John T. Williams, the man who died after he was shot by a police officer Monday afternoon at Boren and Howell, like many who are homeless and struggle with addiction, spent some of his time hanging out on Capitol Hill, sitting on a bench in front of Glo’s. Information about a Pioneer Square memorial for him Thursday night is below. Here’s more from the Seattle Times from the owners of Glo’s on Williams:
It was the same for Chaney Haney and Julie Reisman, co-owners of Glo (sic), a restaurant on Capitol Hill where Williams sold his work, and liked to sit on the bench outside on the sidewalk, carving.
“I wonder if the officer knew he was hard of hearing; he told me he could not hear out of one ear,” Haney said. “If it was my guess, I would just say he was standing there and the officer was trying to get his attention and John didn’t hear him.”
Reisman said Williams was slow on his feet, and difficult to communicate with.
“He is not a lucid person. You can’t have a coherent conversation with him. You say, ‘How is it going?’ and he will start talking about something that has nothing to do with here and now,” Reisman said. “There was a real disconnect there between what he was receiving and what he was putting out.”
Williams “often was so drunk he just never even realized anyone was talking to him,” Reisman said. He also seemed far too slow and feeble to her to hurt anybody. “Every step that he would take, it was like he was moving a mountain.”
Thanks to neighbor Cathy for the picture and to Casey Wynecoop for the information about the Williams gathering:
Today · 9:00pm – 10:00pm
In front of Chief Seattle Club
410 2nd Avenue Ext S
Seattle, WAJohn T. Williams (Nu-chah-nulth), Seattle artist and community member, was fatally shot Monday by an SPD officer. This gathering is to affirm the value of Mr. William’s life and his place in our community, and to honor his memory. Bring a candle and drum.
All you ignorant fuckers who defend the cops should be ashamed of yourselves. Welcome to Seattle. Where the First Amendment is a crime and you can get shot or beaten for 1) being black and jaywalking, 2) being hard of hearing and whittling, 3) doing nothing at all. You can also get stomped on and called racist names in this area. But thank god for yuppies who bend over backwards to defend this racist, homophobic, proto-fascist institution. The real worlds consists of more than just headlines, folks.
Of course, this, as all other incidents involve police brutality, will be conveniently ignored by liberals, who have blind faith in the “institutions of civil society”.
Dear “Get the Pigs…”:
I am sorry to hear that you and your daddy didn’t get along. I hope that one day you will learn to live with your feelings of inadequacy so you can stop taking your anger out on surrogate authority figures.
What happened to community policing? Was this cop a new person in that precinct beat, or are the cops still stuck in there patrol cars. I do believe that the cops in that precinct beat should know the homeless people since the homeless are outside a lot of the time. Walking the precinct beat is the only way that police can protect us not when they wizz by on wheels. Walk yout beat cops, get to know this city and its people.
Smoke a doobie. Yes, things suck, police make mistakes. Some are bad. But it’s a hell of a lot better than 100 years ago. I think the police have been way too edgy around here too, but rightfully so since they’re being taken out at the same rate. I’m sure this guy that shot John isn’t bragging to his buddies and masturbating about it. I’m sure he feels like crap and rightfully so. Sounds like poor training and/or selection.
Have you ever been on a ride along or in law enforcement? It’s frickin scary.
Great way of getting your point across.
…but it’s murder what you can do with a badge.
Thank god the SPD has the armed robbery, car theft, and burglary problems under control, so they can fight the whittling threat as posed by the late Mr. Williams.
I think I might have used to see this guy at bus stops along Denny Way. I never interacted with him much other than to say that I didn’t have any change. He usually seemed drunk. But he was very mellow, not at all threatening.
I look awful nasty cop dpoing nothing do with John T. William so he make really good art as musems very special man are good maker art mesums I love it so good deaf man very peaceful and make carving sharp as well wow I pray for John T. William bless family and friend .
my email is [email protected]