In D.C. Protest, Federal Agents Demand Freedom For ATF Agent Charged with Murder

Federal law enforcement agents staged a protest in Washington Wednesday afternoon against what a leader called the "animal farm" system of justice in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where an ATF agent will stand trial for murder later this month in a controversial case.

"Will Clark is a hero, not a criminal," said Jon Adler, head of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, a group that represents 25,000 officers from 55 agencies, including the ATF. "He deserves a medal, not a jail cell."

Special agent William Clark is charged with second degree murder for shooting his neighbor Marcus Sukow at their St. Thomas condo complex in 2008. Sukow's girlfriend had sought help from Clark during a domestic dispute, and Sukow was angry, inebriated and wielding a metal flashlight when Clark shot him.

The case has pitted local cops against federal agents, and caused furious U.S. law enforcement authorities to withhold help from local police while crime and gun violence in the popular tourist destination continue to climb. In 2009, the murder rate in the U.S. territory was eight times that of the mainland.

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At the protest, held at 4:30 p.m. outside the U.S. Virgin Islands Governor's office in Washington, Adler asked for a boycott of the islands "until they learn to respect the rule of law and stop undermining our Constitution."

"Beyond the obvious message of justice for Will Clark," said Adler, "I have this one question: Why are we spending millions of American tax payer dollars to fund their corrupt animal farm justice system?"

Virgin Islands prosecutor Renee Gumbs Carty confirmed to ABC News that jury selection in Clark's trial is scheduled to begin a week from Monday, but declined further comment.

On September 7, 2008, Clark was leaving his condo when he saw his neighbor Marguerite Duncan trying to back her car up. Her boyfriend, Marcus Sukow, was blocking her car and yelling at her. Witnesses said Sukow and Duncan had been drinking at brunch before returning to the apartment complex.