Ferguson Peace Activist Joshua Williams Charged With Arson

Ferguson peace activist Joshua Williams, who famously walked hand-in-hand with Cornel West and publicly advocated peaceful protests, was charged with setting fire to a Ferguson convenience store, The Saint Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting.

During protests following the shooting death of Antonio Martin last Wednesday, security cameras, as well as news cameras from various media outlets, caught Williams trying to set fire to a pile of wood outside the QuikTrip convenience store across the street from the Mobil station where Martin was shot. Surveillance video footage appears to show Martin holding a gun in his hand and raising it at the police officer who shot him.

Williams also has reportedly confessed to the arson during police interrogation.

For many in the Ferguson activist community, Williams’ arrest is suspicious. Some protesters, themselves protesting Williams’ arrest, believe the footage that implicates Williams isn’t clear enough to identify him, while others question the notion that he would confess.

Bishop Derrick Robinson of Kingdom Destiny Fellowship International describes Joshua Williams as a “great kid.”

“Josh is one of the young activists, and all of us have taken close to him. We got to know his heart, and he got to know ours. He’s a great kid, an educated kid, a child who knows what he wants and is very active in the community.”

In the chaos following a St. Louis County grand jury’s decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Mike Brown last August, Joshua Williams became a recognizable advocate for peace instead of violence, according to The L.A. Times.

“[Protesters] 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… I learned that we have to stand up and that you can’t get nowhere with violence but you can always move people without it.”

During a press conference with St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson, Williams approached the Dotson and shouted at him multiple times.

“Can someone please get this lying (expletive) ho off the mic!”

Williams is currently held on $30,000 bond. In addition to the arson charge, he’s facing felony burglary charges for breaking into the convenience store, as well as misdemeanor charges for stealing gum, money, and a lighter from the store.

[Image courtesy of: Mashable]