Tookie Blogging

The latest buzz on the death penalty is in regard to Stanley “Tookie” Williams--the founder of the notorious Crips terror street gang of Los Angeles--who is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on December 13th for the 1979 murders of four people.

Like Mumia Abu Jamal, Stanley Williams has many a “star” in his corner pushing for the commutation of his impending execution, switching it to life in prison without parole. Former Crip Calvin Broadus, better known to the world as rapper Snoop Dogg, is most especially in favor of keeping Mr. Williams alive because,

"Stanley 'Tookie' Williams is not just a regular old guy, he's an inspirator [sic]. He inspires me, and I know I inspire millions."

Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx, who portrayed Williams in a movie about the latter’s life--Redemption--says that the only birthday present he wants from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is “clemency for Stan Tookie Williams.” Mr. Foxx’s birthday is December 13th.

What is it about cold-blooded murderers that brings out the sympathies of celebrities? Is it the murder of senior citizens and women? Perhaps it’s the heroism of shooting other men in the back that gets those Hollywood injustice motors running.

Such people as Mr. Dogg and Mr. Foxx would argue that Stanley Williams is a changed man from the one who vowed to get back at the jury members who convicted him and who decided on his sentence. The writer of children’s books warning against gang activity and the nominee for the increasingly discredited Nobel Prize has never admitted guilt for his crimes, nor has he apologized to the families of the murdered or to the community which he terrorized. But those who style themselves as his advocates want him to escape the consequences of his actions.

I suppose that such people as Mr. Foxx and Mr. Dogg would argue that, implicit in the word 'redemption’ is the allowance to completely escape from earthly penalties. But even Jesus—said to be sinless and certainly no murderer--didn’t escape those, nor did the men next to him.

One of the odder things about Mr. Williams' position and those who support clemency for him, notes National Review Online columnist Jack Dunphy, is that Mr. Williams claims that he is innocent of all the charges. If that is the truth, then why does he need redemption? If Misters Foxx and Dogg really believe everything that Mr. Williams says about his case, let them be brave enough to ask Arnold to pardon the “innocent man.”

But the entertainers won’t do that because they know just how far they can go with this anti-death penalty advocacy or with any possible racial solidarity that they might claim to have with with Mr. Williams.

Why else are they speaking out for someone as heinous as Mr. Williams? Because that's how most of our "betters" do things: without any regard to the consequences of their actions. Such gestures and posturing look good to the undiscerning.

Additionally, Misters Foxx and Dogg no longer have to live in the 'hood; where Tookie's spiritual spawn continue to wage war on their own communities. Now that's a true escape.

More Tookie blogging:

Flap has many, many links on the fight to save the redeemed man who's really innocent. Arnold is considering the clemency.

XYBORG:

Williams was once a heartless shotgun-bearing thug who personally carried out some of the Black-on-Black butchery that Snoop [Dogg] glorifies in his loathsome gangsta rap recordings and continues to be admired by many in the very community he once terrorised. [SNIP]

Many of the artists who have leapt aboard the USS Save Tookie are, in fact, cynically using his case to shore up their sagging “street” credentials by demonstrating to their gangsta-loving fans that they are still “down for the cause”. And since they all derive their “standing” in the ‘hood from their sickening glorification of the very exploits that landed Big Tookie on Death Row they can’t seriously be held to genuinely care for the life of this Black man when they devote all of their artistic energies to rhyming about “smoking”, “dropping” or “taking out” other Black men with this or that assault weapon.

Booker Rising also links to many opinions—of varying quality--both for and against the execution.

Best line read: in regard to the fact that Mr. Williams has written books for children, a suggestion as title for his final opus:

“Tookie Takes a Dirt Nap”

(Edited for clarity and sundry on November 28, 2005 at 11:00 PM PST)

More here and here.

Comments

[T-Steel]

Snoop Dogg a gangsta rapper?!?! HAHA! He's a pimp rapper (he thinks) and no more. Pimpin' ladies and bragging about is his forte now.

I just talked to Solomon about this issue Baldilocks and I think I persuaded him to right about this issue on my blog. Should be interesting.

[Tony]

I am anti death penalty, and it shames me to admit that part of it is because it's a too easy way to go.

I had my dog euthanized and it was a really peaceful humane way to go. I'd prefer Williams live his life in prison until he's room temperature.

[playah grrl]

juliette, do you watch Boondocks? I guess I'm not supposed to, bein' a conservative cauc 'n' all,but I really love it, it is fierce and subtle and disrespectful and funnie. Boondocks makes fun of both sides.
Last night was the "Niggah Moment" episode. Huey says, these are the three most commen causes of death in black men.
1) F.E.M.A.
2) Porkchops
3) Niggah Moments
I think little rage-filled Huey might argue that Tookie should spend his life in prison as an example of a niggah moment.

