Angela Williams’ life was endlessly altered on Christmas Eve 2017 when she discovered that Troy, Alabama, cops had severely overwhelmed 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 drive.
Williams was skeptical of their account, and she or he 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 didn’t 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 have 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 out there to her and her lawyer in September 2021 throughout mediation within the lawsuit, below the situation that it remained sealed. Williams ultimately walked away from mediation, and a federal court docket denied her lawyer’s discovery movement for all the 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 distinct type of heartbreak in 2019 when police implicated him and one other man within the deadly capturing of a 30-year-old named Michael Irwin Jr. The son insisted he wasn’t concerned, however after going through capital homicide prices 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.
In the present day, as Williams continues to battle for the total video footage of her son’s beating, she runs Moms on a Mission, a gaggle she based to assist mothers like her. She additionally seems in “For Our Kids,” a 2022 documentary that started airing on Netflix in Might. Right here, Williams traces her painful path from despair to activism.
It was two days earlier than Christmas when my buddy referred to as me from the hospital the place she labored and stated, “I’m not alleged to let you know this, however your child is right here, and he’s damage.”
I used to be 5 minutes away, at a Christmas get together. My sister and I jumped within the automotive. I didn’t know if Ulysses was shot or overwhelmed, and I didn’t know who did it.
Once 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 have been 4 and 6 on the time.
My son couldn’t stroll. My buddy instructed me that cops had carried him; his toes dragging down the hallway. We didn’t know on the time which officers beat Ulysses. We additionally didn’t know that one in every of his assailants was standing in a hallway outdoors the room.
I referred to as his father and stated, “You might want to get your thoughts proper and put together your self. You might want to get right here now.”
Ulysses’ father went berserk when he noticed him. An officer stated if he didn’t relax, he can 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 essential, 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 automotive 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 maintain 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 discuss with out crying concerning the scenario? That Angela was a mom who had by no means been by means of what Troy police put her by means of. However I spotted I couldn’t keep on this weak a part of me.
The Angela I’m right now, I can see how robust I’ve turn into. I’m so pleased with the fighter I’ve turn into. I can discuss now.
My son Ulysses is endlessly modified, too. My son, who the neighborhood liked as a result of he was so kind-hearted — individuals used at hand him $5 payments as a result of he made such an impression on them. My son, who liked his grandmama, who at all times checked in on her, introduced her groceries, and would sit and discuss 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 assumed he was going to help me. And, momma, he kicked me useless within the face.” He doesn’t bear in mind something after that.
I’m working to seek out him a counselor; he agreed to go. I need 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’m going by means of at evening,” he instructed me.
I haven’t pushed him on it. I actually need to know his ideas, however I would like him to come back to it. I need to know the way it makes him really feel.
It’s been 5 years, and I’m nonetheless attempting to get the total 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 would like the entire tape as a result of I need to know if my son referred to as out for my identify like George Floyd referred to as out for his mom.
However police will [only] launch footage when it makes them look good. If my son had been incorrect in that video, it could have been on CNN. If it incriminates them, they received’t present it. There’s the police aspect of the story and my son’s aspect of the story, and I would like the reality.
All of this public consideration has been onerous. I’ve flashbacks to that Christmas, whereas Ulysses laid within the hospital. White individuals 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 serious about taking my very own life. However I’ve 11 grandchildren, and I made a decision I must be right here for them.
I nearly 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 will likely 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 wish 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 slightly shy round him.
In April, for the primary time, Ulysses bought to rejoice his daughter’s birthday in individual. 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 method. I stated, “Pay attention, she’s gonna have some self-discipline!”
With the felony, it has been onerous for him to get a job. He desires to earn money as a result of he’s a father, and he desires to offer for his daughter. We’re engaged on discovering him 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 individuals to hearken to you. You’re on a mission to begin 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 referred to 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 saved her son in the home.” I would like moms to have the ability to discuss our issues with out somebody judging us. I instructed 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 dwelling. I’ve fought myself on that.”
In the event you’re having issues with a toddler, and also you’re additionally coping with your personal feelings, it’s onerous. People who haven’t been by means of it may’t really feel precisely what you’re feeling. However me? I’ve been by means of this. I’ve individuals inbox me and name me asking for recommendation. Any individual instructed me I can’t assist all people, but it surely received’t cease me from attempting. Moms like us want a assist system.
You need to 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 would like 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 individuals. I like telling my story. I like what I do.
The Troy Police Division didn’t return a number of requests for remark. James Pike, the legal professional representing the 5 officers sued by Williams and Wilkerson, didn’t return a number of requests for remark.