10°c Light rain
17°c Variable cloudiness
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Advocate fought for basic rights
Wade Kojo Williams
A longtime community activist who fought for people in the local African and Caribbean community, and who organized Black History Month every February for a quarter-century, has died.
Wade Kojo Williams, 62, died Saturday. He had earlier suffered a massive stroke and was in care. His death is believed to have been related to the stroke.
"Wade was a mover and a shaker in the Caribbean and African communities," said Jon Gerrard, leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party.
"He was just absolutely passionate in his concern about addressing poverty and ensuring people who were less well-off had food on the table, a roof over their heads, and had opportunities."
Williams emigrated from Jamaica and became a police officer in Winnipeg. "That's where his passion for the youth came from, while out on the beat," said Selena Bieber, a family friend. Williams later became a school teacher and worked with youth groups.
Williams was "bigger than life. He was always fighting for the underdog," said Bieber. She added Williams was a man of his own convictions but not hard-headed. "If you were able to present a convincing opposing viewpoint, he would readily concede. He'd said, 'OK, you got me, you got me.' "
"He was an idealist but I wouldn't say he was ideological. He believed we all had the inalienable right to be treated compassionately and equitably."
Williams founded many human rights organizations including the Manitoba Coalition of Organizations Against Apartheid and Racism, Students Against Apartheid, as well as the Calypso Association of Winnipeg.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 6, 2012 A8
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Mourners line up to pay respects to Elijah Harper
05/20/2013 6:56 PM
0
View Related
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- The end of the credit card?
- Male facing charges after gun fired in Exchange District
- Power restored to Linden Woods after goose collides with lines
- Police identify slaying victims
- Mourners line up to pay respects to Elijah Harper
- North End proud
- Fire damages St. Vital home
- Katz bogeys again
- Rainy day ahead for holiday Monday
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Sex charges for ex-club boss
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- 'Responsible Winnipeg' ads appear on sign run by mayor-owned Goldeyes' baseball park
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Police identify slaying victims
- Restaurant Dubrovnik demolished
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Parents, community relieved and elated as missing boy found safe
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Man missing since 2009 found safe
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Power restored to Linden Woods after goose collides with lines
- Accomplished Paralympian wins seat in B.C. legislature
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Woman's family launches lawsuit over fatal snowmobile accident
- Police identify slaying victims
- North End proud
- Male facing charges after gun fired in Exchange District
- Tuxedo residents allege nightmare neighbour
- Was it a dust-up or an assault?
- Overdose deaths among youth require action
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Fishing for fashion
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Sex charges for ex-club boss
- Newly minted MD a beacon for kids in youth program
- Power restored to Linden Woods after goose collides with lines
- Heroic Mountie saves woman from icy river
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Black market in moose thrives
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Steen invests $1M in family entertainment centre
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Boost same-sex curricula: union
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.