The Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center will host Dr. F. Willis Johnson, a pastor at Wellspring Church in Ferguson, Missouri, Friday afternoon.

Johnson will speak at the center from 1:30 to 3 p.m. about issues surrounding social justice and advocacy.

“We saw what happened on T.V., but this is an opportunity for (students) to actually talk to someone who was physically there from the time that Michael Brown’s death occurred in August to the reaction after the indictment,” said Rory James, director of the Bruce D. Nesbitt Center.

Though many students will be participating in Unofficial on Friday, James encouraged students to take 90 minutes of their time to listen to Johnson speak. He said this is an opportunity for students to gain a new perspective on the issues of Ferguson.

Johnson will address students by giving them answers and advice on future demonstrations that they may become involved with.

“I think they will really get something out of what he has to say,” James said. “Particularly because he’s coming from a perspective of not only a social activist, but he’s coming from a perspective of a clergyman.”

James said a clergymen’s perspective is not often heard in the media. He finds it important to gain insight from hearing Johnson’s message to students on campus.

“I’m excited that he will be here, and I think the students and all the attendees will get a lot out of what he has to say,” he said.

The event is co-sponsored by Canaan Baptist Church in Urbana, where Johnson will also speak on Friday at 7p.m.

James believes Johnson coming to the University is important because of how many students have been recently vocal about issues pertaining to black activism, including the “Being Black at Illinois” social media campaign.

“It’s a social justice call when we look at issues of black lives matter, but we’re also looking at issues of the militarization of police,” James said.

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