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Indybay Feature

Stanley Tookie Williams, Executed on 12/13/2005

by Mahtin (themahtin at hotmail.com)
Stanley Tookie Williams III was executed early this morning by lethal injection administered by the state of California.
Stanley Tookie Williams III was executed early this morning by lethal injection administered by the state of California. Williams, who was just weeks from his 52nd birthday, is said to have been a co-founder of the Crips gang in Los Angeles. In 1981, he was convicted of the 1979 murders of four people in the Los Angeles area. After 6.5 years in solitary confinement on Death Row at San Quentin, he renounced his past gang affiliation. He wrote several books and started programs to discourage youth from joining gangs. A film starring Jamie Foxx entitled "Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story," was made to tell his story. Following the release of this film, celebrities such as rap artist Snoop Dogg joined the fight to save the life of Williams. Williams never admitted to having committed the murders for which he was convicted. This was one reason that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger cited for denying him clemency. Schwarzenegger is the governor who renamed the California Department of Corrections to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, but he does not seem to believe that Stanley Tookie Williams experienced rehabilitation or redemption.

Supporters of Williams tried to submit issues to various legal bodies in hopes of being granted a stay of execution. If a 60-day stay had been granted, it would have given time for courts to examine the legal issues that are outstanding in the case. It would have also given California's legislative bodies a chance to vote on AB 1121, the California Moratorium on Executions Act. Read more from Californians for a Moratorium on Executions The death warrant for Stanley Tookie Williams was signed in October. His execution date was set for December, while the two other men whose warrants were signed that day received execution dates in January and February of 2006. Read more

In the days before his death, a new witness appeared: Gordon Von Ellerman has reported that he had knowledge that Oglesby, a witness who testified against Williams, had in 1979-80 been studying to help frame Williams. Von Ellerman named several other people who he thought could corroborate his statement.

One issue in appeals in this case highlighted the fact that the prosecutor in Tookie's original trial removed three African-American jurors from the jury. During this trial, this prosecutor made racially-coded remarks during his closing argument, comparing Stan during the trial to a Bengal tiger in the zoo and stating that a black community - South Central Los Angeles - was equivalent to the natural "habitat" of a Bengal Tiger. The U.S. Supreme Court disregarded 9 of the 24 Ninth Circuit Court judges' assertion that the District Attorney at Tookie's trial employed "reprehensible and unconstitutional" racist tactics. This landmark ruling means that all over the US, people of color can be rejected from juries based on the color of their skin.

Petitions to the US Justice Department and to Governor Schwarzenegger (1 | 2) were signed by hundreds of thousands of people, and many, many letters and phone calls were issued-- to no avail. Interviews: Democracy Now | Flashpoints | Wake Up Call 12/12/05 | What I would do with the rest of my life
People who met with Stanley Tookie Williams: Rev. Jesse Jackson | Jamie Foxx | Snoop Dogg

More statements:
Death Row prisoner Steve Allen Champion, a.k.a. Adisa Akanni Kamara | Political prisoner Kalima Aswad | Tom Hayden | Mesha Monge-Irizarry | NAACP Press Conference via Telephone during 12/12 Women's Show on KPFA, including attorneys for Williams | Death Penalty Focus | NAACP


Past Indybay coverage from Indybay's Police State Page:
People's Clemency Hearing and Protests on 12/12 | November 30th Day of Action Against Executions | Teach-ins, Day of Action, November 19th Rally at San Quentin | October 2005: Supreme Court Says Racial Bias Doesn't Merit Appeal | 2/2/05


SaveTookie.org | Tookie.com | Campaign to End the Death Penalty | Death Penalty Focus | Wikipedia's biography of Stanley Tookie Williams
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by Send Arnold Some Love!
Tookie's Executioner: THE TERMINATOR

Send Arnold Your Love!

Arnold Schwarzenegger's primary residence is at;
12989 CHALON RD LOS ANGELES CA 90049

Send Some Of Your Love Today!


Arnold owns a restaurant called;
Schatzi on Main
3110 Main Street,
Santa Monica, CA / (310) 399-4800


Arnold Killed Tookie!


Send Arnold Some Love!


