William McNeil talks about the fear he experienced during the Feb. 19, Florida traffic stop that led to his assault.

The Livingstone College community is speaking out in support of a student whose cell phone video of his traffic stop in Jacksonville, Florida, has drawn national attention and sparked debate about police conduct.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office alleges William McNeil Jr., 22, was reaching for a knife during the traffic stop before officers used force.

As national criticism grows over a viral video showing a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) officer slapping and punching a young Black driver, Jacksonville City Council members, who control the agency’s funding,

William McNeil is speaking out for the first time after the violent traffic stop in Florida that he recorded. The video shows police smashing his window and punching him in the face.

William McNeil Jr., a 22-year-old Black man, was pulled over by Jacksonville officer D. Bowers in February. McNeil used his phone to capture footage of the traffic stop, which went viral this month on social media.

Attorneys for William McNeil Jr., 22, say he’ll be joined by family and community members for a news conference Wednesday morning.

A cellphone video shows a Jacksonville sheriff's officer punching a Black man in the face during a traffic stop in February.