John T. Williams
Today, February 27, 2011, has been declared John T. Williams Day in the City of Seattle.
For those who are unaware, John Williams is the man who was gunned down by SPD “Officer” Ian Birk several months ago at the eastern edge of Downtown.
Today would have been Williams’ 51st birthday, and Deputy Mayor Daryl Smith made “John T. Williams Day” official with a proclamation at the Seattle Club this afternoon.
Interestingly, Seattle Police Chief John Diaz also attended the ceremony stating:
“The reason I’m here is out of respect for the Williams’ family. This is the least we could do for the Williams family, to restore peace,” said Smith.
Source of quote: http://www.king5.com/news/John-T-Williams-Day-117026718.html
Now, I don’t think there is a person in this city more critical of Ian Birk than I am, but I’m not 100% sure if I really understand this proclamation. It seems, perhaps, a little gratuitous and contrived. It seems to be designed to smooth over the bad feelings held by the public over the fact that Birk will not stand trial.
As such, I’m not sure how much I personally support it.
You see, I have no idea whether or not John T. Williams was a great man. There are hundreds of people coming out now to say he was, but I can’t help but wonder where these same people were when the man was homeless. I understand that his alcohol issues may have pushed some of them away, but I don’t care how drugged up and out of their minds my family gets, they will always have a home with me. Always.
Perhaps I’m cynical, but I smell a little bit of opportunism from both sides in this new holiday.
Even if he was the most wonderful person alive (and he very well may have been), the anger over this entire situation was never about the greatness of John T. Williams. That never mattered too terribly much. Neither did his ethnicity or color. I would have been equally outraged had Birk killed a Volvo-driving soccermom from Kirkland, Gary Ridgeway, or Sticky Fingaz from Onyx.
Giving Williams his own day is absolutely a nice gesture, and I’m sure the family is appreciative, but I feel like the City of Seattle may be missing the point.
Kudos to the Mayor for this proclamation (I guess), but please realize that it is in no way a substitute for a fair trial of Ian Birk.
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