Tookie scheduled to Die

[eilene]

California justices reject Williams' appeal
Governor to decide on clemency request

Crips gang co-founder Stanley Tookie Williams is scheduled to die by injection early Tuesday.

Stanley Tookie Williams

SACRAMENTO, California -- California's Supreme Court late Sunday rejected an emergency request to stay the execution of convicted killer Stanley Tookie Williams, who is scheduled to be put to death early Tuesday.

Jonathan Harris, an attorney for Williams, confirmed the court's decision.

Williams' team of attorneys had asked the state Supreme Court for a stay to allow for new arguments to be presented.

Earlier Sunday, attorney Verna Wefald said the legal team was asking for a stay on the basis that Williams should have been allowed to argue that someone else killed one of the four people he was convicted of slaying.

Williams also is awaiting California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's decision on clemency, which would commute his death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Schwarzenegger's office said the decision would not come before Monday.

On Friday, the governor described his looming decision as "a very heavy responsibility."

Williams -- who would turn 52 on December 29 -- is to die by lethal injection.

He co-founded the Crips street gang in Los Angeles and was convicted of killing four people in 1979, but has become an anti-gang crusader while on death row.

He has denounced gang violence and written children's books with an anti-gang message, donating the proceeds to anti-gang community groups. He said he was trying to prevent young people from making the choices he did, which led to a life of crime and a sentence at San Quentin State Prison.

Celebrities, teachers and anti-death-penalty advocates have spoken on his behalf.

Prosecutors maintain Williams should die for what lead prosecutor John Monaghan called "extremely brutal crimes." Monaghan noted that despite his anti-gang activism, Williams has consistently refused to take part in a debriefing with authorities to provide them potentially valuable information about the Crips gangs.

Williams was convicted of killing a 26-year-old Los Angeles convenience store clerk in February 1979, shooting him twice in the back with a 12-gauge shotgun while the victim was face down on the floor.

Less than two weeks later, jurors concluded, he shot and killed an immigrant Chinese couple and their 41-year-old daughter while stealing less than $100 cash from their motel.

Both cases were handled in a single trial, and Williams was sentenced to death in 1981.

[sandi]

I've been waiting to hear what the final decision is. There is alot of hollywood hype over this one.

[Pete]

RIP Tookie.

[sandi]

etep said:

RIP Tookie.

Good one Pete ;D

[Equinox]

The families of his victims got no reprieve. They're still living without their love ones. For once, I am behind the "Terminator" 100%.

A nice OBIT added to the back of his "anti-gang" childrens books will give the kids who read it even more reason to stay out of gangs!

If they're using the electric chair, maybe they could have Jesse Jackson hold his hand while they flip the switch.

[nightrocker]

Hasta la Vista Tookie..

[Trexx]

It's my wish that it was actually about getting the SOB off the planet. Unfortunately, the politics of it, which is appropriate to be rigorously reviewed, afterall we're granting the government to off somebody in a state facility, becomes a rallying cry for a blood-lust. That is not the point, and is contrary to the original ideal and far from staunch conservative, religious, foundations that eighty percent of this country's citizens claim to be aligned with.

[sandi]

illusion said:

The families of his victims got no reprieve. They're still living without their love ones. For once, I am behind the "Terminator" 100%.

A nice OBIT added to the back of his "anti-gang" childrens books will give the kids who read it even more reason to stay out of gangs!

If they're using the electric chair, maybe they could have Jesse Jackson hold his hand while they flip the switch.

When I worked in the local rehab here in Washington, I worked with the number 1 crip in Washington state. The gang members I met had absolutely NO regard for human life.................they would do anything to get what they wanted and did. They have a very strange way of looking at life and are some of the most manipulative individuals I have ever met.

I don't think Tookie was reformed or was ever able to be.........gang members are dangerous

[HARD ROCK UNIVERSE]

What disturbs me is the fact that the main reason they don't want him to be executed is the fact that he wrote children's books. Well hell, given the opportunity I'm sure Saddam Hussein or Hitler could've written children's books. That in itself shouldn't be enough reason to raise a ruckus over someone being offed. If the guy found a cure for cancer or something, yeah, but for writing CHILDREN'S books? Give me a fuckin' break. I guess that makes up for the people who've been offed by the crips over the years. I don't know for sure whether he killed those people or not, only he and the people killed know for sure I suppose, but I DO know that many people have been killed by the gang he supposedly helped to start, so see ya

[renegade]

i'm probably alone on this here, but tookie, to me represented one of the only real hopes of seriously and significantly ameliorating urban violence. and we lost him. and so this cycle of senseless violence shall continue.

