\u201cWe want Conor to hear us, and to know we are here for him,\u201d said Bonventre.<\/p>\n
![\"student](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/unnamed-3.jpg\")
Maui Fili
\u201cOink, Oink, Piggy Piggy, we the people run this city,\u201d said Felix Bonventre into their microphone.<\/p>\n
On May 27, 2025,<\/a> Conor Cauley, Leah Grady, another activist and local community organizer, and Teagan Belloit were arrested after causing a \u201cdisturbance\u201d during the Jacksonville City Council meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cThe three individuals who were arrested refused to leave and resisted, becoming combative with officers,\u201d JSO said in a statement to First Coast News<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cauley went on trial on May 27, 2026, and was sentenced to 60 days in the Duval County Jail, three years of probation, and 150 hours of community service on charges of battery on an officer and resisting<\/a> arrest. According to Action News Jax, Cauley\u2019s attorney has filed to overturn his two guilty charges, arguing that since Cauley was protesting, the conviction would set a \u201cdamaging precedent for First Amendment rights\u201d<\/a>, according to Action News Jax.\u00a0<\/p>\n Grady was convicted of arresting an officer without violence and sentenced to six months\u2019 probation, according to First Coast News. In a statement to First Coast News<\/a>, Grady called out the City Council and the JSO for their \u201cpolitically motivated\u201d injustice.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe were singled out that day and, as Sheriff T.K Waters has explicitly called for, our cases have been used to set an example for anyone who stands up against injustices, oppression, and genocide,\u201d Grady said to First Coast News<\/a>.<\/p>\n JSO Sheriff T.K. Waters defended the arrests, saying in an interview with Action News Jax that there needs to be consequences. \u201cIf you continue to signal that it\u2019s going to be a slap on the wrist, all it does is make people want to continue to do those things,\u201d Waters told Action News Jax.<\/p>\n On May 26, 2026, before Cauley was sentenced, Bonventre and fellow SDS member and UNF student Avery Holbrooke were attending a Jacksonville City Council meeting<\/a>, with hopes of speaking out for both Cauley and Grady\u2019s sentencing, which were slated for the following day.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to Holbrooke, council members scrolled through their phones and paid little mind to the students who spoke out. Holbrooke said the behavior of the city council members served as an example of how Jacksonville\u2019s local government treats its citizens.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTheir behavior and their words do not convey any sort of respect or care for the people that they\u2019re supposed to be watching over,\u201d Holbrooke said. \u201cIf you\u2019re supposed to be making decisions for a community, that community should be important to you.\u201d<\/p>\n The front of the pre-trial detention area is lively, with the chant sheet being passed around; Gomez\u2019s snare drum and bongos keep the tempo.<\/p>\n A large folding table is set up with food and free cigarettes, available for the taking. The fading sunlight reflects off the plastic catering containers and juice boxes assembled by the students and community members. According to Dodge, Fridays are when people are released from the pretrial facility, so JPSN sets out the table to welcome them. All are welcome, even Joe Camel.<\/p>\n \u201cAs long as you speak what you believe in, there\u2019s going to be people out there that agree with you,\u201d Gomez said. \u201cThere\u2019s going to be at least one person. Speak out\u201d<\/p>\n Protests for Cauley continue every Friday at 7 p.m. at the Jacksonville Pre-Trial Detention Facility.\u00a0<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n For more information or news tips, or if you see an error in this story or have any compliments or concerns, contact [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n