A staple of the Ferguson rebellion, Josh Williams was sentenced to 8 years in prison for attempting to a light fire near a Quick Trip gas station, during a protest against the killing of Black 18-year old Antonio Martin by police in Berkeley, Missouri on Christmas Eve 2014. Josh, who was 19 at the time of the incident, was charged with first-degree arson, and second-degree burglary for allegedly stealing under $500. His sentence is clearly disproprotionate to the conviction especially considering he was a teenager with no prior record at the time of the incident. He was eligible for early release (in 2022) after serving six and a half years of his sentence, however, is still being held.
Media:
A radio program on him: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/god-let-me-live-see-another-day-ferguson-protester-hopes-clemency
A statement from Josh Williams on the George Floyd uprising: https://www.hamptonthink.org/read/a-statement-from-ferguson-political-prisoner-josh-williams
Donations:
To put money on his books over the phone with a credit card the phone number is:
1-866-345-1885
To put money on his phone account the number is:
1-888-506-8407