Father Of NJ ‘Police Brutality’ Victim Passes Away

NEWARK, NJ — An Essex County man who inspired many with his civil rights activism after his son died has passed away. The Newark-based People’s Organization for Progress (POP), which Earl Williams was a longtime member of, reported that Williams died on Dec. 28 at the age of 66.

According to the POP, Williams was the father of Earl Faison, 27, the victim of a “horrendous instance of police brutality” that eventually resulted in the conviction of five Orange police officers for violating Faison’s civil rights prior to his death.

The POP stated:

“On April 11, 1999, Earl Faison was wrongly accosted for the murder of Orange police officer Joyce Carnegie, who had been slain in a traffic stop just days earlier. Faison, a young music production aspirant, was taken into custody onto a stairwell in the Orange police station and was literally beaten to death.”

After his son’s death, Williams became active in local civil rights issues, hoping that his activism would help other victims of police brutality cope with their traumatic ordeals. He retired several years ago and relocated to North Carolina, the POP said.

A Janazah (Muslim funeral) will be held at 10 a.m. at Islamic Burial Services, 279 Roseville Ave., Newark on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

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Photo: Ingrid Hill / People’s Organization for Progress