Augusta DA Jared Williams issued a video statement Friday addressing the violence that has consumed Richmond County schools, culminating in a shooting at Josey High School.
Williams rarely holds press conferences, nor does he respond to the local media requests for interviews. Since launching The Augusta Press, I can’t remember any elected official releasing such a video.
Williams states in the video that the Josey shooter “is likely the child of multiple incarcerated parents.” I listened to this multiple times, and it comes across like an assumption used to make an argument William’s wants to make. I am not saying it’s not true, but does the district attorney not have access to police and court records to know for sure if the kid’s parents are locked up? If they are not locked up, then what a horrible thing to pontificate, and if they are locked up why the assumption?
In the video, Williams describes a young boy with whom he interacted who is sad he won’t get to present his project that day due to the school being closed. Williams is skillful enough in his acting skills to get forcibly choked up but not to squeeze out any tears, though it appears he is trying to do so. The whole video is quite the production. At least it is better quality than that of anything Sheriff Richard Roundtree or former Mayor Hardie Davis produced.
Tears might actually flow out of Williams’ eyes soon enough. Williams has a challenger in his upcoming race for re-election. Personally, I know surprisingly little about Amber Brantley the assistant district attorney in Columbia County who is challenging Williams.
I don’t know how much the voting public knows about Brantley, but I would be surprised if they knew a lot. My prediction is that all they will care about is the fact that she is not Jared Williams.
Rahm Emanuel, while chief of staff to President Obama, stated, “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before.” The quote is actually almost identical to a famous quote from Winston Churchill at the end of WWII when the United Nations was being founded.
Williams’ video production uses that mantra by employing the recent violence and shooting to give him the opportunity to come across as caring, relatable and passionate about ending crime.
Actions speak louder than words. The timing of Williams video and nature of the content tells me that he is worried about his upcoming election.
Where is the video apology for Arbrie Anthony, the 8-year-old who was gunned down in a drive by shooting on Jan. 8 last year. Perhaps, had it been election season, or someone had announced they were challenging Williams, he would have made a video.
If you will remember, Williams released Antoine Redfield after being charged with multiple felony charges including a murder charge. Former District Attorney Natalie Paine stated, “What I can unequivocally state is that nothing that I am aware of regarding the Lawson/Redfield case would have ever caused me to allow or consent to an outright dismissal.”
In other words, Arbrie Anthony would likely be alive had Williams pursued and prosecuted Redfield instead of dropping the case.
If you don’t think the timing of William’s video production is political, you are just not paying attention. And yes, I am aware of the grief I will likely receive for pointing out this fact.
Williams was shredded in a recent guest column by C.J. Pearson who pointed out the idiocy of Williams law suit challenging Senate Bill 92 which gives creates the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission.
Williams was offered the opportunity to rebut Pearson’s guest column but declined.
After reading the bill, I don’t understand why anyone would be against it. Basically, the bill forces district attorneys to do their job, and if they don’t, the commission can step in.
We are a people governed by laws not by political or social agendas. If district attorneys doesn’t want to enforce the law, then they should resign and go be a defense attorney.
Perhaps someone should remind Williams that he actually won the election and is the district attorney. Remind him he is no longer a defense attorney, and his job is to put people in jail, not find any and all reasons to not prosecute so that they can go out and commit more crimes.
Flood gates open on Augusta University story
Video leaked to The Augusta Press shows the moments that led up to the flooding that caused students to have to be moved out of local dormitories.
The video and story written by Scott Hudson received tens of thousands of views. The video shows students apparently caused the damage in the kitchen that led to the building flooding.
Augusta University has been very quiet about the incident. An open records request for the video took longer than normal. Once received, the video was so blurrier than the leaked video sent to TAP. That video was taken by a cell phone looking at a computer screen. Obviously, Augusta University doesn’t want to cooperate and release information.
It will be interesting to see who is responsible for fixing the damage. The building is managed by Corvais who financed the project through bonds. Augusta University does not have any insurance policy on the building.
One reason why Richmond County schools are such a mess
Lastly, I don’t know what to say about the Richmond County School Board meeting August 15. It is clear, though, that some board members need replaced.
The meeting proved to the public that racial issues still divide much of Augusta.
District 4 member Wayne Frazier claimed that fewer minority contractors had received contracts from the board. He even went as far as to say, “the children that’s in the system don’t look like the people who make the money off the system.”
District 8 member Jimmy Atkins pointed out that a minority business was never turned away or denied by the Richmond County School System.
What more could Frazier ask for? Apparently, he didn’t like being put in place and being unable to lodge a coherent argument against Atkins. Frazier then allegedly called Atkins a B*tch and even suggested the two men step outside to settle the matter.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE. https://youtu.be/A40Z6hdTG5E
Calling Frazier’s comments “bold,” fellow board member Jimmy Atkins jumped into the conversation by saying to his and Superintendent Bradshaw’s knowledge, a minority business was never turned away or denied by the Richmond County School System.
District 9 member Venus Cain got hopping mad to the point she hopped right out of the meeting and went home. Who could blame her?
“I’m sick of everything that comes out of Wayne Frazier’s mouth,” she said. “We tried to make it more open for minorities, and he voted against it. Our president and vice-president have allowed him to make racist comments and call Jimmy out, and constantly telling him to take it outside. That was totally wrong … we will never heal as long as we have people like him sitting there making racial comments for s*** he voted against.”
To that, I say thank you Ms. Cain for the being the voice of reason and clarity on the board. Keep up the good fight on trying to improve the school system because as the past few weeks have proven, it is desperately needed.
Rants and Raves
It is illegal to drive a golf court on a county road. That concept is very simple. Yesterday, however, I witnessed multiple kids driving carts on Riverwood Parkway in Evans.
Back on July 21, there was an accident involving a golf cart on the same road.
It is going to take a kid getting killed before people wake up and start following the rules. There is plenty of grass to drive on next to the road.
When Greenbrier schools are letting out you can see all of the moms in their golf carts waiting across the street. None of them drive over the county street because the police are sitting there directing traffic. The moms know it’s illegal.
Responsible parents would educate their children that it’s illegal to drive golf carts on the county road. I am confident, though, that both parents and children in Riverwood know it’s illegal. We don’t want a kid getting killed before something changes. Please stop it!
