodycam footage shows protesters arrested in May after attempting to disperseThe Sheriffโs Office released 12 clips showing the arrests of protesters who came out on May 31. An officer over loudspeaker instructing protesters to disperse from the public courthouse lawn can be faintly heard. Video shows officers surrounding the protesters and waiting several minutes as an officer yelling over loudspeaker instructs protesters gathered on the lawn to leave. In one conversation with the pastor who was arrested, an officer offers his take on why protesters were being arrested. Further questions or comments related would need to come from the General Counselโs Office,โ said Officer Christian Hancock, with the Sheriffโs Office.
4 protesters to receive $10K each in settlement with Jacksonville sheriff
Read full article: 4 protesters to receive $10K each in settlement with Jacksonville sheriffJACKSONVILLE, Fla. Delaine Smith, a pastor who was arrested in May during a peaceful Jacksonville protest following the death of George Floyd, is one of four protesters who reached a settlement agreement on Friday with Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams and four police officers. MORE: Jacksonville pastor, others arrested at protest sue sheriff, officersThe Jacksonville Sheriff Office will now have to pay $100,000 to settle the lawsuit, which includes $60,000 for attorneys fees and $10,000 for each protester. As part of the settlement, JSO also agreed to make three changes to how it handles protesters. Among the agreements:Sheriffs Office agrees officers can not order protesters to disperse unless theres a threat to public safety. As part of the settlement, the Sheriffs Office didnt admit to breaking the law or say they did anything wrong.
Jacksonville pastor, others arrested at protest sue sheriff, officers
Read full article: Jacksonville pastor, others arrested at protest sue sheriff, officersJACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ A Jacksonville pastor who was arrested last month while trying to mediate between police and demonstrators has filed a federal lawsuit โ along with several arrested protesters โ against Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams and four police officers. The 23-page lawsuit filed Friday in federal court details what was happening during the peaceful protest May 31 in front of the Duval County Courthouse and how the protesters were treated by officers. READ: Full lawsuit embedded at bottom of this articleSmith was streaming on Facebook Live that day as Jacksonville Sheriffโs officers arrested her and other protesters whom police said resisted orders to clear the area surrounding the courthouse. They were told to leave the courthouse area, and the lawsuit alleges that is what they were doing when they were โindiscriminatelyโ arrested. โIn other words, even from the arresting officersโ accounts, the protesters were dispersed at the time of their arrests,โ the lawsuit says.
Prosecutors drop charge against Jacksonville pastor
Read full article: Prosecutors drop charge against Jacksonville pastorJACKSONVILLE, Fla. A Jacksonville pastor who was arrested last month while trying to mediate between demonstrators and police during a peaceful protest at the Duval County Courthouse will not face criminal charges. Smith was streaming on Facebook Live the afternoon of May 31 as Jacksonville Sheriffs officers arrested her and other protesters police said resisted orders to clear the area surrounding the courthouse. You did good.As police in riot gear approach the remaining crowd, Smith can be heard telling lingering protesters to go home and volunteering to clean up any litter left behind. As her Facebook Live video showed, she said, she was keeping the peace. My main purpose was to be able to maintain peace, Smith said.
Pastor arrested during protest: My purpose was to be able to maintain peace
Read full article: Pastor arrested during protest: My purpose was to be able to maintain peaceJACKSONVILLE, Fla. A pastor spoke out Wednesday in front of the Duval County Courthouse about her arrest Sunday during a protest in downtown Jacksonville. Smith recorded herself on Facebook Live for more than an hour during Sundays protest and captured her eventual arrest at the hands of the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office. Those of you who did see the video, I want you to be able to understand my main purpose was to be able to maintain peace, Smith said in another Facebook Live recorded Wednesday afternoon outside the courthouse. He said JSO did not want a repeat of Saturday night, when a protest turned violent, so it started telling the protesters to disperse. When Smith spoke Wednesday after her release from jail, she sent a message to those who arent from Duval County.
Video shows pastor arrested during peaceful Jacksonville protest
Read full article: Video shows pastor arrested during peaceful Jacksonville protestJACKSONVILLE, Fla. Pastors are calling for justice after one of their own was arrested Sunday during a peaceful protest in downtown Jacksonville. Smith recorded herself on Facebook Live for more than an hour during Sundays protest and captured her eventual arrest at the hands of the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office. The events leading up to Smiths arrest can be seen in the last five minutes of the video.) We will not destroy this city, Smith said in the video, which has now been viewed more than 20,000 times. I need you to go and come back another day.She then can be seen asking an officer why the peaceful protest is considered an unlawful assembly.