State Sen. Nikema Williams, 16 Others Arrested At Capitol During Protest
State Sen. Nikema Williams (D-Atlanta) and 16 other participants protesting voter suppression at the state capitol were arrested Tuesday afternoon by capitol police.
Williams, about to begin her first full term in the State Senate, jumped in to a crowd of protest leaders as police moved in to arrest them, a witness said. “They targeted all the leaders. You could hear them over the radios,” the observer — who is not authorized to speak on behalf of her organization — said. “Police were definitely ready for it. They brought a lot of zip bands. You could see them on the officers.”
Mary Hooks, co-director of Southerners on New Ground and a prominent Black Lives Matter activist, was among the 17 arrested. More than 100 people are protesting at the capitol.
Police told people they would arrest anyone for chanting, but neither Hooks nor Williams were chanting, the witness said. Livestream video on Facebook captured the moment of the arrest as police dove into the crowd, looking for protest leaders.
Oddly enough, I was at the capitol about two hours before these arrests. I had hoped to convince Williams to join me at the annual dinner and auction for the Gateway Center, a homeless shelter downtown, in her district. She politely declined. “It’s too late for me to get a babysitter,” she said.
Article III, Section 4, Paragraph IX of the Georgia Constitution, on the privilege of members, says “the members of both houses shall be free from arrest during sessions of the General Assembly, or committee meetings thereof, and in going thereto or returning therefrom, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace. No member shall be liable to answer in any other place for anything spoken in either house or in any committee meeting of either house.”
While Williams appears to be in a police SUV outside the capitol, as I write this, other protesters are going to be processed at Fulton County jail.
Protesters have established a bail fund.
About Author
George Chidi
Former staff writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other publications. Former Pine Lake city councilman, Former corporate spy. Occasional contributor to The Guardian.
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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
As John Lewis says, sometimes you have to get in the way.
Leslie (hubby)- take it easy- don’t get yourself in trouble here.
So she is Senator Elect? Thus not sworn in yet?
Senator Williams was elected in a special election in 2017, and is finishing her first year in office.
I don’t get why chanting while protesting is criminal. Was there some permitting or other safety issue?
State law prohibits: Parading, demonstrating, or picketing within the state capitol building or any building housing committee offices, committee rooms, or offices of members, officials, or employees of the General Assembly or either house thereof with intent to disrupt the orderly conduct of official business or to utter loud, threatening or abusive language or engage in any disorderly or disruptive conduct in such buildings or areas. See O.C.G.A. 16-11-34.1 (g)
If they had done this in Liberty Plaza, there would have been no problem.
So, it sounds like they were inside the Capitol?
That wasn’t clear.
Although even if true, that would still not be the end of the inquiry into whether the arrests were proper or just (particularly the arrest of Ms. Williams).
Yet it is ok for Ralph Reed & company to take over the state capitol during a session in support of the RFRA?
“Whataboutism”, “Whataboutism!”, I thought yall hated that?!
I’m pointing out the plain old hypocrisy of allowing one group the use of the entire atrium during the session on at least 3 separate occasions. Each of these “rallies” were allowed to happen inside the capitol since Liberty Plaza was constructed to divert such disruptions. If you have might on the right then you are welcome to take over the building. If you don’t, you get arrested.
“I’m pointing out the plain old hypocrisy…”
You sound jus’ like ol’ Noway! That’s what I’ve been doing on here for right at 10 years! You’re evolving, Will!
I appreciate your mention of the Gateway Center. It’s been too long since I donated—I’ll do so soon. I ask the commentariat to consider doing so: https://www.gatewayctr.org/
https://chamblee54.wordpress.com/2018/11/13/rally-at-the-capitol-turns-nasty/
During the primary, supporters of Stacey Abrams shouted down her opponent, with the support of Miss Abrams. Today, her admirers violated common sense rules of decorum at the State Capitol. Is this what we can expect if Miss Abrams is elected?
The shout down of Evans was one of the worst moments in the campaign.
I was willing to put that in the past and move on. Unfortunately, this ugly incident happened today.
Is this what we can expect if Miss Abrams is elected?
What is it you are referring to? The occasional act of civil disobedience? Maybe so.
I know it’s distasteful to conservatives. They think actually protesting in public is unbecoming. It seems they would rather exert their influence behind closed doors and under the table. Much more civilized.
yes, settling disputes with an open checkbook is far more productive for politicians.