New Year's Day shooting victim remembered at vigil
CANTON – For seven months, Marquetta Williams has carried the torch for her late husband, James R. Williams.
Every Wednesday at noon, she protests in front of the city's Police Department. On Saturdays at 3 p.m., the protest begins in the same place, then marches to the Stark County Courthouse.
"I've been doing it since January," she explained.
Grand jury next: When will it hear shooting case?
Williams shooting: Canton police officer shoots, kills armed man just as 2022 begins
She's been doing it because she doesn't want anyone to forget what happened to her husband on Jan. 1. That's when 46-year-old James Williams — who was firing an AR-15 rifle into the air to celebrate a new year at midnight — was shot and killed by a Canton police officer.
Body camera footage shows officer Robert Huber firing into a wooden fence at Williams' home in the 2300 block of 10th Street SW. The officer had responded to a call about shots fired in the area.
Others remember Williams, too.
A couple dozen people gathered Saturday evening next to the courthouse to talk about him, pray, seek peace and demand justice.
People like the Rev. Ray Cox from the Community Drop In Canter; the Rev. Don Ackerman from Crossroads United Methodist Church across the street; Deacon Bill Lambert of St. Paul Catholic Church, who confessed to being an "old white guy" from North Canton; Hector McDaniel, president of the Stark County NAACP, and Moniquec Conner, a vice president.
"Reverence and unity" was the theme of the event, Cox said.
Ackerman said he's grown weary of the continued theme of violence in the streets of Canton.
"We know we can do better," he said.
"Our strength lies in our diversity," Lambert said.
McDaniel said there are good police officers, but there also are racist ones. He described the problem as systemic, with roots dating to the 1700s. The only way to attack the problem, he said, is through major reform, such as eliminating qualified immunity — a legal doctrine that personally protects officers and public officials in lawsuits.
"It has to go," McDaniel shouted.
Conner called James Williams a good family man. He and Marquetta had three children together and six kids in all. Marquetta, who's 33 years old, said she'd been with him for 14 years.
"It's all I know," she said.
In March, she filed a federal lawsuit, claiming the city violated her husband's civil rights in the shooting. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has completed its probe of the shooting — Stark County Prosecutor Kyle Stone's office has said the case will be presented to a grand jury.
James and Marquetta WIlliams' youngest daughter, Ja'Lia, 9, said she had so much fun with her father.
"I love my dad and I miss him," she said.
The 90-minute event concluded with the lighting of candles in James Williams' honor.
Gathered in a circle, those in attendance, chanted in unison: "Rest in Peace James Williams. Time for change; justice for James. If we don't get it; shut it down. Say his name; James Williams."
Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 or tim.botos@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @tbotosREP.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Vigil honors James Williams, killed Jan. 1 by Canton police
