Angela Williams’ life was perpetually altered on Christmas Eve 2017 when she discovered that Troy, Alabama, cops had severely crushed her 17-year-old son, Ulysses Wilkerson.
Legislation enforcement officers stated cops had approached the teenager round midnight the day earlier than as a result of he was strolling close to a closed enterprise. They claimed he fled after which reached for his waistband, prompting the officers to make use of bodily power.
Williams was skeptical of their account, and he or she posted an image of her son’s bloodied, bruised and swollen face on Fb. Regardless of native and nationwide outcry, a Pike County grand jury did not indict 4 cops concerned within the incident.
In December 2019, Williams and her son filed a federal civil lawsuit in opposition to 5 officers who had been allegedly current. Two years later, she lastly reviewed bodycam and dashcam footage of two officers concerned in Wilkerson’s arrest. The footage was made accessible to her and her lawyer in September 2021 throughout mediation within the lawsuit, underneath the situation that it remained sealed. Williams finally walked away from mediation, and a federal court docket denied her lawyer’s discovery movement for the entire video of all of the officers concerned. That footage has not but been launched to the general public or Williams.
Wilkerson’s interplay with regulation enforcement didn’t finish with the beating. Williams needed to navigate a special form of heartbreak in 2019 when police implicated him and one other man within the deadly taking pictures of a 30-year-old named Michael Irwin Jr. The son insisted he wasn’t concerned, however after going through capital homicide expenses and spending over 4 years in jail, he pleaded responsible to a lesser offense.
Wilkerson was launched on probation this previous April, after serving a complete of 5 years in jail.
As we speak, as Williams continues to struggle for the complete video footage of her son’s beating, she runs Moms on a Mission, a bunch she based to assist mothers like her. She additionally seems in “For Our Kids,” a 2022 documentary that started airing on Netflix in Could. Right here, Williams traces her painful path from despair to activism.
It was two days earlier than Christmas when my pal known as me from the hospital the place she labored and stated, “I’m not speculated to inform you this, however your child is right here, and he’s damage.”
I used to be 5 minutes away, at a Christmas social gathering. My sister and I jumped within the automobile. I didn’t know if Ulysses was shot or crushed, and I didn’t know who did it.
After I walked into the hospital room and noticed my son, I fell to my knees. Ulysses’ face was so disfigured, it scared my two oldest grandbabies, who had been 4 and 6 on the time.
My son couldn’t stroll. My pal advised me that law enforcement officials had carried him; his ft dragging down the hallway. We didn’t know on the time which officers beat Ulysses. We additionally didn’t know that one in all his assailants was standing in a hallway exterior the room.
I known as his father and stated, “You should get your thoughts proper and put together your self. You should get right here now.”
Ulysses’ father went berserk when he noticed him. An officer stated if he didn’t settle down, he could be arrested. He yelled, “You already beat my son, and now you’re going to arrest me?”
Inside hours, paramedics transferred Ulysses to [University of Alabama Medical Center in] Birmingham. When it is vitally crucial, that’s the place they ship you. The swelling round his face wasn’t taking place. They wanted to evaluate what was occurring inside his head.
I adopted Ulysses to Birmingham in a automobile with my oldest son. It was a two-hour drive. My household packed up all their Christmas meals and adopted us. One thing in me pushed me to put up the images of his face to Fb. Quickly, my oldest son stated, “Momma, that is going viral!” I stated, “What’s viral?”
I simply needed people in Troy, Alabama, to see what occurred to my son, however as soon as the image went viral, I needed the entire world to know.
That day in December 2017 modified who I’m. My coronary heart shattered. It modified my feelings and the way I grieve. I used to cry and cry within the bathe on Sunday, the one day I don’t work. I didn’t need anyone to see me. I’d pull myself collectively and hold a courageous face for the opposite moms in my neighborhood and for my grandchildren and youngsters.
The Angela that was damage, that was broken, and couldn’t speak with out crying concerning the scenario? That Angela was a mom who had by no means been via what Troy police put her via. However I noticed I couldn’t keep on this weak a part of me.
The Angela I’m at the moment, I can see how robust I’ve develop into. I’m so pleased with the fighter I’ve develop into. I can speak now.
