Rights Figure Arrested on Gun Charge

ATLANTA —  Civil rights activist and City Councilman Hosea Williams was arrested Monday at City Hall on a weapons possession indictment from neighboring Clayton County.

At a news conference about two hours before his arrest, Williams said he never was notified about the indictment and denied reports that he had promised to surrender over the weekend.

“The racist white press of Atlanta is again out to destroy my image as a black leader who is unbought and unbossed,” he said.

The indictment stems from an incident at Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport. Williams was stopped March 6 at a security checkpoint at the airport as he tried to board a plane. Police said they found a .38-caliber handgun and five bullets in his briefcase.

The civil rights activist told reporters that he had placed the gun in his briefcase when cleaning his car and forgot it was there when he dashed to the airport.

He initially was charged with two misdemeanor counts of carrying a weapon without a license and carrying a concealed weapon. The charge was upgraded to a single felony count after a review of Williams’ criminal record.

Williams was arrested numerous times during his work for civil rights but also has faced a string of traffic-related charges.