Latest news with #Livingstone
Boston Globe
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Black student dragged from his car and punched by Florida officers says he was scared and confused
McNeil is a biology major who played in the marching band at Livingstone College, a historically Black Christian college in Salisbury, North Carolina, Livingstone President Anthony Davis said. Advertisement The encounter with law enforcement happened in February, but the arrest didn't capture much attention until the video from McNeil's car-mounted camera went viral over the weekend. That's when the sheriff said he became aware of it and opened an internal investigation, which is ongoing. The sheriff said a separate probe by the State Attorney's Office cleared the officers of any criminal wrongdoing — a finding fiercely criticized by McNeil's lawyers. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Video from inside the car captures him being punched Footage of the violent arrest has sparked nationwide outrage, with civil rights lawyers accusing authorities of fabricating their arrest report. The video filmed by McNeil's camera shows him sitting in the driver's seat, asking to speak to the Jacksonville officers' supervisor, when they broke his window, punched him in the face, pulled him from the vehicle, and then punched him again. He was then knocked to the ground by an officer who delivered six closed-fist punches to the hamstring of his right thigh, police reports show. Advertisement Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday defended law enforcement officers and implied the video was posted to advance a 'narrative' and generate attention on social media. 'That's what happens in so many of these things,' DeSantis said. 'There's a rush to judgment. There's a, there's a desire to try to get views and clicks by creating division.' DeSantis says he hasn't seen the video, but backs law enforcement DeSantis said he hasn't reviewed the viral video but has 'every confidence' in Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, who has urged the public not to cast judgement based on the footage alone. 'If people get out of line, he's going to hold them accountable,' DeSantis said. Body camera footage of the encounter shows McNeil had been repeatedly told to exit the vehicle. And, though he earlier had his car door open while talking with an officer, he later closed it and appeared to keep it locked for about three minutes before the officers forcibly removed him, the video shows. The vantage point of the body camera footage that was released makes it difficult to see the punches that were thrown. The cellphone footage from the Feb. 19 arrest shows that seconds before being dragged outside, McNeil had his hands up and did not appear to be resisting as he asked, 'What is your reason?' He had pulled over and had been accused of not having his headlights on, even though it was daytime, his lawyers said. On Wednesday, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump said his client had every right to ask why he was being pulled over and to ask for a supervisor. Advertisement Sheriff: Officers have been cleared of committing any crimes The State Attorney's Office determined that the officers did not violate any criminal laws, the sheriff said. No one from the State Attorney's Office ever interviewed McNeil, said Crump. Daniels called their investigation 'a whitewashing.' 'But for that video, we would not be here,' Daniels said. 'And we thank God Mr. McNeil had the courage to record.' Asked about the criticism of the State Attorney's review, a spokesman for the office said Wednesday that 'a memo to McNeil's file will be finalized in the coming days that will serve as our comment.' Shortly after his arrest, McNeil pleaded guilty to charges of resisting an officer without violence and driving with a suspended license, Waters said. Civil rights attorneys call for accountability 'America, we're better than this, we're at a crossroads,' Crump said. 'We are a Democracy, we believe in the Constitution. We are not a police state where the police can do anything they want to citizens without any accountability.' Crump said his client remained calm while the officers who are trained to deescalate tense situations were the ones escalating violence. He said the case harkened back to the Civil Rights movement, when Black people were often attacked when they tried to assert their rights. 'What he exhibited was a 21st century Rosa Parks moment where an African American had the audacity to say 'I deserve equal justice under the law. I deserve to be treated like a human being with all the respect that a human being is entitled to.'' The sheriff has pushed back on some of the claims by Crump and lawyer Harry Daniels, saying the cellphone camera footage from inside the car 'does not comprehensively capture the circumstances surrounding the incident.' Advertisement 'Part of that stems from the distance and perspective of the recording cell phone camera,' the sheriff said in a statement, adding that the video did not capture events that occurred before officers decided to arrest McNeil. Cameras 'can only capture what can be seen and heard,' the sheriff added. 'So much context and depth are absent from recorded footage because a camera simply cannot capture what is known to the people depicted in it.' Many of the speakers at Wednesday's news conference said they hope the Florida case results in accountability so that what happened to McNeil doesn't happen to others. 'It's incumbent upon everyone to understand that this could have been us, this could have been me, this could have been you,' civil rights lawyer Gerald Griggs said. —- Associated Press writer Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Black student dragged from his car and punched by Florida officers says he was scared and confused
Florida-Police Beating A Black college student shown on video being punched and dragged from his car by Florida law officers during a traffic stop faces a long recovery from injuries that include a concussion and a broken tooth that pierced his lip and led to several stiches, his lawyers said Wednesday. At a news conference in Jacksonville, 22-year-old William McNeil Jr. spoke softly as he made a few brief comments with his family and civil rights attorneys by his side. 