Several hundred people gathered at the Duval County Courthouse Saturday to peacefully protest on the national day of action against police and racism.
The protest was organized by Jacksonville Community Action Committee, Take 'Em Down Jax and the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville. It was the third week in a row of protests in downtown Jacksonville. Saturday, the crowd marched from the courthouse to city hall, and back to the courthouse.
“This, folks, is not just a moment. This is a movement," Ben Frazier of the Northside Coalition told the crowd.
Frazier also told the crowd he's inviting activists from around the country to Jacksonville on Aug. 27, the 60th anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday, a violent race riot in the city during the Civil Rights Movement. President Donald Trump's acceptance speech during the Republican National Convention falls on the anniversary in Jacksonville this year.
"Ax Handle Saturday becomes our focal point and rallying cry," Frazier said. "Anybody who wants to stand up for injustice, we're inviting you now to come to Jacksonville, Florida to say hello to the Republican National Convention," he said.
Earlier this week, the charges against protesters arrested at the protest on May 31 were dropped. The crowd Saturday said they want the charges against those arrested on May 30 to be dropped as well.
The crowd also called for the release of body camera footage from the State Attorney's Office and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, indictments of officers involved in officer-involved shootings resulting in killings and moving money from JSO's funds to invest in the community.
Also this week, the State Attorney's Office announced it would handle the release of body camera footage related to officer-involved shootings. It said it can't release video, however, until the end of an investigation.
Organizers called the move a publicity stunt.
"Our message is that the people are still standing strong in the streets and still wanting change, so although this week you've seen a PR blitz in regard to the State Attorney mentioning a change in policy, the families still deserve to see the body cam footage, and we haven't been given a definite date on when that will be released," organizer Michael Sampson of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee said.
The family of Reginald Boston, who was killed by officers in January during an undercover robbery investigation, spoke to the crowd Saturday. They demanded transparency from JSO, and the release of the body camera video in their son's case and all officer-involved cases.
"I want to know what happened and not just to my son," Boston's mom said to the crowd.
The march Saturday calling upon local leaders to take more action, a call for action that most said they don't see ending any time soon.
"Stop children. What's that sound? What is going around? There is something happening," Frazier said. "This is not just a moment. This is a movement. It is a revolution. It is happening right before our very eyes," he said.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was also in attendance, providing security for the event and say if you are not participating, to avoid the downtown area.