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Nobel Laureates, Faith Leaders, Celebrities Join Growing Chorus Requesting Clemency for Stanley Tookie Williams
Wednesday November 23, 3:53 pm ET
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mike Farrell, Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo Among Activists Lending Voice to Message of Redemption, Peace and Hope


SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In a letter released today, a group of Nobel laureates, celebrity activists, faith leaders and policy-makers urged Gov. Schwarzenegger to grant clemency for Stanley Tookie Williams, recognizing the five-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee's valuable contributions to steer inner-city youth away from crime and gangs. "Each year at the holiday season, voices the world over cry out for peace," the letter reads. "This year, one of them, a voice of great power, will be lost unless you act."

A shortlist of the letter's signatories include:

* Nobel laureates: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mairead Corrigan Maguire,
Betty Williams, Jody Williams, Amnesty International, American Friends Service Committee;

* Celebrities: Ed Asner, Harry Belafonte, Jackson Browne, Jill Clayburgh, Ted Danson,
Danny Glover, Bonnie Raitt, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon;

* Mario Cuomo, Julian Bond, Reps. Jim McDermott, Jim McGovern,
George Miller, and Sen. Tom Harkin, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Gloria Steinem

They are joined by thousands of citizens who have signed an online petition (http://www.savetookie.org) in support of clemency, as well as ministers, teachers and community leaders across the nation who have written to the governor asking that he weigh the value of Williams' efforts, his message and his example against a death sentence following a trial marred by disturbing racial bias and dishonorable conduct.

A copy of the letter, along with a full list of its signatories is posted online at http://www.cm-p.com/clemency.htm


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