Caleb Williams holding a 23-inch machete on Oct. 29 at the Beaches Branch Library, an early voting location in Neptune Beach. (Photo courtesy of Neptune Beach Police Department)
A machete-wielding 18-year-old man confronted supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris near an early voting site in northeast Florida on Tuesday, authorities said, sparking fears of violence ahead of next week’s contentious election.
Neptune Beach police arrested the man, described as a supporter of former President Donald Trump, and charged him with aggravated assault after he allegedly waved the 23-inch machete with an 18-inch blade in the air.
Caleb James Williams was booked into the Duval County jail Tuesday night and charged with assault on a person 65 years or older and improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon.
One victim, who is 71-year-old, alleged that Williams approached her “with the machete raised above his head in an intimidating manner,” the police report says. She said she was “in fear of being injured.”
The second victim, 54, was standing alongside the first victim during the alleged incident and “was also afraid of being injured.”
Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael Key said Williams and some other male teenagers appeared at the early polling site to “protest and antagonize the opposing political side.” Williams was the only adult in the group.
“The group was there for no other reason than ill intentions, to cause a disturbance. This is not an incident of a solely protected First Amendment right but rather one where they were simply there to cause a ruckus,” Key told reporters.
“Voting in our country is one of the most sacred and protected rights we have. Ensuring everyone’s right to vote is crucial and it will not be impeded upon in Neptune Beach or Duval County.”
Key said the police were on site within one minute of the incident being reported.
Real threat
The incident transpired amid growing concern about violence during and following the presidential election.
Defend Democracy Project member Olivia Troye warned this week that election violence poses a real threat to candidates, elected officials, election workers, members of the news media, and judges.
Referencing a bulletin from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security, the former senior adviser on homeland security and counterterrorism for Vice President Mike Pence said, “And they’re also concerned about the visible attacks and violence on polling places or ballot drop boxes.” She was referencing apparent arsons involving drop boxes in Oregon and Washington state.
An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey released this week reflects anxiety about post-election violence among the registered voters surveyed, with 76% saying they are extremely or somewhat concerned about violent attempts to overturn the election results.
The survey shows 82% of those polled said they were at least concerned about “increased political violence directed at political figures or election officials.”
Local reaction
State Sen. Tracie Davis, a Democrat from Jacksonville, encouraged people who witness intimidation or threats at the polls to call local law enforcement and 1-833-868-3352 (1-833-Vote-Fla), a hotline established by the Florida Democrats.
“Your vote is your voice — do not let anyone silence you. Those who came before us bravely fought for our freedom to vote. Let us honor their courage by continuing to make our voices heard during Early Voting and on Election Day. We will not let fear win.”
Meanwhile, local Democrats and Republicans responded quickly to the situation by issuing written statements.
“We are deeply concerned about a violent incident today at the Beaches Library, where a group of young men carrying Trump flags, with one individual armed with a machete, confronted peaceful Harris-Walz sign-wavers exercising their First Amendment rights,” Duval County Democratic Party Chair Daniel Henry said.
“Violence and intimidation have no place in our democratic process. The Duval County Democratic Party stands with those who seek to express their views peacefully and without fear of reprisal. We urge all citizens to continue engaging in civic activities respectfully and lawfully. We remain resolute and focused on our mission to win this election for Vice President Kamala Harris and encourage everyone to vote.”
In a statement released Wednesday, Dean Black, chair of the Republican Party of Duval County, thanked law enforcement but at the same time took aim at Democrats.
“In an environment of high political tension, where President Trump has survived two assassination attempts and Republican supporters are derided as Nazis and called ‘garbage’ by Joe Biden, we urge calm as we approach the end of this election season,” Black said.