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
Aridog
Po…not taking the bait here. I said “I could not tell.” Otherwise, this topic wearies me.
I don’t do bait, Ari. I ask questions when I do not understand what someone says, it stops me from going off on someone without knowing their intent.
Do you agree with me about Trooper or not?
You cannot make an accusation, then claim that the answer to it is uncalled for!
Should I have just agreed with you even though I disagreed?
“Po … that said I usually read your posts with interest. On this thread I lost that interest. It is a temporary condition.”
I blame the pitchers, how can I hit a home run when they keep throwing low balls 🙂 or to quote Rumsfeld, I go to war with the army I’ve got…
Although I do think that Olly, Pogo, DBQ and I had a good run!
po – there is nothing wrong with hitting home runs with lows balls. Blame the batter not the pitcher.
I said it before and I will repeat it. In a hundred years historians will discuss two places as turning points in the race relations quandary in America. Selma and Ferguson. The first story is the beginning of white intolerance for white bigots. Ferguson will be the beginning of white folks and black folks intolerance for users like Al Sharpton and black bigotry.
After a spell here folks some things will come together better. The arsonist is going to get his day in court and if there are protestors then the rest of the nation will watch and when its all over the arsonist Joshua Williams will be in prison preaching there and the Al Sharptons of the world will slide downhill into oblivion.
Maybe Cornell West will agree to do a year in prison for the Williams guy to make his stretch a bit easier. Al Sharpton can volunteer a year. MSNBC can go off the air.
And yet again another player in the Ferguson Morality Play confirms the stereotype. I’ll keep repeating: Far from being a seminal moment in the advancement (and reparation) of race relations in the US, “Ferguson” has served to deepen and widen negative stereotypes and prejudices. Even through the filtered and retouched reporting of the biased media, a tragedy for a few has turned into a disaster for a cause.
Steve H – having read my fair share of Morality Plays over the years, the one thing they all have in common is a ‘moral.’ What is the moral in this Morality Play?
Steve H. said
What are you talking about.
And yet again another player in the Ferguson Morality Play confirms the stereotype. I’ll keep repeating: Far from being a seminal moment in the advancement (and reparation) of race relations in the US, “Ferguson” has served to deepen and widen negative stereotypes and prejudices. Even through the filtered and retouched reporting of the biased media, a tragedy for a few has turned into a disaster for a cause.
I lived there and had friends for 55 years. This event happened on the edge of Ferguson by Jennings by a Normandy Student and the Fire was in Berkley. Ferguson is a lovely place and the Black people moving there take great pride in their homes. The other areas are Drug infested. Unless you lived there and were part of the culture and are just speaking through what you read in the Media, you have no room to talk. The Media is destroying race relations. People that go around setting fires in convenience stores on “reality” cameras in convenience stores for “peaceful” demonstrations are hypocrites. That is not shining the light on the roach. That is being the roach. You cannot destroy, pillage and rob in society and say it’s peaceful and receive no reparations. You are the one that is not only biased but blatantly untruthful. Why not try the truth for a change and let these people own up to the fact that Michael Brown was indeed a thug and all these robberies and riots in his name were not peaceful but hate driven by the Al Sharptone, Obama and Holder who already knew the outcome of the Grand Jury that there was no “hands up don’t shoot” that it was “let me chase the cop down and grab his gun” and every one in the Grand Jury saw the same thing. And the Autopsy reports all showed the same thing. So quit whining about it and lets move on in an adult and positive direction and take some responsibility for this negative and childish behavior.
happypappies: In a prior life as a human, and once as a dog, here are some of my Ferguson experiences which do give me some guidance in my criticisms of the media. Lee-Hamilton grade school, Ferguson Jr. High, McCluer High. Wabash Park, Ferguson Swim Team, Wabash Lake with some swimming there too, Savoy Theatre, bowling alley next door, Ferguson Dept. Store, Quillans Drug Store, Ferguson Hardware, Ferguson Bakery owned by Sondereiggers, Scotts Market on Church Street, later moved out by Calverton Rd almost on N. Florissant, drag racing on West Florissant, forays into London House East and Blue Note in East Saint Louis, Jennings Steak & Shake, Riverview Circle Steak & Shake, Northhills Dairy, home on Elizabeth Avenue, walk to Jeske Park, Ferguson Lounge.
Ah, Ferguson Lounge.
I am wondering were this Joshua Williams arsonist guy went to high school, what streets he live on, who his parents are, were they on welfare, what was his arrest record. The Post Dispatch is lame. They can not even give us the answer to The Saint Louis Question, i.e. Where’d Ya Go To High School? There is a book out by that name. Was this punk a classmate of Michael Brown at Normandy High? Did he go to Ladue High?
The media had glorified the arsonist and is now silent. I suppose they are covering the airplane crash case out in the Indonesia area. The media has defamed Ferguson. They defamed Berkeley. Not talked CA here. The woman who put out the fire with milk jugs, in a store on West Florissant when they announced the No True Bill (no Indictment) against Darren Wilson– she needs to be a CNN Hero. The President should give her a Medal of Freedom. Nothing on her in the media. They could find her. No. For the media, Joshua Williams, the protestor, remains the hero. Despite the video showing him burning a store down in Berkeley, MO.
Po … that said I usually read your posts with interest. On this thread I lost that interest. It is a temporary condition.
Po…not taking the bait here. I said “I could not tell.” Otherwise, this topic wearies me.
Aridog
Po…sometimes you just cross the line. Yanowhadahmeeen? Vis a vis “Trooper” is what I am referring to…is the ad hoc ad hominem, necessary? Do you even know the guy?
