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Please do not rename Confederate Ave. to Ben Frazier Place. Ben Frazier was one of the most divisive influences in Jacksonville. It will take a long time to undo the damage he has done to race relations in our city.
Below, I have documented multiple examples of Frazier's behavior over the years that prove he does not deserve the honor of a street being named after him. He is not an example to hold up to children and youth as to how to engage in public discourse. It would be an insult to those of us who, to the best of our ability, honored and obeyed City Council rules for years. Honoring Frazier for his behavior would only invite more disorderly behavior in future public meetings, which none of us want.
Back in Civil War or War between the States days, Jacksonville was divided between those who supported the Union and those who supported the Confederates. When the Rebels were in control of the city, Union sympathizers took refuge in Fernandina. Four times during the war, the Yankees took control of the city. Rebel citizens, then, retreated to Lake City.
After the war, most returned to Jacksonville. Back home and the war over, most put aside their differences and came together to rebuild their city's pre-war prosperity. We today are beneficiaries of their hard work.
Jacksonville and the country today are divided much as they were before the Civil War. Renaming Confederate Ave. after Frazier would only solidify or deepen the divide between blacks and whites in Jacksonville.
SOLUTIONS:
Since today's Confederate Ave. is split into two segments, why not keep the name Confederate Ave. on the segment in Springfield Park and rename the second segment Yankee Ave.
Another solution would be more aspirational. Everyone talks about unity as a goal to end our divides. So, Unity Ave. would be a good choice for both segments.
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BACKGROUND ON BEN FRAZIER:
Frazier disrespected and disrupted the City Council on numerous occasions. He often went over the 3-minute time limit for public comment.
He also violated other rules of the City Council.
The worst example was December 13, 2022. He would not acknowledge when the President gaveled him to stop speaking because he went over the time limit. Instead, he turned to the audience and started chanting "Take them down," referring to Confederate statues.
A JSO Officer arrested Frazier on charges of trespassing, resisting arrest and failure to obey the rules of decorum. Later, the first two charges were dropped. Frazier pleaded No Contest to the third charge and was fined $50, which he paid. (1)
City Council was not the only target of Frazier's contempt. On January 4, 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had a press conference scheduled in Jacksonville at the Department of Children and Families office building.
Uninvited, Frazier and a number of his supporters entered the room where the press conference was to take place. It was open to "credentialed media" only.
Frazier demanded to speak to the Governor. Because they refused to leave, the press conference was relocated to another State office building next door.
Frazier was arrested by a JSO Officer and charged with first-degree misdemeanor for trespassing. The charges were dropped later. (2)
On September 1, 2021, Frazier held another rally at City Hall against Confederate statues still in the city. The event started outside in front of City Hall.
Soon the protesters, led by Frazier, entered City Hall to demand a meeting with then Mayor Lenny Curry. They swarmed the 4th floor outside the Mayor's office, which was locked. They banged on the door & shouted demands.
Their actions alarmed and frightened city employees who went into lockdown or shelter in pllace mode. A security guard ordered Frazier's group to leave, which they did. However, they returned the following day.
Frazier and his group's actions resulted in new restrictions, beginning on September 3, 2021, for all City Hall visitors. A sign posted in the Atrium read, "City offices on the first floor situated off the central atrium and all floors above the first floor of City Hall are not public forums for engaging in activity that disrupts ongoing work of City Hall employees." Going beyond the Atrium without an appointment or invitation from a city official could result in arrest for trespassing. (3)
On June 10, 2021, Frazier went to a meeting of the Florida Department of Education board held at the Florida State College at Jacksonville's Advanced Technology Center. Before a vote on a ban on teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) in public schools in Florida, the board included time for public comments on their agenda.
Frazier was there to oppose the ban on teaching CRT. When he finished his comments, Frazier led around 20 of his supporters in a chant, "Allow teachers to teach the truth."
The meeting was suspended for about 5 minutes while the room was cleared by security. No arrests were made. When the meeting resumed, the board voted unanimously to ban CRT teaching in Florida's public schools.
SOURCES:
1). "Ben Frazier detained during Jacksonville City Council e, debate over Confederate monuments continue," by Hanna Holthaus, The Florida Times-Union
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2022/12/14/northside-coalition-of-jacksonville-leader-arrested-at-city-council-meeting/69726611007/
Accessed at 7:02 pm EDT, August 14, 2024.
2. "Charges dropped for activist Ben Frazier after 2022 arrest at Jacksonville City Council meeting," First Coast News, published at 4:27 pm EDT, April 3, 2023; updated at 6:41 pm EDT, April 3, 2023. https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/charge-dropped-for-activist-ben-frazier-2022-arrest-city-council-meeting/77-30054798-80cd-4af6-a42a-16cb0303a86f Accessed at 5:47 pm EDT, August 15, 2024.
2). "Jacksonville activist Ben Frazier, arrested ahead of Gov. DeSantis' press conference: Who is he?" by Emily Bloch, Florida Times-Union, published at 4:36 pm ET, January 4, 2022; updated at 7:09 am ET, January 5, 2022.
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2022/01/04/jacksonville-activist-ben-frazier-arrested-ahead-gov-desantis-press-conference-now-hes-trending-onli/9093446002/
Accessed at 9:42 pm EDT, August 16, 2024.
3. "Attorney: Charges dropped against activist arrested at Florida governor's news conference" by ActionNewsJax.com News Staff
Published at 6:26 p.m. ET, January 25, 2022
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/attorney-charges-dropped-against-activist-arrested-florida-governors-news-conference/RVTX2YWKIRBFHF3XX726DWR45M/
Accessed at 10:01 pm EDT, August 16, 2024.
4. "Jacksonville tightens City Hall access after stepped-up protests of Confederate monument" by David Bauerlein, Florida Times Union, published 10:43 pm ET, September 16, 2021.
https://www.jacksonville.com/staff/5556093002/david-bauerlein
Accessed 7:40 pm EDT, August 15, 2024.
5. "New sign in City Hall sparks controversy following protests," First Coast News, published at 11:45 pm EDT, September 15, 2021; updated at
8:56 EDT, September 16, 2021.
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/new-sign-in-city-hall-sparks-controversy-following-protests/77-74117daf-e831-45d6-bbd8-e7f4b99c7787
Accessed: 7:55 pm EDT, August 15, 2024 & 4:12 pm EDT, August 17, 2024
5. "Community and civil Rights activist Ben Frazier dies at 73," by Cherri Pitzer, The Florida Times Union, published at 11:20 am ET, June 25, 2023; updated 8:37 am ET, June 26, 2023. https://www.jacksonville.com/staff/5245197002/cherri-pitzer/
Accessed at 5:15 pm EDT, August 15, 2024.
6. "Florida State Board of Education bans the use of Critical Race Theory in schools" by Jeffrey S. Solochek, Tampa Bay Times, June 10, 2021. Reprinted in Education Week, June 2021.
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/florida-state-board-of-education-bans-the-use-of-critical-race-theory-in-schools/2021/06
Accessed 5:23 pm EDT, August 17, 2024.
