By Kiaria Nixon | The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida commemorated its 70th anniversary, “A Call to Courage,” with a celebratory gathering at the historic Riverside home of Dr. Wayne and Mrs. Lana Wood. During the event, the ACLU presented awards to four local advocates. The Defender of Democracy Award was given to the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, Inc., founded by the late veteran journalist and community activist Ben Frazier. Their organization has championed justice through its mission to educate, agitate, and organize to address systemic issues affecting Jacksonville’s Northside communities. Under Frazier’s leadership, the Northside Coalition led the effort for fair representation of Black voters. Serving as plaintiffs alongside the ACLU of Florida and the Jacksonville branch of the NAACP in the landmark lawsuit that successfully challenged the City of Jacksonville’s racially gerrymandered redistricting maps. Following her father’s passing, Kelly Frazier now leads the Northside Coalition as President, continuing his legacy of advocacy and empowerment. “On behalf of my father and myself, I thank ACLU for recognizing my father and the Northside Coalition. My father believed in showing up and speaking out against what our elected officials are not doing, which is defending our democracy. Thank you for being an ally and recognizing the work that needs to be done to continue the fight.”
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