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Ari, have you been following the thread? Based on your issue with my “ad-hominem attacks” of Trooper, I doubt you have.
Here is a bit from the timeline of Trooper’s comments, each referring to me unprompted.
trooperyork@live.com
Christians need not take any advice from a vile Anti-Semite.
trooperyork@live.com
If he stabs you because you a Jew it is just because he is following the dictates of his faith.
I assume after your reading of the above, you’ll direct your question to me at him and wonder why his ad hominem attacks.
“I’m more familiar with what your assume is your constituency than you may be…I just cannot tell. Not that it matters. Your posts are confusing to say the least.”
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What is my constituency, Ari? Blacks, the poor, liberals, Muslims…? You tell me.
My constituency? Anyone who is being subjected to unfair conditions, anyone blamed unfairly (to my view).
I am assuming by my constituency you mean either blacks or Muslims…but in either case, to claim to know them better than I do sounds pretty odd! Were we talking about the blacks and muslims near Detroit, I may give it to you, but that’s not whom we are talking about. What constituency are you referring to?
What confuses you about my posts?
The guy seemed genuine! Most persons that had become familiar with his protesting probably thought as I did! Perhaps ” A scorpion is a scorpion” is appropriate!
The “RAAAACST” card has been played!! Perfect, just absolutely, perfect.
More knee-jerk, dog-whistle click-bait for the deranged and confirmed racists.
I have to disagree that the comments made during the lawful protest rally by this accused arsonist should be a mitigating circumstance. The exercise of his free speech rights are just as inherently manifest in each individual person and should not be an item used as either a mitigator or an aggravator for a future crime.
To do so would be akin to a preemptive judgment and would punish either greater or less than another person who did not engage in this free speech activity. And, the administration of justice should be independent of facts not related to the crime alleged. Otherwise we would have an unequal application of justice based upon the past of each individual which vary greatly and should not influence the punishment or guilt levied to the same alleged criminal act.
@BarkinDog I am the only one here that knows what you are referring to regarding the topography of North County. My Grandma lived at Avis and McLaran by the RR Tracks and my Grandpa by W Florissant and Beacon across from the Cemetery. Sooo. I lived at Halls Ferry and Hudson. I rode my Bike past all the places you referred to and my cousins lived in Berkley off Brown Road by Lambert Airport. I swam every Swim Team in the area as a Child including Frostwood which I am sure no longer exists I also noticed the disparity of landmarks so I looked everything up as current and Ferguson is now 61 percent Black and most of the young people are unemployed. But the Houses are all very nice there. The best in North County as far as older ones. Country Club Houses. People have no idea what they are talking about. So the news should get it straight. I know I have mentioned this over and over and over again on here and everyone just ignores me. Well, I came unglued last night and pointed out the problem in N County was a Drug problem and not a Black Problem and I pointed out why I knew this on another post. So, maybe they will listen idk 😉 I also said all of this posturing and arguing doesn’t do anything positive about the problem. Personally I think the empire is going to have to erode a bit before it gets better. Just my opinion. We are certainly living in interesting times with your Sharptone and the Highness that makes Caucasian Captains move their Wedding Location to where he is golfing on holiday with a Malaysian Prime Minister with just a few hours notice and then so graciously apologizes to them because the racial situation is so much better. I am so sorry if that is not politically correct to the Liberals on this site but I am highly offended by the Liberals on this site constantly pointing out that African Americans are not smart enough to have the advantages up front that whites do and then turning around and saying they just need special attention. That is absurd. That is just what they DON’T need is lots of rarefied attention all of their life. They are very smart and talented and there are many of them now that don’t want to be all Co Dependent on the Government and Programs and such. I am not just talking to you BarkinDog because these comments are moderated and I want it read and understood that this is a thoughtful and Christian Comment from someone who had a rough time growing up and knows it’s best for all people to try as hard as they can by discipline and not a lack of it. It does not work. That is what is wrong and our society needs to wake up. Laugh and say whatever smart alek thing anyone wants about time honored tradition, discipline does not hurt people it puts their lives together and gives them continuity.
Po…sometimes you just cross the line. Yanowhadahmeeen? Vis a vis “Trooper” is what I am referring to…is the ad hoc ad hominem, necessary? Do you even know the guy?
I’m more familiar with what your assume is your constituency than you may be…I just cannot tell. Not that it matters. Your posts are confusing to say the least.
Some questions:
Will McCullough recuse himself.?
Will there be a grand jury called on the issue of whether to charge the arsonist? It sounds like he has been charged by Information.
Will the venue be changed?
Has the video of the arsonist been shown on tv in the Saint Louis area?
Where did the arsonist Williams go to high school? (The Saint Louis Question)
Who put up his Bond?
Does he have parents?
Was he living on welfare? Is mommy?
Nick, is Trooper a she? I woulda sworn it was a he based on the obnoxiousness…but yeah, we are doing a great job ignoring her/it.
DBQ
I have the right to my opinion, and my opinion says that bringing forgiveness into the system would be beneficial. It isn’t a matter of jurisprudence, simply one of opinion. Matter of fact, bringing forgiveness into any system is preferable (unless it is Goldman Sachs, in which case a la guilllotine, s’il vous plait.)You disagree, your right.
Not to bring in religion again but I am sure proud of my forgiving, Christian heart! 🙂
I am shocked –shocked that a lefty protester is actually a criminal!
The participants in rioting and looting switch sides, depending on TV interviews. The media makes themselves a part of the story
Is being lame covered under ADA?
Reblogged this on saboteur365.
Spinelli, that’s a terribly rude thing for you to say about DBQ. You should apologize.