[Nancy Reyes]

I am against the death penalty as long as there is a safe alternative. In the past, you couldn't keep prisoners in jail forever, so you killed not only murderers but dangerous thieves. Exile was an alternative back then (I'm talking about 100 or 1000 years ago).
so keep him in jail until he hits 70...

[V the K]

If you choose to take another human being's life (outside of self-defense, accident, or war), it seems to me fair that you forfeit your own.

[StinKerr]

I really wonder at the folks who would nominate this guy for a Nobel Peace prize. Is there any way to find out who nominated him?

My guess is that it's a device of the anti-death penalty folks.

Williams put himself where he is by his own choices, let him reap what he has sown.

[Albertanator]

I am completely for the death penalty and I cannot imagine how people could ever be against it..

That being said, this murderous punk needs to be eliminated for good on Dec. 13.........and hopefully and prayerfully he will make his peace with the Living God!! Not the current allah that he has turned too....

[Emily]

Wow. What a stupid person to busy themselves advocating for. There is so much injustice in this world, and THIS is the person they chose to root for?

[Gayle]

Push the plunger and let God sort it out!

[Greg Burgas]

Williams seems like a scumbag, so I have no sympathy for him, but I am anti-death penalty for some of the same reasons others do - it's too easy. I do like people who want to execute him but call themselves Christians - Jesus would forgive him, I reckon, and would tell us to forgive him. Just a small point.

[GUYK]

I am generally against the death penalty but not because of the morality of it. I just do not see it as punishment but more of an easy way out for the murderer. A better punishment in my mind is life at hard labor on minimum subsistance and isolation from the outside world. This is a man who thought that he was too good to work for a living and now he should be given a chocie to work or starve. Now, this kind of punishment might serve as a deterrent. Capital punishment does not seem to do so for the gangbanger because they have no respect for life including their own. But it does appear that all of them are afraid of work.

[Silicon Valley Jim]

I really wonder at the folks who would nominate this guy for a Nobel Peace prize.

Well, it's in line with history. Yassir Arafat won it in 1994. Mussolini and Stalin were also nominated, as was Hitler, although the man who nominated him withdrew the nomination before the date for the prize award.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Nobel_Prize_controversies

[Walter E. Wallis]

People who consider capitol punishment the easy way out should look at the Richard Speck video about how good he had it in jail.
The judges have eliminated any form of duress for prisoners so they have 3 squares and a bed, no rent, free medical care and the right to kill anyone they dislike with no real penalty. Lots of pensioners would like that.

[dick]

I do wish they would do the same thing to Mumia. The man flat out killed a NJ State Cop and now we hear all these people talking as if he were St Mumia. The man is just as much of a scumbag as Tookie is and both should be executed ASAP.

[Mike Z]

If he's really reformed, why hasn't he dropped his gang name (Tookie)?

And why did rapper WhatsIsFace sign off his greeting with "O G" - the sign for "Original Gangster"?

[Moogie]

I've always been somewhat on the fence with the death penalty Ms B. On the one hand there is all the nonsense about an eye for an eye. But on the other, wouldn't killing them be the easy way out? No suffering, living in confinement, constantly under observation, no freedom, men looking at you as if you are, how shall we say, eye candy?

I'm sure if there were something that happened to my family I would be the first to pull the switch.

As for celebrities getting involved? I don't waste my time with them. It should be obvious why.

[Warthog]

There has been very little mention of the victims of this murderer, by the m.s.m. or the ignorant celebrities. Also doesn't being a "crip" mean you went out and crippled people? No mention of the activities of those thugs. And I remember a white supremest being held responsible when some skinheads killed a black man in another city. Why can't this murderer be held responsible for "crip" gang killings? It wouldn't surprise me if Arnold gives in and stays the exucution. He's been infected by hollywood and the kennedy's.

[Albertanator]

To Greg Burgas...

Never confuse forgiveness with consquences!!!

There is a difference....note that the thieves on the cross never disputed their penalty as unjust .........but at the same time, one of them gained forgiveness for his actions that led him there...

Their is NOTHING wrong with advocating the Death Penalty for murderers from a Christian POV!!

And yes, I would be happy to pull the switch on this bastard!!

[shari]

yes it was a swedish politician who nominated "tookie" he said he wanted to raise the issue of the death penalty in america. i think wiki had a link about it but their page is pro the murderer so they probably took it off. also go to the ken and jon show and they have the author of the books on and she hangs up on them. i am black and i say killl him. i think death penalty is wr ong and it isnt a deterrent but i am sick of hollyhwood trying to run america.

