Posted on 12/14/2005 9:48:21 AM PST by doug from upland
World News
Supporters of executed man want ‘statesman’s’ funeral
By The Associated Press
Dec 14, 2005, 00:07
SAN FRANCISCO — The argument over whether convicted killer Stanley (Tookie) Williams was a man of peace or a death-row con artist raged on after his execution Tuesday, with supporters announcing they would give him a funeral “befitting a statesman.”
The 51-year-old founder of the bloody Crips gang died by injection at San Quentin Prison just after midnight for the murders of four people in two 1979 holdups, professing his innocence to the very end, even when an admission of guilt might have helped save his life. His last, best hope was an act of mercy by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. But the governor was unconvinced by Williams’ supporters, several Hollywood stars among them, who argued that he had redeemed himself behind bars with memoirs, children’s books and lectures against the dangers of gang life.
After the execution, Williams’ supporters vowed to continue his work to discourage youngsters from following in his footsteps, and promised another book from writings he left behind.
“If they think they succeeded by killing him in getting people to forget about him, they have done just the opposite,” said Barbara Becnel, his collaborator and most vocal supporter.
Williams declined to make a final statement as he went to his death.
He seemed frustrated by the time it took officials to insert the intravenous lines into the former bodybuilder’s muscular arms. At one point, Williams uttered something to the nurse and offered to help, said Steve Ornoski, the warden. About 15 minutes after the process began, he appeared to ask: “You doing that right?”
Williams refused a sedative, said Becnel, one of the witnesses. She said he was “brave and strong and he was everything we believed him to be.”
Other witnesses included Rudy Langlais, executive producer of Redemption: The Stanley Tookie Williams Story, a TV movie starring Jamie Foxx.
Joan Baez, who sang Swing Low, Sweet Chariot outside the prison, called the execution “planned, efficient, calculated, antiseptic, cold-blooded murder.”
I just spoke with the local FBI in Los Angeles and gave them the heads up. Bechnel is looking for a venue that can handle 16,000 people. I told the FBI agent that there must be 10% of that crowd with outstanding felony warrants. It could be a very productive day for them.
Had Tookie received life without parole 25 years ago, and died of natural causes, would there be clamoring for a statesman's funeral?
As far as I'm concerned, they can give him a Pharaoh's funeral complete with camels and dancing girls. Just don't come around here to pass the hat...
BTW. Given that a rather strong poison is used, are the remains released uncremated? Does anyone have any factual data?
I heard that his girlfriend refused to attend the late-nite execution, telling him; " Some of us have to get up in the morning."
When somebody wants to make a fool of themselves, get out of the way and let them. I agree.
I really hope they follow up on it and don't just ignore it. Organized criminals are scum in my book, regardless of whether they're street gang-bangers or made members of the Cosa Nostra.
A limo should offer a special package and sell it on eBay.
RIOT!! RIOT!!!! Grab the popcorn
They'd better decide what they want to do and do it quickly, because I expect Tookie to be raised from the dead any day now.
Then again, I had two grandparents who both refused pain meds while dying of cancer because they didn't want to be zombies during their last days.
Maybe that's just the way I was raised.
"give him a funeral 'befitting a statesman.'”
What, let him lie in state in the Capital rotunda?
here's a thought- you want to be buried like a satesman? how about you live like one?
oh yeah, sorry. there I go applying logic to liberals again...
Hopefully I will never find out how it feels to face the executioner.
we need to piss on his grave
Put Stanley (Pukey) William's only remains this side of hell, on display in the Rotunda of the Capitol, in a giant urinal/spitoon, where the un-beguiled may properly express their their condolences.
I hope I never have to hear about this loser again.
Too bad California needs more executions of murderous creeps.
Lemme fix this...
Joan Baez, who sang Swing Low, Sweet Chariot outside the prison, called the execution “The planned, efficient, calculated, antiseptic, execution of a cold-blooded murderer.”
How 'bout a Viking funeral.
As far as I have read, it's not poison that is used in a lethal injection (unlike, for example, the gas chamber, which does use poisonous cyanide gas).
The three elements are used in everyday places like the dentist chair and the operating room. Of course, in the lethal injection process, the dosages are increased far beyond what would normally be used during dental work or surgery.
On the other hand, when inmates were executed via the gas chamber, the death chamber had to be vacuumed out, and if the condemned had hair, the hair would have to be stroked, in order that no amount of the lethal gas could be trapped in the hair, and end up killing one or more of the handlers. In that case, much greater care would have to be taken before a cremation took place, to ensure that no one else dies in the post execution handling of the body.
Google "death penalty protocol" for some extra factual data, and add in "Tookie" for some of the more recent articles. I can't take the extra time to find one for you right now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.