Fred Davis Jackson, of North Richmond, continues his vigil, despite bad news all morning, to save the life of Stanley "Tookie" Williams outside the gates of San Quentin State Prison.
Posted on 12/12/2005 9:29:18 PM PST by SmithL
Isolated in a death-watch cell, Stanley Tookie Williams is spending his final hours reading mail and waiting for his scheduled midnight execution, as a protest grows outside the gates of San Quentin Prison.
The mail includes between 55 to 75 letters from spiritual advisors. Though he declined a last meal, corrections officials delivered the prison's scheduled dinner anyway - chili mac, green beans, a roll and iced tea.
Williams initially said he didn't want to invite witnesses to the 12:01 a.m. execution, but changed his mind in the evening. Corrections officials wouldn't disclose the names of his five witnesses.
Just hours before, a federal appeals court ruled against another hearing. Shortly afterward, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger rejected the Crips gang co-founder's plea for clemency. Then, at 6 p.m, the governor declined to move the execution to another date.
"There is no reason to delay Williams' execution," the governor said in a statement.
The governor's announcement came as Williams was scheduled to be moved into the death-watch cell, and as protesters began flocking to the gates of the prison in San Rafael. Nearly 1,500 people - most of them anti-execution - had gathered by 9 p.m.
The growing crowd was said to have stalled traffic on the Richmond bridge. Dozens of media vans crammed the twisting, two-lane road leading to the gates, as protesters -- for and against Williams' execution -- huddled outside on a wind-swept, dreary night.
Will Rogers of Petaluma knelt near the prison gates, prepared to protest the execution.
"I don't want someone executed in my name," Rogers said. "It's a barbaric practice -- on balance, he did more good in the world than harm."
Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson spoke to the media several times in the afternoon and evening. He likened Williams to South African leader Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned for almost 30 years. Jackson said he felt for the families of the four victims Williams was convicted of killing in 1979, but claimed Williams was innocent and that the real killer could be free.
"I sense their pain and I understand it but one question is: Is it aimed at the right person?" Jackson said.
Execution foes greatly outnumbered the supporters in the early evening.
Rudy Thered of Sacramento brought photos of the victims to the prison, saying he was there to speak for them and other anti-Williams protesters who couldn't make it.
"The victims lose their personality and the accused is given time to establish one," Thered said.
Williams is scheduled to be moved into the death chamber shortly before midnight.
Anyone have any pics of his victims?
Maybe that's because execution supporters have jobs and families.
Do I smell a riot?
"Rodney King!" .... only this time they will loot DVD instead of VCR players.
Un-fricken believable.
Evidently Rogers isn't aware that there is a massive gang problem that mushroomed in part due to gangs like the Crips.
Tookie may be responsible for thousands of deaths, not just four.
So Rogers, what did he do in life that outweighed that? I'd really like to know.
Cry me a river you liberal dweebs.
I wish they would make the execution public, so that everyone will be made aware that if you commit murder this will happen to YOU.
I do not see any online...
"I don't want someone executed in my name," Rogers said. "It's a barbaric practice -- on balance, he did more good in the world than harm."
----It was barbaric what was done to the ones he killed and he didn't do any good and way more harm in the world.
Tookie, Tookie, go to your tomb. Do not pass Go. The free ride is over.
Did they shed any tears when McVeigh was executed?
"I sense their pain and I understand it but one question is: Is it aimed at the right person?" Jackson said.
Media whore at 12 (:01) O'Clock!
Oh my. Williams founds a gang 35 years ago, a gang that has killed hundreds and feuded for 35 years. Williams kills four innocent people, then Williams writes his memoirs and a couple of childrens' books telling them about the dangers of gangs. Oh yeah, that's balance. Where do these people come up with this stuff???
http://www.ak47.net/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=417510
Tookies handywork
I would suspect a few did, but nothing like this. I don't remember for sure.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Williams to O.J.? That might not be such a bad comparison. Both seemed to me to be guilty as sin.
This is an outrageous, ignorant statement even for one so versed in the art of promulgating outrageous and ignorant statements as the 'Rev.' Jackson is. What an A$$hole and I condemn the Media for providing him the platform from which he spews this BS. Same goes for Sheehan and her ilk.
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