'That day I just really wanted to know why I was getting pulled over and why I needed to step out of the car," he said. "I knew I didn't do nothing wrong. I was really just scared.' McNeil is a biology major who played in the marching band at Livingstone College, a historically Black Christian college in Salisbury, North Carolina, Livingstone President Anthony Davis said. The encounter with law enforcement happened in February, but the arrest didn't capture much attention until the video from McNeil's car-mounted camera went viral over the weekend. That's when the sheriff said he became aware of it and opened an internal investigation, which is ongoing. The sheriff said a separate probe by the State Attorney's Office cleared the officers of any criminal wrongdoing — a finding fiercely criticized by McNeil's lawyers. Video from inside the car captures him being punched Footage of the violent arrest has sparked nationwide outrage, with civil rights lawyers accusing authorities of fabricating their arrest report. The video filmed by McNeil's camera shows him sitting in the driver's seat, asking to speak to the Jacksonville officers' supervisor, when they broke his window, punched him in the face, pulled him from the vehicle, punched him again, and threw him to the ground. He was then knocked to the ground by an officer who delivered six closed-fist punches to the hamstring of his right thigh, police reports show. Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday defended law enforcement officers and implied the video was posted to advance a 'narrative' and generate attention on social media. 'That's what happens in so many of these things," DeSantis said. "There's a rush to judgment. There's a, there's a desire to try to get views and clicks by creating division.' DeSantis says he hasn't seen the video, but backs law enforcement DeSantis said he hasn't reviewed the viral video but has 'every confidence' in Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, who has urged the public not to cast judgement based on the footage alone. 'If people get out of line, he's going to hold them accountable,' DeSantis said. Body camera footage of the encounter shows McNeil had been repeatedly told to exit the vehicle. And, though he earlier had his car door open while talking with an officer, he later closed it and appeared to keep it locked for about three minutes before the officers forcibly removed him, the video shows. The vantage point of the body camera footage that was released makes it difficult to see the punches that were thrown. The cellphone footage from the Feb. 19 arrest shows that seconds before being dragged outside, McNeil had his hands up and did not appear to be resisting as he asked, 'What is your reason?' He had pulled over and had been accused of not having his headlights on, even though it was daytime, his lawyers said. On Wednesday, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump said his client had every right to ask why he was being pulled over and to ask for a supervisor. Sheriff: Officers have been cleared of committing any crimes The State Attorney's Office determined that the officers did not violate any criminal laws, the sheriff said. No one from the State Attorney's Office ever interviewed McNeil, said Crump. Daniels called their investigation 'a whitewashing.' 'But for that video, we would not be here,' Daniels said. 'And we thank God Mr. McNeil had the courage to record.' Asked about the criticism of the State Attorney's review, a spokesman for the office said Wednesday that 'a memo to McNeil's file will be finalized in the coming days that will serve as our comment.' Shortly after his arrest, McNeil pleaded guilty to charges of resisting an officer without violence and driving with a suspended license, Waters said. Civil rights attorneys call for accountability 'America, we're better than this, we're at a crossroads," Crump said. "We are a Democracy, we believe in the Constitution. We are not a police state where the police can do anything they want to citizens without any accountability.' Crump said his client remained calm while the officers who are trained to deescalate tense situations were the ones escalating violence. He said the case harkened back to the Civil Rights movement, when Black people were often attacked when they tried to assert their rights. 'What he exhibited was a 21st century Rosa Parks moment where an African American had the audacity to say 'I deserve equal justice under the law. I deserve to be treated like a human being with all the respect that a human being is entitled to.'' The sheriff has pushed back on some of the claims by Crump and lawyer Harry Daniels, saying the cellphone camera footage from inside the car 'does not comprehensively capture the circumstances surrounding the incident.' 'Part of that stems from the distance and perspective of the recording cell phone camera,' the sheriff said in a statement, adding that the video did not capture events that occurred before officers decided to arrest McNeil. Cameras 'can only capture what can be seen and heard,' the sheriff added. 'So much context and depth are absent from recorded footage because a camera simply cannot capture what is known to the people depicted in it.' Many of the speakers at Wednesday's news conference said they hope the Florida case results in accountability so that what happened to McNeil doesn't happen to others. 'It's incumbent upon everyone to understand that this could have been us, this could have been me, this could have been you,' civil rights lawyer Gerald Griggs said. —- Associated Press writer Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed. Solve the daily Crossword
New Indian Express
23-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
'I was just scared': Black student punched, dragged by Florida deputies draws civil rights outcry
FLORIDA: A Black college student shown on video being punched and dragged from his car by Florida law officers during a traffic stop faces a long recovery from injuries that include a concussion and a lip punctured by one of his teeth, his lawyers said Wednesday. At a news conference in Jacksonville, 22-year-old William McNeil Jr. spoke softly as he made a few brief comments with his family and civil rights attorneys by his side. 'That day I just really wanted to know why I was getting pulled over and why I needed to step out of the car," he said. "I knew I didn't do nothing wrong. I was really just scared.' McNeil is a biology major who played in the marching band at Livingstone College, a historically Black Christian college in Salisbury, North Carolina, Livingstone President Anthony Davis said. An arrest video captures the motorist being punched Footage of the violent arrest has sparked nationwide outrage, with civil rights lawyers accusing authorities of fabricating their arrest report. The video shows McNeil was sitting in the driver's seat, asking to speak to the Jacksonville officers' supervisor, when they broke his window, punched him in the face, pulled him from the vehicle, punched him again, and threw him to the ground. He was then knocked to the ground by an officer who delivered six closed-fist punches to the hamstring of his right thigh, police reports show. Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday defended law enforcement officers and implied the video was posted to advance a 'narrative' and generate attention on social media. 'That's what happens in so many of these things," DeSantis said. "There's a rush to judgment. There's a, there's a desire to try to get views and clicks by creating division.'
