Fight Political Repression, Defend Palestine, Drop the Charges Now!

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On May 27, 2025,  Leah and Conor, two organizers with the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN) and a third community member, Dragon, were brutalized and arrested after the Jacksonville City Council singled out Leah for removal for the simple act of clapping. During Leah’s arrest, Conor began to film. As the footage shows, almost immediately after that Officer Maykel Aliaga reaches over to grab Conor by the neck, and throws him over a row of chairs. Dragon, as a bystander near, walks over to check on Conor, and is arrested as well. 

Half a year later, and the State Attorney’s Office under Melissa Nelson seems to have taken direction from Sheriff TK Waters, who demanded we be taught a “lesson.” The trumped up charges of resisting arrest without violence faced by Leah and Dragon are bad enough, but the state is particularly honing in on Conor, with two felony charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting with violence. 

But one thing is true: the only people who belong on trial are those complicit in genocide and occupation, including the Jacksonville City Council, Sheriff TK Waters, and their foot soldiers like JSO officers M. Aliaga and D. Davis. We refuse to cower or stay silent. 

We call on all affiliates and supporters of the Anti-War Action Network to join us in demanding:

  1. All charges are dropped on Conor, Leah, and Dragon. 
  2. The firing of Officers Maykel Aliaga and D. Davis. 
  3. An end to the repression of the Palestinian movement here in Jacksonville and our broader community. 

ENDORSE THE CAMPAIGN!

If you are in an organization, please have an authorized representative fill out the endorsement form to be promoted as an official endorser of the campaign and to be updated with calls to action and developments in the campaign.


Call & Email The State Attorney!

Whether or not you can participate in local actions, we urge all supporters and endorsing organizations to participate in our Call-in and Email zap campaign.

CALL THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

Numbers to call:

  • State Attorney Melissa Nelson's Office (for all three): (904) 255-2500
  • Kelli Lynn Shobe (Prosecutor assigned to CONOR's case): 904-255-2500
  • Jaclyn Rose Blair (Prosecutor assigned to LEAH's case): 904-255-2764
  • Robin Laniece Jones (Prosecutor assigned to DRAGON's case): 904-255-3086

Script:

Hello, my name is [FIRST & LAST], and I am a resident of [DISTRICT/ZIP CODE], Jacksonville, Florida. On May 27, 2025, three community members, Leah Grady, Conor Cauley, and Dragon Belloit, were arrested and brutalized during a city council meeting simply for speaking up against the genocide of Gaza. Everyone witnessed the viral video in which one member of the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, Conor, was violently grabbed by the neck and flipped over a row of benches. Not only does this assault represent the repression of the people’s voices by a corrupt city council, it is also yet another attack in the onslaught on the movement for Palestine. I am calling to urge that State Attorney Melissa Nelson drop all charges against the three activists. I demand that Sheriff T.K. Waters fire both of the arresting officers, D. Davis and Maykael Aliaga-Ruiz.

Official Endorsers

  • Anti War Action Network
  • National Alliance against Racist and Political Repression
  • Centro Community Service Organization
  • Jacksonville Students for a Democratic Society
  • Detroit Anti-War Committee
  • San Jose Against War
  • DFW Anti-War Committee
  • Minnesota Anti-War Committee
  • Portland for Palestine
  • Families Against Military Madness
  • Women Against Military Madness
  • Seattle Against War
  • Florida Palestine Network
  • Tucson Anti-War Committee
  • Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids
  • Anti-War Committee Chicago
  • Denver Anti-War Action
  • 50501 NEFL
  • Milwaukee Anti-war Committee
  • Malaya Florida
  • Free Palestine Tulsa
  • Students for Revolution and Liberation at Cañada College
  • Green Bay Anti-War Committee
  • Jacksonville DSA
  • Bay Area Dream Defenders

Join JPSN!

If you are local to Jacksonville and are not already in an endorsing organization, you can get involved directly in the campaign to drop the charges by joining JPSN! Apply to be invited to an interest meeting here.