I have no reason to doubt Willie's word if he says he was there.

I recall seeing photos of John Conyers also trying to quell the rioting. He was down on 12th St. standing on top of a car using a bull horn, pleading with everyone to disperse and go home. He got his answer when the crowd started booing and pelting him with rocks and bottles. He beat a hasty retreat out of there and the rioting continued on as before.