Edinburgh Reporter
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Low squad turnover allows Hibs Women to pick up where they left off
Hibs Women forward Rosie Livingstone believes that low squad turnover has allowed the Hibees to 'pick up where we left off' from last season. The Champions returned to action on Sunday afternoon at Meadowbank Stadium, with the girls securing a 7-0 win over Boroughmuir Thistle in their first pre-season fixture. Afterwards Livingstone told Hibs TV 'it was good' to get back out onto the pitch after netting twice on the day. 'We've just got to use pre-season for what it's for. To get the rust off, get cobwebs off the body, just get the ball rolling again and get back with the girls. 'It's quite nice that we've not had a huge turnover of players this year, so we've managed to pick up where we left off and just build on that, so it's been really good. 'It feels like even in the few weeks that [Tiree Burchill and Hannah Jordan] have been in, they've really gelled well. It's been really good.' Hibs Women are set to face Spartans on Friday 25 July at Meadowbank, before quickly jetting off to Jacksonville, Florida, following an invite to play in an International Challenge Match versus Gainbridge Super League club Sporting JAX. The team will undertake a week-long warm-weather training camp while Stateside, utilising the warmly welcomed trip to prepare effectively for the upcoming campaign that includes European football as well as domestic challenges. 'I'm excited for it,' Livingstone said. 'Florida is a pretty cool place to be going to. 'We're really grateful to have that sort of opportunity to get to go away before Champions League comes, to get used to the heat and the travelling. 'But first, Spartans will be another good game just to, again, get a few more touches on the ball, a few more minutes in the legs and a bit of time to play with everyone.' Like this: Like Related
Miami Herald
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Former Tuba player returns to lead this CIAA Marching Band
Livingstone College alumnus Sir Davis is returning back to his HBCU in Salisbury, NC in a big way. The former Blue Thunder marching band member has been named the Executive Director of Band and Band Operations, bringing with him a renewed vision focused on discipline, innovation, and student success. His path now returns back to the competitive CIAA landscape and the East Coast HBCU Culture. Davis, who graduated from Livingstone in 2011, was once a tuba player in the Blue Thunder. Now, he's stepping into leadership with a clear mission: restore the storm and reestablish the band's reputation for musical excellence. 'When I was a student here, we prided ourselves on excellence. That foundation shaped me. Now it's time to pass it forward and raise the bar,' Davis said. Since earning his degree, Davis has become a respected music educator across the region. Most recently, he served as the band director at Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte. There, he revitalized the school's jazz program and led students to perform at the National Jazz Festival in Philadelphia and New Jersey-a first-time experience for many of them. 'I took a group that didn't think they'd ever get to that level-and they did. That's the kind of transformative experience I want to bring to Livingstone.' Davis joins Livingstone at a key moment. The HBCU band is set to debut brand-new uniforms, funded through generous support from alumni and community donors. With fresh resources and passionate leadership, Davis plans to build a competitive and well-equipped program. He's focused on excellence in every area-from halftime performances to concert ensembles. He also aims to elevate the band's profile by building partnerships with regional high school programs and preparing the Blue Thunder for events like the HBCU Battle of the Bands. 'I want people to say, 'Have you seen Livingstone?' That's the energy we're bringing back.' For Davis, it's about more than just music. 'This program is about relationships, discipline, and high expectations. I want our students to carry themselves with integrity-on and off the field.' Davis's deep ties to Livingstone give him a unique edge. As a student, he was involved in nearly every campus music outlet: jazz band, symphonic band, gospel choir, and local ministry. That experience, he said, makes this role especially meaningful. 'It's full circle. This campus shaped me, and now I get to shape the next generation.' Davis hopes to instill a standard of musical excellence without excuses. 'No matter the resources, you show up, you give your best, and you make no excuses. That's the standard I want Livingstone to represent.' The post Former Tuba player returns to lead this CIAA Marching Band appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