[StinKerr]

It looks like the article is still on Wikipedia.

I'm also not surprised to see one of the usual suspects stick an oar into this.

[Carol]

Beth at http://merry-merry-christmas.blogspot.com has a post about this. She points out that what kids will learn from Tookie is that if you're clever enough you can murder people and escape consequences and become a celebrity by getting Hollywood types and others seeking attention to take up your case.

[B]

I find the terms interesting by which Tookie speaks of his so-called "redemption". For him to admit to the murders I suppose is too much to ask. Afterall, that would seal his execution. I wonder if he EVER executed anyone...hmm. ...and if so, does his redemption include all of his acts, or just the ones placing him in jail....hmmmm. That's some new math right there:

Redemption = freedom from the punishment for living a LIFESTYLE of thuggery.

If Tookie is "redeemed" as he puts it, let him man up and taste death from the same spoon he used to feed it to others.

[Kalkin]

A couple of factual comments:

When Williams claims he's redeemed, he's talking about from the gang life; he's rejected the Crips, etc. It's perfectly consistent with claiming to be innocent of the 4 murders.

'Tookie' is in fact his legal middle name. It's not his nickname - though media reports sometimes erroneously put it in quotes - and it's not his 'gang name.'

It seems like a little more attention to detail is called for when trying to get a man condemned to death...

[sharon ferguson]

I hate that people who are anti-death penalty work from an assumption that the punishment of death is a) arbitrary and b) an "out of the blue" decision. Its not as if scum like Tookie didnt know that if they went around pillaging people's lives and killing them in pre-meditated methods, there WASNT going to be a group of people who would turn to the Laws on the books and say "you know what? He who kills WILL be killed." Tookie has the fortune of getting a trial and a judgement voted upon by his legal peers (and dont you dare say that their skin color had anything to do with their ability to reason!) and he recieved his version of justice. They can parse the evidence all they want. There is nothing that will change their minds.

Celebrities piss me off because they think the dollars pouring into their bank accounts are actual Ballots giving them the power to change our laws without the benefit of going through an election. The governor of California ran the gauntlet and won. HIS decision to commute the sentence is legitimate. His decision NOT to commute the sentence is legitimate. A bunch of uneducated bully-pulpit ACK!tors with egos to wank are NOT legitimate policy makers. I wish someone would tell them to keep their money-stomping efforts to charities and not political lobbies.

[Ernie G]

While all the Tookie-fanciers are lighting their candles, they should also light four candles for:

Albert Owens,
Thsai-Shai Yang,
Yen-I Yang, and
Yee Chen Lin.

Who are these people, you ask. They died on the dirty floor of a convenience store, and a hotel, of shotgun blasts. They had no due process, no chance to file appeals, or to write childrens’ books, or to be nominated for a Nobel Prize. No celebrities held vigils for them. Bam! And it was over.

[Jones]

Right on Sharon. Anyone who feels sorry for scumbag stan should try to remember the innocent people he sadistically murdered for nothing.

[Tully]

If Tookie won't admit to his guilt (which was copiously demonstrated) then he deserves absolutely nothing but the sentence he justly received from the due process of law. No confession, no absolution. It's a simple principle that transcends its religous underpinnings.

[Guera]

Tookie is innocent. he aint no rata. someone else did! if you pinche putos lived in or around gangs all your life you would know that you NEVER EVER snitch! EVER! i live on tha South Side of Tucson Arizona and if you're a snitch yo ass get's blasted ese. shit tha witness who testified against Tookie is in jail in Canada for murder! now that should tell you guyz something! damn! yall just wanna bring all tha chicanos, blacz, and orientalz down don't ya! SAVE TOOKIE!

[teal marie]

Was that the Tookie Monster?

[baldilocks]

Hope you're joking Mr. Guera.

Just in case you didn't know, I live in South (Central) LA, my hometown.

[higgs]

I hear all this racial talk and it makes me sick. People are forgeting this man killed four people in cold blood. I may not know about gangs or areas where they exist, but I do know murder is wrong. Regaurdless of "Tookies" background or race, he is a murderer and should face his punishment. If he wasn't facing death would he have changed? Now that's a question.

[O/G D.O.G.]

[nope]

[O/G D.O.G.]

[nope]

[CALVIN HOLLMAN]

[baldilocks says: Bugger off, Calvin]

[teal marie]

Now that's some of the worst kind of capital punishment.

It's so emphatic you don't even need punctuation.

Criptic.

