William McNeil Jr., the 22-year-old college student violently pulled from his car during a February traffic stop in Jacksonville, is speaking publicly for the first time.
“I was scared. I didn’t do anything wrong,” McNeil said at a press conference, recalling the moment deputies broke his window, punched him, and dragged him from the car after he asked to speak with a supervisor.
The incident went viral and sparked outrage nationwide. McNeil suffered a concussion, a broken tooth, and memory loss. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is now representing him, calling for the officer involved to be fired.
Though McNeil pleaded guilty to minor charges, his legal team argues the force used was excessive. An internal investigation is ongoing. McNeil says he’s focused on justice — and making sure this doesn’t happen to someone else
What happened to William McNeil Jr. should never happen during a traffic stop. He was punched, dragged, and dehumanized — not for committing a violent crime, but for asking questions. America, this treatment is far from acceptable! pic.twitter.com/kFzMq3e7b1
