During the coverage of the Ferguson protests, activist Joshua Williams, 19, became something of a celebrity as an advocate for peaceful protests. He was profiled by MSNBC and shown walking hand-in-hand with Cornel West. Williams was the counter image of the violent protesters who burned and looted Ferguson. However, this week, Williams was charged for setting fire to a convenience store during those very protests — a crime that police say he confessed to in a videotaped interview. It is sad development for a young man who garnered national attention for his work as a protest leader.
MSNBC featured Williams in a profile entitled “Portrait of a Protester” . In the piece, Williams describes how he also was angry and yelled at police. However, he insisted:
“I think we can be better if we can all come together. We might have to come together and show that we can work together and overthrow the system. But we have to come together as one and show them we can be peaceful, that we can do this. If not they’re going to just want us to act up so they can pull out their toys on us again.”
Police now say that he did more than that. They have introduced surveillance video and news footage showing Williams starting multiple fires inside and outside the Quick Trip convenience store as it was being looted by others.
He was charged with arson in the first degree and with second-degree burglary for entering the convenience store — both are felonies. He was also charged with misdemeanor stealing for taking a lighter, gum and cash from the store. They say that he has confessed to the crimes. However, protesters have demonstrated at the St. Louis County Justice Center over his arrest, insisting that charges be dropped.
With the reported videotape and confession, that is highly unlikely. What will be interesting is whether the court will view his statements advocacy peaceful protests as a positive community service (and thus a mitigating factor) or as an act of hypocrisy (and thus as aggravating factor) in sentencing.
In the profile by MSNBC, Williams speaks of his initial anger but says that he redirected that anger into peaceful and positive protest. He credits the intervention of Rev. Willis Johnson of the Wellspring Church as a turning point for him. Notably, that interview included an admission that could itself be viewed as assault but was not charged:
“I remember one night the police fired tear gas at us and I picked one of them up and threw it back at them. And the more we threw them back they just kept firing them back at us. It’s like it never stopped. I said to myself, we need another plan. This isn’t working.”
The arson however is far more serious. Indeed, with people still in the store when Williams allegedly torched it, there could have been additional charges brought by police.
Source: LA Times
hahaha, Troopie, keep it up. You are revealing more and more of the baseness of your reptile condition. Scorpion indeed!
Entertain me, friend! What else?
This is a delicate situation. If Ferguson Police release videos of Williams setting fires, the same way they released a video of Mike Brown robbing and roughing up a store clerk, then all hell will break lose.
If he stabs you because you a Jew it is just because he is following the dictates of his faith.
As you see, DBQ, there is a premium on forgiveness in “my system”, there is the Christian ideal of forgiveness that Jesus (AS) stressed upon.
DBQ
Olly asks what my faith say, that was my answer.
Read again, what my faith says.
AGAIN, WHAT MY FAITH SAYS.
Relax, I have no intent to import shariah law here.
but, if you ask: under”my system”, if I burned down your house, kill you dog. trash your car, empty your bank account, I would be punished and have to pay you back whatever of yours I ruined. My asking for forgiveness is dependent on whether you, the wronged, forgive me or not. If you do, fine, if you don’t I am still held accountable, you know, like we do here.
If I were to kill you for example, the punishment is death unless your family agrees to spare my life in exchange for making them whole by paying them a monetary settlement.
it says that if the man is guilty, he should be punished, unless he asks for forgiveness and pays for the damage.
No. If he is guilty. He should be punished. Period. He broke the laws. That is our legal justice system and it should be applied equally to all.
If he wants forgiveness, that is between him and God.
Under your system. I could burn down your house, kill your dog, trash your car, empty your bank accounts and then say….”Ooops…..my bad. I’m sorry.” And I get to walk…..woooo hoooo for me.
Accusing people without facts
assuming the worse of people
condemning the poor and downtrodden
judging others
being mean to others
giving no one the benefit of the doubt
unforgiving…
racist…
Trooper et al, I hereby take away your card to claim Jesus (Aleyhu salam). He won’t claim you, so please do not claim him.
What does this say about your Christian heart if a Muslim can outChristian you?
Trooper, you have descended even lower into the pit. You are now fully indistinguishable from the reptiles. Showing your colors brother! Yep, a scorpion is a scorpion.
Olly
This the quote from the original post above” With the reported videotape and confession…”, which leads me to understand that the only ones to have seen the confession and the tape are the cops. Therefore, I think we ought to wait to hear for sure.
What does my faith have to do with it?
But, if I must, it says that if the man is guilty, he should be punished, unless he asks for forgiveness and pays for the damage. However, the state must make its case against him without a doubt. If there is any doubt in his guilt,he should walk.
IT is ALL false narrative and media run kabuki theater. From the falsehood of the “gentle giant” who just robbed a store and has been seen in videos beating up other people….to the “hands up don’t shoot” lie….to all cops are racists…..to you are ALL racists if you don’t buy into the narrative…..to the now proven false peaceful, not so much, Joshua Williams trotted out to show that not all people in the protest are violent….or something.
Media narrative. Lies. Distortions of the truth. Manipulation to get people to think the correct thoughts. Fake news. Fakery all the way down the line.
I don’t need a “Christian Heart” to buy the lies. IN fact a Christian Heart is one that allows us to see and understand the lies promulgated by evil or just deluded people and for evil intent.
I’m NOT saying that there are not truths buried somewhere under this giant pile of pony poo. There are innocent people who are killed. There are racists. There are people who truly are peaceful in their protests. Unfortunately….we are shoveled the poo until we are so jaded, that there could be diamonds under all the horsesh*t…….and we don’t care anymore.
Po,
He has confessed to the ‘alleged’ criminal acts; what does your faith say should be the consequence of this man’s actions?
At least he did not kill a cop as other protesters have done to honor the gentle giant.
He just destroyed someone’s business.
A scorpion is a scorpion.
Christians need not take any advice from a vile Anti-Semite.
The Christian hearts are needed for those on the periphery of anything good, on the sidelines, waiting to be given their daily food to point, jeer, attack, condemn. At least that kid never claimed higher morality or a Christian heart.
Who’s next, those that bore false testimony and incited the riots?
It’s on. Over and out.
Where are the Christian hearts when you need them?
po – what is the need for Christian hearts? before or after the arson?
Reported and alleged…yet the finger pointers pounce with glee…
became something of a celebrity as an advocate for peaceful protests. He was profiled by MSNBC and shown walking hand-in-hand with Cornel West.
It is all false narratives promoted by the big media and kabuki theater.
Everything you ‘think’ you know has been planted in your brain by manipulation and falsehood. Keep eating the pablum……it is goooood for you and makes you feel special.
I am not surprised the are marching to keep him out of jail. Lawlessness breeds lawlessness.
Ah, another of the mighty have fallen. Who will be next? Al Sharpton?