[eilene]

No I agree with you Renegade....

[Equinox]

renegade said:

i'm probably alone on this here, but tookie, to me represented one of the only real hopes of seriously and significantly ameliorating urban violence. and we lost him. and so this cycle of senseless violence shall continue.

Until the big deal about his execution, nobody outside of the streets of LA even knew who this guy was. If he had been sentenced to life in prison, do you really think that he would have had a real big influence on gangs in this country?

I have serious doubts about that. He'd be just another in the long line of losers sucking taxpayer money to keep him in a cage for the rest of his life.

This guy was not a kid when he killed those people. He was 29! And how many other folks did he and his crew kill that they never got caught for.

I still think that executing this guy may be the best deterrent of all. Let it be known that it won't be tolerated. Giving this punk a reprieve would just be a blueprint for the rest of them. Do whatever you want, and when they catch you, be born again and it's OK.

Jesse Jackson can go back to couselling Terrell Owens now, I guess.

[renegade]

illusion said:

renegade said:

i'm probably alone on this here, but tookie, to me represented one of the only real hopes of seriously and significantly ameliorating urban violence. and we lost him. and so this cycle of senseless violence shall continue.

Until the big deal about his execution, nobody outside of the streets of LA even knew who this guy was. If he had been sentenced to life in prison, do you really think that he would have had a real big influence on gangs in this country?

I have serious doubts about that. He'd be just another in the long line of losers sucking taxpayer money to keep him in a cage for the rest of his life.

This guy was not a kid when he killed those people. He was 29! And how many other folks did he and his crew kill that they never got caught for.

I still think that executing this guy may be the best deterrent of all. Let it be known that it won't be tolerated. Giving this punk a reprieve would just be a blueprint for the rest of them. Do whatever you want, and when they catch you, be born again and it's OK.

Jesse Jackson can go back to couselling Terrell Owens now, I guess.

i've known his story for some time. before all this media attention over the impending execution. i had signed the petition to save his life a good while ago, and contacted governor schwarzenegger.

and one thing i should clarify before i go any further: i think he killed those four people. his supporters, of which i am one, all maintain his innocence. but, and even despite the lack of credible defense in his court case (as admitted by those arguing in favor of his execution during the dec. 8th peoples' clemency hearing), i find it very likely that he was guilty of the crimes for which he was convicted.

that being said, it still stands that he has done so much to reduce gang violence, and steer youth away from such a life. on his website are countless testimonies from current, former, and prospective gang members all saying how tookie's work helped them turn their lives around. he has written children's' books and two books about his life both in and out of prison.

some may say "he wrote some books. so what?" his work extends to other areas. his recorded speeches are shown at gang peace negotiations. he was also crucial in establishing the truce between the crips and the bloods at the hands across watts peace summit in the early '90s, thus ending the most violent period in LA history.

i have never seen a better example of the prison system serving its purpose in terms of rehabilitation. furthermore, its not like he'd have gotten away with anything if granted clemency. his sentence simply would have changed to life without the possibility of parole, thus allowing him to continue his efforts to help inner-city youth, and in turn, society as a whole.

note: i hope no one takes offense to any of this. it's all in the spirit of good debate

[sandi]

renegade said:

illusion said:

Until the big deal about his execution, nobody outside of the streets of LA even knew who this guy was. If he had been sentenced to life in prison, do you really think that he would have had a real big influence on gangs in this country?

I have serious doubts about that. He'd be just another in the long line of losers sucking taxpayer money to keep him in a cage for the rest of his life.

This guy was not a kid when he killed those people. He was 29! And how many other folks did he and his crew kill that they never got caught for.

I still think that executing this guy may be the best deterrent of all. Let it be known that it won't be tolerated. Giving this punk a reprieve would just be a blueprint for the rest of them. Do whatever you want, and when they catch you, be born again and it's OK.

Jesse Jackson can go back to couselling Terrell Owens now, I guess.

i've known his story for some time. before all this media attention over the impending execution. i had signed the petition to save his life a good while ago, and contacted governor schwarzenegger.

and one thing i should clarify before i go any further: i think he killed those four people. his supporters, of which i am one, all maintain his innocence. but, and even despite the lack of credible defense in his court case (as admitted by those arguing in favor of his execution during the dec. 8th peoples' clemency hearing), i find it very likely that he was guilty of the crimes for which he was convicted.

that being said, it still stands that he has done so much to reduce gang violence, and steer youth away from such a life. on his website are countless testimonies from current, former, and prospective gang members all saying how tookie's work helped them turn their lives around. he has written children's' books and two books about his life both in and out of prison.