[US Troop]

I keep hearing all of you saying that Mr. Tookie killed these people like you saw him do it. All you people know is what the media tells you. And i bet all of you claim to be christians... One Nation under God huh? Yeah, whatever!!! God said not to "REPAY EVIL FOR EVIL, FOR VENGENCE IS MINE"... I guess you all forgot about that... Also, how do you know that Mr. Tookie isn't reformed? All you hipocrits can do is look at peoples past... Look at your own past, because i'm pretty sure a lot of you all have more than a few sceletons in your closets... And so what if a rapper called Mr. Tookie an OG... If you all knew anything you would know that the term "OG", is used for an older person who used to be in a gang. Kind of like you call an older person who used to be in the Military a veteran... I have also read about people saying that he isn't reformed because he still hangs around some of his crip friends in jail... And...So what.. When Jesus walked the earth, even he hung around prostitutes and murderers... Does that mean that Jesus wasn't then and isn't now our Savior? If you are trying to make a difference and trying to turn someone else away from Sin, you first have to be around someone that sins Genuises!! What good is it to hang around good and perfect people like all you fine christian folks...lol... To catch fish, you have to go to the water... One of you also said that if he is reformed, then why doesn't he change his name from Tookie? Wow? You people are really digging aren't you? Any little thing you can find huh? LOL.. But, you know that's the "World" for you... If any of you were truly saved, and truly knew our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, you wouldn't be on here making these comments about killing a man made in God's own image... You all do know that we are made in the image of God right?? But, from some of the things i read, i doubt very seriously that this is about you all's care and concern about the victims!!! Lastly, if Mr. Tookie did kill those people. Because, no matter how much you people run your mouths, and give your little opinions no one knows whether or not he did it. Death is not to be decided by man... No one on this site is free from sin... "Whoever is free from sin then Cast the first stone"...

[spunky]

reply to post by US Troop:

Amen!

[baldilocks]

The only thing that you're saying 'Amen' to, spunky, is to US Troop's illogic, his inability to form a coherent idea, his straw man tactic of arguing, his willingness to find any type of excuse for a convicted murderer, his poor reading of the Bible (US Troop 'sees, but he doesn't perceive'), his inability or unwillingness to read clearly and his poor spelling skills.

No one here said that anyone was 'free of sin,’ US Troop. As a matter of fact that none of us are such has absolutely nothing to do with this post. Those who accept Jesus as Savior will go to Heaven. Heaven, however, is not the subject here, but Earth is--specifically Mr. Williams' earthly actions and the earthly consequences of those actions. Whether he gets executed or not has no bearing on whether he goes to Heaven or not.

Also, we're aren't compelled to do everything that Jesus does, unless you plan on sacrificing yourself for the sins of the world.

Try again.

[US Troop]

LoL... You say "His Earthly Actions"; like i said, you don't even know that he did it!!! You also say my "Poor Reading of the Bible". I have a very good understanding of the bible, it's obvious that you don't. And of course we can't sacrifice ourselves for the sins of the world man, only Jesus was able to do that because of his perfect blood. And by no means was i trying to justify him killing someone if he did it, or him starting a gang. My whole point really was how this country and the people in it claim to be "Under God", and you all make comments like "We Should Kill Him", and "An Eye For an Eye"... So you can spend all day long trying to point out little petty things like whether or not i spell a word right(lol@U), or whether i explain something in a way that you think i should explain it... I'm laughing at you really, because when people have to resort to pointing out things like mispelled words after a comment like what i gave, all that tells me is that i touched a nerve!!!
God bless You Balldilocks or whatever your name is, and the rest of the people!!!! :)

[US Troop]

LoL... You say "His Earthly Actions"; like i said, you don't even know that he did it!!! You also say my "Poor Reading of the Bible". I have a very good understanding of the bible, it's obvious that you don't. And of course we can't sacrifice ourselves for the sins of the world man, only Jesus was able to do that because of his perfect blood. And by no means was i trying to justify him killing someone if he did it, or him starting a gang. My whole point really was how this country and the people in it claim to be "Under God", and you all make comments like "We Should Kill Him", and "An Eye For an Eye"... So you can spend all day long trying to point out little petty things like whether or not i spell a word right(lol@U), or whether i explain something in a way that you think i should explain it... I'm laughing at you really, because when people have to resort to pointing out things like mispelled words after a comment like what i gave, all that tells me is that i touched a nerve!!!
God bless You Balldilocks or whatever your name is, and the rest of the people!!!! :)

[sknzrebel]

its funny to me to watch this guy beg for his pathetic life,and about as funny as watching these washed up celebs trying to gain notoriety for it.what bplanet are these people on wake up and get a real job while your at it,if you support him and his bullshit books then toss his salad!!!!

