“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:3

Dear Governor Whitmer,

Please use your power of clemency to free Donald Williams before it is too late.  Donald's continued imprisonment is a prime example of how black people serve far more time than their white counterparts.  He may have never been convicted had he not been born black and he certainly would be free today. 

Donald was framed for a crime he didn’t commit. This was the first trouble he ever found himself in. He’s been down for 40 years and is 67 years old.

Donald was Cheryl Williams' first boyfriend at the age of 14. She knew his family well. They recently got married on June 22, 2021 and have plans for working together upon freedom. Together they plan to utilize Donald’s Master Carpentry Skills to go along with his Builder’s License while helping to employ and teach foster children building trade skills. 

The fateful evening for Donald where someone got murdered and he was framed by his brother Sylvester Williams, who is now deceased, happened while he was working at Chrysler. Donald was walking down his street to his mother’s home where he lived, as he approached his home the police were there, and he asked them what the problem was. They arrested him right on the spot without a warrant or any other document. 

Donald had a great relationship with his father, going to visit relatives in the south, working hand in hand with his dad on cars and doing construction and other professional work. He always had a great future ahead of him. Favoritism towards one child over another causes grave jealousy, which most times parents are not aware of. Donald was his Dad’s favorite child. Donald at the time of this murder was not in the vicinity of the crime. It was later found out that he was framed by his brother, Sylvester who has since passed. Sylvester was the police witness. He knew more about the case than the police. He tricked the police into believing a lie.

The judge only let Donald testify according to their questions.  He was not allowed to speak in his defense. There were two other people that were framed by Sylvester along with Donald. Donald was offered 2 counts for the gun and 1 count for murder which would have been three years, but he would have had to testify against Herbert Hammond, his friend. He refused to lie. In turn Hammond was offered the same plea deal and lied in his testimony against Donald.

While he was given the opportunity to lie in court to get out of trouble, Donald refused to lie and got 2 life sentences plus 20-40. The two others that were framed with Donald, one got off scot free. Lee Lewis had a dad who hired a lawyer to get his son out of this jam. Herbert Hammond who testified a lie against his friend served a few years and got off. The man who committed this hideous crime (murders) is deceased now, passing away not too long after this terrible ordeal. Only Donald did time for the crime he did not commit.

DONALD’S ATTRIBUTES TO SOCIETY:

Donald has acquired his Building & Trade Credentials, his Phlebotomy license and has been in school the entire time he has served. He is a shoe maker and furniture builder along with several other talents. He is known as a caregiver and clean freak in prison. He walks around with Clorox in hand cleaning and sanitizing where it’s needed. He’s known to help everybody, especially people in wheelchairs and people with other needs. 

Donald has come through prostate cancer and two strokes yet God has seen fit to let him live for such a time as this.