some may say "he wrote some books. so what?" his work extends to other areas. his recorded speeches are shown at gang peace negotiations. he was also crucial in establishing the truce between the crips and the bloods at the hands across watts peace summit in the early '90s, thus ending the most violent period in LA history.

i have never seen a better example of the prison system serving its purpose in terms of rehabilitation. furthermore, its not like he'd have gotten away with anything if granted clemency. his sentence simply would have changed to life without the possibility of parole, thus allowing him to continue his efforts to help inner-city youth, and in turn, society as a whole.

note: i hope no one takes offense to any of this. it's all in the spirit of good debate

No offense taken

The death penalty will always be a hot topic. That being said, it will always bring on heated discussions, which is a good thing.

My personal opinion is that there are SOME murderers who deserve the death penalty based on the severity and circumstances of their offenses. IN MY OPINION, Tookie was in that category. No matter what he did in prison to change what he did prior to his conviction, it doesn't change what he has done. There needs to be a voice for the victim's of these types of crimes...........I didn't hear any protests out there for the innocent people he slaughtered........

[nightrocker]

Great point Sandi!

[eilene]

A heated debate on no matter what side you are on....Glad we can be civil to one another....

[nightrocker]

eilene said:

A heated debate on no matter what side you are on....Glad we can be civil to one another....

...Yeah unlike some other boards..

[Scott]

The biggest crime, as far as I'm concerned, is that he was sentenced to death in 1981...almost 25 friggin' years ago. And they just NOW carried out his sentence? That's just f*cked up.

[renegade]

sandi said:

renegade said:

i've known his story for some time. before all this media attention over the impending execution. i had signed the petition to save his life a good while ago, and contacted governor schwarzenegger.

and one thing i should clarify before i go any further: i think he killed those four people. his supporters, of which i am one, all maintain his innocence. but, and even despite the lack of credible defense in his court case (as admitted by those arguing in favor of his execution during the dec. 8th peoples' clemency hearing), i find it very likely that he was guilty of the crimes for which he was convicted.

that being said, it still stands that he has done so much to reduce gang violence, and steer youth away from such a life. on his website are countless testimonies from current, former, and prospective gang members all saying how tookie's work helped them turn their lives around. he has written children's' books and two books about his life both in and out of prison.

some may say "he wrote some books. so what?" his work extends to other areas. his recorded speeches are shown at gang peace negotiations. he was also crucial in establishing the truce between the crips and the bloods at the hands across watts peace summit in the early '90s, thus ending the most violent period in LA history.

i have never seen a better example of the prison system serving its purpose in terms of rehabilitation. furthermore, its not like he'd have gotten away with anything if granted clemency. his sentence simply would have changed to life without the possibility of parole, thus allowing him to continue his efforts to help inner-city youth, and in turn, society as a whole.

note: i hope no one takes offense to any of this. it's all in the spirit of good debate

No offense taken

The death penalty will always be a hot topic. That being said, it will always bring on heated discussions, which is a good thing.

My personal opinion is that there are SOME murderers who deserve the death penalty based on the severity and circumstances of their offenses. IN MY OPINION, Tookie was in that category. No matter what he did in prison to change what he did prior to his conviction, it doesn't change what he has done. There needs to be a voice for the victim's of these types of crimes...........I didn't hear any protests out there for the innocent people he slaughtered........

that's a good point. i myself am undecided on the death penalty in general, but i believe there probably are some criminals who deserve execution. in regards to the four people tookie was convicted of killing (as unsympathetic as this may sound, i don't intend it to be that way), what's done is done. even though stanley williams is now gone, the families and friends of the victims still have holes in their life caused by their losses. like i said, i don't think commuting tookie's sentence to life without parole would be letting him get away with anything. the prison system is called the department of CORRECTIONS. i take that to mean that the prison system's purpose is to "correct" criminals, to encourage them to realize what sort of life they were leading and how to turn it around. that is exactly what it did for tookie. but now he can no longer do the good that he has been doing for the last 12 or so years.

a lot of "outreach" programs (DARE, homies unidos and the like) don't work, IMO. usually because the leaders of such programs don't know where the participants are truly coming from, and the participants realize this. tookie represented a real hope because he truly did know where people going down the "wrong path" are coming from. i see no statement more powerful than stanley williams, co-founder of the crips, the man who helped to start these "organizations" which lead to fear and insecurity and pain and bloodshed, among many other things, saying "don't do it. don't go down my path"

now he'll never be around to make that statement anymore, to do his part to prevent the next generation of urban youth from entering this cycle of violence. i think tookie was doing a lot more for the good of society than some of us on the outside.