Georgia state Senator Nikema Williams didn’t plan on being arrested last week. She certainly didn’t think she’d be zip-tied by cops and asked to submit to a strip search. But that’s what happened when she was in the Georgia State Capitol witnessing a ‘Count Every Vote’ protest on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.
Williams’ husband works for John Lewis, who knows a thing or two about being arrested at a protest and offered to come down to the jail and get her out. Thankfully the trip wasn’t needed, but Williams is still asking why she, an African-American legislator was arrested, while her white colleagues weren’t. Her wrists were bruised by the plastic cuffs but she’s not backing down from the fight to make sure that the voters she represents have their voices heard and their votes counted.
In our exclusive interview above, Williams also talks about how her own niece was denied a provisional ballot while attempting to vote ”š an issue which is central to Stacey Abrams’ litigation to challenge the validity of the Georgia election.
Learn more about Abrams’ legal action and how our research and reporting will serve as key evidence.
Zach D Roberts is an investigative photojournalist who covers far-right extremism and voter suppression in America. He covered the Unite the Right Rally in Chalottesville and his work there helped put four white extremists in jail. He co-produced Greg Palast's films The Best Democracy Money Can Buy and Vigilante: Georgia's Vote Suppression Hitman. Roberts is a Palast Investigative Fund Fellow and Puffin artist grant recipient.