[me]

We were not put here on this earth to take God's role in judging the fate of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Though, you may or may not believe that God exists or that he is our savior he still loves every single one of his children, including our brother in Christ Mr. Stanley Tookie Williams. Jesus became man not to bring a message of vengence or hate but to bring a message of love and mercy. We must all look within ourselves and recognize our own wrong doings, we may not have gone as far as physically killing another human being, but perhaps done other equally hurtful things to others or to God. God uses all of us as instruments and now He is using this man as an instrument, an example, of his love and compassion. If He was able to touch the heart of a cold blooded murderer and make him into an example of peace and purpose to our nations youth, then let us not interfere with the work of God. If God gave him life again let us not go against his will and take it away from him.

[RL]

Anybody wonder about how the Crips might react to Tookie's execution? I think it may spark more murders.

[very important blog]

You know what. Some of you sound just like a bunch of winny little old ladies who gets scared when the light is out. Some of you would believe anything someone tells you without ever doing the math yourself to find out if something is true or not. I dont know if Tookie killed those people or not but there's lot of evidence convincing me that he didnt and that he was framed "once again by LAPD and the DA". If I was spineless like the dude to who said that Tookie did it just to get off, hell yeah I would say he did it. But i'm not and never had a situation where I had to snitch or frame my boy to get off. So to all you ignorant POSTERS to this blog, get you facts straight. And for the white cat reading this blog unless you are hip to our so call judicial system, I bet you believe he did it because it is in your blood to believe anything and not question it. And besides that. If you are convince that he didnt do it you would still say he did when you are in the presence of your white friends. To Tookie, I never met you but know who you are. Keep you head up brother.

[mohades]

I agree with RL, in case u don't know once a Crip, always a Crip! The only true way out is death and they not gonna take too kindly to one of their generals falling. Someone will pay!

[baldilocks]

VIB:

I'll just chalk you up as another one who would hold black people back by denying or excusing their bad behavior. A klansman is more honest.

[Rebekka]

I'm a white female who grew up a block from the compton projects and so central. I've seen what happen when a murder goes down and no one talks. A life is ruined and out of fear of more violence you keep your mouth closed-right or wrong.
Tookie murdered those people for the wrong-he killed them because he had a gun, and because he could. He not only took the lives of those he shot in cold blood, but he took the lives of the family members still living forced to grieve.
Tookie was convicted in a court of law, by a jury of his american represenatives. Somehow I don't think his peers-the crips-were lining up for jury duty.
We don't need to be present at the crime to read the facts. They speak volums for the victims.
Tookie admited to anyone that would listen to his tales of rigiousness that he killed the whitie and he killed the buddaheads-were his words not slanderous and racist?
Tookie should pay the price for him crimes with his life.
An eye for an eye.

[gopher]

""I agree with RL, in case u don't know once a Crip, always a Crip! The only true way out is death and they not gonna take too kindly to one of their generals falling. Someone will pay!""
**********************************
Anybody wonder about how the Crips might react to Tookie's execution? I think it may spark
more murders.
***********************************,If ya dont do what we want we Kill ya ,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I think that's what They said ?

[Dee Lyons Torrez]

The sentence imposed by a jury of Mr. William's peers should be carried out. Who really knows the nature of his heart? Changed or not it does not resurrect the people that were murdered. I agree with another posting.....let God sort it out.

[Amber]

The blood of thousands upon thousands of human lives; every race, creed, and color is on the hands of Mr. Williams, being those directly and indirectly killed by gang violence as a result of his personal greed and need for power and the empire built by those bloody hands, namely the ‘Crips’. Whether he did or did not pull the trigger that snuffed out the lives of four innocent human beings, he is still responsible. If he had even attempted to make amends to the families of the four victims, if even to say ‘I am sorry that as a direct result of the Crips, the gang I founded, your family members are dead’, I would have more respect for him. Even in his “Apology” letter, he identifies himself as the ‘Surviving Crips Co-Founder’ as with a smug sense of pride.

I wonder if all the African-Americans out there who strongly support Tookie Williams based simply on the fact that he now renounces gang violence and co-authors children’s books as a form of personal redemption, would do the same for professed Racist Skin-Head John Edward Butler who brutally murdered Dan Shersty and Lin “Spit” Newborn simply for the fact that one was black and one was white and they were friends, when he writes his redemption books:

Skinheads and Drugs
Skinheads and the Abuse of Power
Skinheads and Self-Esteem
Skinheads and Your Neighborhood

I wonder if they’ll be supporting Butler’s appeals of innocence and protesting his walk down death row.