December 16, 2022
In September 2020, Steven Vogel murdered Michael Williams in Grinnell, Iowa. In what can only be described as a lynching, Vogel got the help of his mother, step-father, and friend Cody Johnson to transport Michael's body to Kellogg and light him on fire in a ditch. The violent act of lynching has been used by white Americans to destroy the lives of Black people throughout the history of this country and up to today.
Cody Johnson was only sentenced to two years in prison in for his role in the lynching of Michael Williams. Johnson received this two year sentence on August 30, 2022. Despite this, Cody Johnson has been released from prison after less than four months and is back in the Grinnell community. Someone who participated in a racist lynching was let free after receiving what was basically a slap on the wrist. Cody Johnson should not be in Grinnell. He should be held fully responsible for his involvement in taking the life of Michael Williams and the attempted cover-up that followed.
Since Michael's murder in September of 2020 we have seen a lack of appropriate response to the violent lynching death of lowan Michael Williams. Governor Kim Reynolds has yet to acknowledge Michael and the lynching that occurred in Grinnell. The Mayor of Grinnell has ignored requests by Michael's family and community members to construct a memorial in the town.
This lackadaisical and negligent response continues with the release of Cody Johnson a mere three months after his imprisonment. We know the family of Michael was not informed or included in the process to release Cody into the community on parole. This is unacceptable. What has consistently been overlooked in this case is what sits at the heart of lynching in America, The phrase coined by Professor Koritha Mitchell of Ohio State University describes it well: "Know your place aggression". It was at the heart of Michael's murder, of the abuse of his living body, and of the desecration of his lifeless body. The aggression is not only aimed at 44 year old husband son and father Michael Williams but at the entire Black community as we learned of his murder.
We question whether the victim impact statements that were so carefully prepared and read aloud at trial were ever presented to the Board of Parole as they made their decision. If the statements were taken into account, we question why no one either on the board or otherwise involved in the parole process questioned the lack of family presence and input. We question the value of victims, families and the community in the parole process in Iowa.
Lynchings in America succeed at sending a loud message to the victim, their family and to the surrounding Black community that stepping out of your perceived place is met with aggression and violence including murder. The negligence behind ignoring the safety of the family and the community with the decision to release Cody Johnson is an additional act of violence that should never be tolerated yet all too often is.
We are saddened, shocked and appalled at the release of Cody Johnson with no input or warning to the family of Michael Williams. We continue to call on lowans to expose the heinous nature of this crime and the resulting danger imposed upon our community through the continued violence against us with the release of Cody Johnson.