An HBCU student and band member is at the center of a growing national conversation after the release of body camera footage from a February traffic stop in Jacksonville, Florida. William McNeil Jr., a biology major at Livingstone College, was reportedly assaulted by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office during a stop on February 19. His case has sparked outrage across the HBCU community and beyond.Prosecutors have declined to file charges against the officers, according to the Washington Post.Livingstone College President Dr. Anthony J. Davis issued a powerful statement in support of McNeil, calling for justice and highlighting the student’s contributions to the HBCU and local community.“Will’s rights were violated but he showed restraint, he showed resolve, and he showed resilience. That is the Blue Bear Way,” Davis said in the letter. “We will stop at nothing to ensure that SAU maintains its accreditation and continues serving our students,” he added, while referencing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