My son Ulysses is perpetually modified, too. My son, who the neighborhood cherished as a result of he was so kind-hearted — folks used at hand him $5 payments as a result of he made such an impression on them. My son, who cherished his grandmama, who all the time checked in on her, introduced her groceries, and would sit and speak together with her for hours. Now, he’s closed off. He retains to himself.
Ulysses doesn’t like to speak about what the police did to him. He did inform me an officer kicked him on the again and compelled him to the bottom. He stated, “I might see the officer coming. I believed he was going to help me. And, momma, he kicked me useless within the face.” He doesn’t keep in mind something after that.
I’m working to search out him a counselor; he agreed to go. I wish to know so badly what he thinks, however, like me, he places on a courageous face and tries to remain robust.
“Individuals don’t know what I am going via at night time,” he advised me.
I haven’t pushed him on it. I actually wish to know his ideas, however I need him to return to it. I wish to know the way it makes him really feel.
It’s been 5 years, and I’m nonetheless making an attempt to get the complete police bodycam and sprint cam footage. I used to be solely allowed to see a partial video of Ulysses’ beating. They solely gave me bits and items, not all the encounter from begin to end.
I need the entire tape as a result of I wish to know if my son known as out for my title like George Floyd known as out for his mom.
However police will [only] launch footage when it makes them look good. If my son had been improper in that video, it might have been on CNN. If it incriminates them, they gained’t present it. There’s the police facet of the story and my son’s facet of the story, and I need the reality.
All of this public consideration has been arduous. I’ve flashbacks to that Christmas, whereas Ulysses laid within the hospital. White folks flooded me with feedback. They stated he ought to have been killed. The feedback and the hate wouldn’t cease. At one level, I used to be fascinated with taking my very own life. However I’ve 11 grandchildren, and I made a decision I have to be right here for them.
I virtually stated no to doing “For Our Kids.” However then [filmmaker] Débora Souza Silva got here to me and stated, “When CNN goes away, when all of the breaking information goes away, I can be right here.”
I did the documentary in order that my grandchildren and great-grandchildren know what occurred right here in Troy.
When my son’s 5-year-old daughter watches the documentary, she says, “Can we flip it off? It makes my head damage.” She doesn’t prefer to see her daddy damage.
She and her daddy are constructing their relationship. He was in jail 5 years; his daughter was born whereas he was in jail. She is aware of he’s her dad from the video chats when he was in jail, however she’s nonetheless a little bit shy round him.
In April, for the primary time, Ulysses bought to have fun his daughter’s birthday in particular person. She needed to be a princess, so we bought her footwear, a tiara and white gloves. Ulysses takes her to the park and to get ice cream. She loves being round him as a result of he lets her have her manner. I stated, “Hear, she’s gonna have some self-discipline!”
With the felony, it has been arduous for him to get a job. He desires to make cash as a result of he’s a father, and he desires to supply for his daughter. We’re engaged on discovering him a great job.
I began Moms on a Mission as a result of, when one thing like this occurs to you, you’re on a mission to attempt to get folks to hearken to you. You’re on a mission to start out up rallies, to get the physique digital camera and sprint cam video.
They did the worst factor they may do to me by hurting my son. However I’ve been known as to inform my story and assist moms who’ve misplaced sons to the fingers of the police.
Individuals say issues like, “She ought to have stored her son in the home.” I need moms to have the ability to discuss our issues with out somebody judging us. I advised one mom, “For single mother and father it’s more durable as a result of you must put meals on the desk. Even I really feel like I failed. I used to be working, and I ought to’ve been at residence. I’ve fought myself on that.”
When you’re having issues with a toddler, and also you’re additionally coping with your personal feelings, it’s arduous. Those that haven’t been via it may possibly’t really feel precisely what you’re feeling. However me? I’ve been via this. I’ve folks inbox me and name me asking for recommendation. Any person advised me I can’t assist all people, nevertheless it gained’t cease me from making an attempt. Moms like us want a assist system.
You must be very courageous when the police take your son. I really feel unhappy for [other mothers] as a result of my son lived. However I need them to know they will attain out to me. I didn’t need this journey, however God gave it to me. I like serving to folks. I like telling my story. I really like what I do.
The Troy Police Division didn’t return a number of requests for remark. James Pike, the lawyer representing the 5 officers sued by Williams and Wilkerson, didn’t return a number of requests for remark.
