Anne Geggis
Ben Frazier, a Jacksonville civil rights activist who made national headlines after being handcuffed at a Governor’s press conference last year, died after a nine-month battle with cancer Saturday night, eliciting mourning from many quarters Sunday.
Frazier, who once addressed the United Nations, was 72.
Mayor-elect Donna Deegan said the city won’t be the same without Frazier and called on people to redouble their effort for the causes he worked for “to give a voice to the voiceless.”
“He advocated for civil rights and equality from City Hall to the United Nations,” Deegan tweeted. “A man of integrity and conviction, Ben brought overwhelming passion to everything he did. We’ve lost a true legend.”
Frazier drew national headlines in January 2022 when he came to the Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Jacksonville news conference and was arrested and handcuffed. He also got “dragged and detained” from a City Council meeting last December for discussing the Confederate monuments that still dot the city for more than the allotted 65 seconds.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried extolled his contributions to the greater good and highlighted his time as Jacksonville’s first Black news anchor and founder of the city’s Northside Coalition, a social justice organization.
“Ben Frazier was a man who cared deeply about correcting injustices in his community,” Fried said in a Sunday statement. “Ben’s voice stood out in a world that often didn’t want to hear it — but his resolve never wavered, even in the face of the cancer that took his life.
“Florida Democrats mourn with Ben’s family and the people of Jacksonville,” Fried continued. “May we all be blessed with his same tireless spirit in the fight for justice.”
He died surrounded by family and friends at Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, he daughter, Kelly Frazier, told the Florida Times-Union.
Memorial information was not yet available on Sunday.
6 comments
Seber Newsome III
June 25, 2023 at 2:40 pm
Ben Frazier’s main concern was removing Confederate Monuments. You never saw him trying to stop the black on black crime. While I could not stand Frazier, I do not celebrate his death. I even called and left him a message that I prayed for him, when I found out about his cancer. But, with all that said, Jacksonville will be better off without him.
CHARLOTTE JONES
June 25, 2023 at 4:11 pm
Mr.Frazier was an evil person who sowed discord in the community. His hatred towards peoples that didn’t agree with him will never be forgotten. No the statues shouldn’t be removed they are a part of history. You can learn from history but you can’t change it.Not every black person agreed with him and his hatred and discord.Our prayers go out to his family I pray he got his soul right with God before he died. It is sad peoples only want to say good things instead of the truth about him.
Wrong, Charlotte
June 26, 2023 at 1:21 am
“No the statues shouldn’t be removed they are a part of history.”
BULL$HIT. They are NOT part of history.
Almost all Confederate Monuments were put up nearly a during the Jim Crow era or during the 1950’s as a form of racial intimidation. They have nothing to do with history.
This is 100% irrefutable fact.
Tear them all down, and move past this ugliness.
Seber Newsome III
June 26, 2023 at 11:43 am
Yes, Charlotte Jones, he did spew hate at the city council meetings, calling white people, traitors and white supremacist, it seems those who bestow praise upon him forget this?? He did not get into HEAVEN, with all that hate in his heart. I hope he got it all out.
Trublue
June 26, 2023 at 2:05 pm
So sorry to hear the news of Ben’s passing. A true American hero, a human rights activist, a voice against oppression, poverty and hate. And yes, white supremacist or white nationalists have taken over the Florida republican party. It’s as bright as the FL sunshine – the reality is our state is run by the white nationalists, the proud boys, moms of liberty, MAGA crazies and insurrectionists– they are all here! Ben stood up to them! Leave your shameful comments to yourself!
Seber Newsome III
June 26, 2023 at 7:29 pm
Trublue, yes, I am a white southern nationalist and proud of it, and I support President Trump Deo Vindice
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