President of Northside Coalition removed ahead of Gov. DeSantis’ news conference in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Ben Frazier, president and founder of the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, was taken away in handcuffs by police and cited for trespassing on Tuesday morning ahead of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ news conference at the Department of Health in Duval County.

The governor of Florida was scheduled to speak at 10:15 a.m., but before the governor ever made an appearance, there was a commotion in the room he was originally supposed to speak at, so the news conference was abruptly moved to another location.

PHOTOS: Jacksonville community activist handcuffed ahead of Florida governor’s news conference

That decision was made after community members showed up demanding to see DeSantis and ask him questions directly. It escalated and Frazier was taken into custody.

The governor’s office asked members of the media to RSVP beforehand, as part of its standard protocol to attend news conferences with the governor.

After a request from the governor’s office for Frazier and other community members to leave the room, Frazier and others insisted in staying, saying they wanted to hold the governor accountable for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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DeSantis eventually held the news conference later that morning at a nearby room and was joined by Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Agency For Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller and Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie.

Christina Pushaw, the Florida governor’s press secretary, sent Action News Jax the following statement about the incident:

“Every citizen has the right to protest in public places but not to disrupt press events that are being held in secured facilities. Press conferences are for the media to cover information from the Governor’s office and state leaders that is important for the public to be aware of, and those who disrupt press conferences prevent information from getting to the public.”

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State Sen. Audrey Gibson, who represents Jacksonville, released the following statement:

“After dragging his feet as Florida COVID cases continue to rise, suddenly the Governor decides to make a political stop in Jacksonville to criticize the Biden Administration rather than talk about steps that he is going to make, to ensure testing sites and encourage individuals to get vaccinated. Monoclonal antibodies are not the only method for ensuring public safety against the spreading of the virus.

“To add insult to injury, rather than include the public who are affected by the virus the Governor decides to have a closed press conference with the media only to avoid facing the people he swore to protect. The arrest of a citizen on public property at the Department of Health office is even worse, and demonstrates the lack of willingness to face one concerned individual. This usual impromptu press conference demonstrates a total disregard to public access and filters information.

“We deserve information straight from the Governor that’s not filtered through the media. The arrest today to one of Jacksonville’s own, was nothing short of a travesty.”

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State Rep. Tracie Davis, who also represents Jacksonville, released the following statement:

“Today in a public building, paid for by taxpayers, the Governor came in for the cameras but closed the doors on the people. As an elected official, you have a duty to listen to all the people you represent, not just those who agree with you. Governor DeSantis has repeatedly silenced those who criticize him to hide the fact that he has failed to prioritize the health of millions of Floridians. COVID cases are skyrocketing and lines for testing are hours long, yet the Governor refuses to re-open state testing sites. The people deserve answers, not arrest.

“Jacksonville is my home. Our community and our state deserves a leader who respects our rights and our voices.”

Duval Democratic Party released this statement Tuesday night:

“The arrest of Ben Frazier today was unacceptable and unconstitutional. Mr. Frazier, a well-known civil rights leader, and journalist, was peacefully protesting and exercising his First Amendment rights in a public building when he was removed in handcuffs without warning. Mr. Frazier, who is disabled, posed no harm or threat. His mistreatment is shameful.”

“Governor DeSantis’s actions toward Mr. Frazier is a reflection of his administration’s attack on the freedom of speech. It’s clear DeSantis is more interested in creating barriers to Florida residents exercising their constitutional rights than increasing state-run COVID testing sites. When it comes to the public welfare, this Governor does not care.”

“With the recent COVID positive test of Mayor Lenny Curry and the Omicron variant continuing to increase, a statewide plan to defeat COVID is necessary. Come November, Democrats will ensure DeSantis’s regime comes to an end at the ballot box.”

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Community activist arrested ahead of DeSantis' news conference in Jacksonville

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