4
Sep

Probe sought after Seattle police kill deaf Native American totem artist holding carving knife

   Posted by: admin   in Law and Order, Native art, Nuu-Chah-Nulth Dititdaht

Add Comment

We apologize for starting the long holiday weekend on such a sad note. This story out of Seattle is pretty intense, concerning as it does the fatal shooting of a First Nations carver by a city police officer.

Yesterday, Native American and First Nations people gathered in Seattle to demand a full investigation into the shooting of 50-year-old John Williams, saying it was unjustified.

As Lynda Mapes of the Seattle Times reports:

One of John Williams' totem poles (Seattle Weekly photo)

One of John Williams' totem poles (Seattle Weekly photo)

    John T. Williams, 50, a member of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Dititdaht First Nations people on Vancouver Island, was killed by Officer Ian Birk near downtown Monday afternoon. Birk saw Williams with a knife and repeatedly ordered him to drop it just before shooting Williams four times from a distance of nine to 10 feet, according to Seattle police.

    Williams, it turned out, was a First Nations totem carver carrying a 3-inch folding knife, and a chronic inebriate who had told people he was deaf in one ear, and often had trouble understanding what was said to him.

The reaction to the shooting has involved hundreds of people, including Seatle Mayor Mike McGinn, who attended a candlelight vigil for Williams Thursday night in front of the Chief Seattle Club.

A protest is being planned for Sept. 10.

Gwen Florio

Tags: , , , , ,

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 7:41 am and is filed under Law and Order, Native art, Nuu-Chah-Nulth Dititdaht. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

9 comments so far

david nutter
 1 

what i want to know is why is that scum bag cop not in jail for murder he shot him point blank 4 time 3 times in the chest and once in the head were i come from that is murder of course the seatle cops do not care as far as they are concerend it is just another dead indian.i have never inbraced my haritage but i am sick and tired of this to kill a old man who did nothing to nobody this was no mistake like they are trying to say look out for the cover up.we need to stand together and demand that this cop be put in jail for murder.my grandmother was full blooded chock ta and would never have put up with this and neather will i.i demand that this cop be held acountable for this

September 5th, 2010 at 4:33 am
david nutter
 2 

its late i cant even spell tonight anyway i would ask the chief of police why he is trying to cover this murder up

September 5th, 2010 at 4:46 am
Audra L. Antone
 3 

My condolences to John Williams family and friends. I’m sorry for your loss God Bless~Audra Antone & Family Akimel O’Otham- Gila River Indian Community, Arizona

September 5th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Tonja Ray
 4 

The police department should pay for this mans funeral expense completely,the officer that shot this man should go to prison, The police department are always covering up their screw ups and never admitting their wrong and innocent people pay for it.My heart goes out to this man’s family. The police are always so quick to shoot before they question them,they are just a bunch of gun happy idiots whom don’t think before their actions.I am a citizen of this country and I have respect for the right to protect people but there are some cops who needs to go back to police training school. I’d never live in Seattle.Thank God I’d be afraid that one of your officers would shoot me for crossing the street.

September 6th, 2010 at 11:38 am
Beulah Spencer
 5 

What happen to ” To protect and serve” instead it has become “defend myself and answer questions later”. There is no time to consider the situation just react. Respect for a life is not taught anymore. Truely sorry for this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

September 7th, 2010 at 9:40 am
Donald
 6 

I am sorry to hear I will said hope u will find what happen and find why he shot 4 time with a knife that he cannot hear cop said to him. Yes he need go jail for his mistake shot 4 time If he not go jail them free them who murder them. Now be fair put him in jail. If not hope poeple will not war to cop. Hope find soon the truth

September 7th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Adam
 7 

Where can I get more information about the protest??? I’d like to attend!

September 8th, 2010 at 1:18 am
Foot Detox Pads
 8 

Hi, I took some time to read the post and show it to my girlfriend and I’m quite impressed with how useful and interesting it was. I wish more people actually took the time to create worthwhile posts. Thanks

September 10th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Donnie Free-man
 9 

to say that this was murder is an under statement. He shot a man in the back. he should be hanged. I can’t wate until every opens their eye to see that this isn’t just one cop shooting a citizen in the back. It is yet another War crime in a long line of them. Abuse Is Not Protection . <——- my Motto and the name of just one group trying to fight back and take a stand as the wave of Killer cops on a rampage in our once grate country. if the courts wish not to have a trial then we the People should

January 3rd, 2011 at 6:47 am

Leave a reply

Name (*)
Mail (will not be published) (*)
URI
Comment

 
Back to top