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.
Free ride? He's been living @ taxpayer's expense to too long already!
He's still out there looking, he has a few more golf courses to check.
Ohhhh, real gangland territory that Petaluma.
If gang activity struck him in the pocketbook -- or killed a member of his immediate family -- he'd think differently.
I hope ya'all are watching CNN...It's a laugh-a-minute. They have a childhood friend on right now, Kershaun Scott, saying that Tookie was SUCH A GOOD BOY...
The Opponents of the Death Penalty always site the possible contributions these convicted murderers could be to society, yet these same people dismiss the potential contributions of the unborn as they rally for abortion rights.
The primary difference between us and them is that we defend Liberty and the innocence of the unborn, while the Democrats defend the rights of our enemies to kill us, as well as the rights of their like minded crowd to kill the unborn, and future of our Nation
And undoubtedly an 'Honors Student' - Aren't they all?
You are so right! And I love your tagline...
OMG! How sickening....thank God justice will eventually be done in only a few more hours.
As a matter of fact, the website of Michael Savage has the morgue photos of the people "Tookie" killed. I understand the brutality is nauseating. And since I am NOT a Michael Savage fan, I think I'll pass...........
It's always, "He was a quiet man...."
If gang activity struck him in the pocketbook -- or killed a member of his immediate family -- he'd think differently
---True. :)
What about the comparison to Mandella? Didn't he do about 30 years? Soul Bros.
I agree with you, but I was also sure that things would change after the LA riots.
I was mistaken.
Probably because there weren't enough cameras around at that point. The same with the Schiavo matter - He came at the last minute to occupy prime airtime, after the MSM had whipped it up to a frenzy.
I simply cannot understand why the Democrat Party is taken seriously as a Party that represents anything our Founders envisioned for the country they founded on the unalienable rights our creator gave each and everyone of us
"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."
Dare I say Pay-Per-View. That would cover the costs.
Yes Mandella did spend a couple of decades in prison. He was arrested in a bomb factory. The left has loved him ever since.
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