Arnold Exposed:

The son of an SS nazi officer,
Schwarzenegger has publicly stated that
he has dreamed of being a dictator and that he
admires Hitler. He campaigned for war criminal
Kurt Waldhiem after it had been made public that he
was a top nazi.

http://www.arnoldexposed.com/


Arnold Killed Tookie!


Send Arnold Some Love!


Where You Might Find Arnold!


Give Arnold Some Love!

http://www.seeing-stars.com/StarIndexes/Arnold.shtml


Arnold Killed Tookie!


ARNOLDS PROPERTY DETAIL

Los Angeles, CA  RICK AUERBACH, ASSESSOR
Parcel# (APN): 4493-005-034 Use Description:  
Parcel Status:    
Owner Name: SCHWARZENEGGER ARNOLD & MARIA SHRIVER  
Mailing Addr: 3110 MAIN ST SANTA MONICA CA 90405
Situs Addr: 12989 CHALON RD LOS ANGELES CA 90049
Legal Description: TR=37838 FOR DESC SEE ASSESSOR'S MAPS PO

***********
3326-033-034 WACHTER PAUL D SCHWARZENEGGER BLIND TRUST AVE G(PAV)/VIC 240 STE HI VISTA CA 93535 Map

3386-001-027 WACTER PAUL D SCHWARZENEGGER BLIND TRUST AVE K/VIC 59 STE ROSEVELT CA 93535 Map

4471-020-017 WEIDER BETTY SCHWARZENEGGER ARNOLD Map

4493-005-034 SCHWARZENEGGER ARNOLD & MARIA SHRIVER 12989 CHALON RD LOS ANGELES CA 90049

***********
PROPERTY DETAIL

Los Angeles, CA  RICK AUERBACH, ASSESSOR
Parcel# (APN): 4493-005-034 Use Description:  
Parcel Status:    
Owner Name: SCHWARZENEGGER ARNOLD & MARIA SHRIVER  
Mailing Addr: 3110 MAIN ST SANTA MONICA CA 90405
Situs Addr: 12989 CHALON RD LOS ANGELES CA 90049
Legal Description: TR=37838 FOR DESC SEE ASSESSOR'S MAPS PO
ASSESSMENT
Total Value: $10,883,250 Use Code: 0101 Zoning: LARE40
Land Value: $8,033,466 Tax Rate Area: 00067    
Impr Value: $2,849,784 Year Assd: 2005 Impr Type:
Other Value: Property Tax: Price/Sqft: $335.38
% Improved: 26% Delinquent Yr:    
Exempt Amt.: Exempt Codes: N    
SALE HISTORY Sale1 Sale2 Sale 3 Transfer
Recording Date: 04/17/2002 04/17/2002
Recorded Doc: 897005 897005
Rec. Doc Type:  
Transfer Amount: $4,863,040  
Seller (Grantor):  
1st Trs Dd Amt: Code 1: 2nd Trs Dd Amt: Code 2:
PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS
Lot Acres: Year Built: 2001 Fireplace:
Lot SqFt: Effective Yr: A/C: CENTRAL
Bldg/Liv Area: 14,500     Heating: FLOOR FURNACE
Units: 1 Total Rooms: Pool: POOL
Buildings: Bedrooms: 7 Flooring:
Stories: Baths (Full): 10 Park Type:
Style: Baths (Half): Spaces:
Construct: Bsmt SqFt:   Site Influence:
Quality: Garage SqFt:    
Building Class: D     Timber Preserve:
Condition:     Ag Preserve:
Other:
Other Rooms:

************
PROPERTY DETAIL

Los Angeles, CA  RICK AUERBACH, ASSESSOR
Parcel# (APN): 4471-020-017 Use Description:  
Parcel Status:    
Owner Name: WEIDER BETTY  SCHWARZENEGGER ARNOLD
Mailing Addr: 131 S HUDSON AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90004
Situs Addr:
Legal Description: SE 1/4 OF NW 1/4 OF SEC 14 T 1S R 19W
ASSESSMENT
Total Value: $36,445 Use Code: 010V Zoning: LCA11*
Land Value: $36,445 Tax Rate Area: 08666    
Impr Value: Year Assd: 2005 Impr Type:
Other Value: Property Tax: Price/Sqft:
% Improved: Delinquent Yr:    
Exempt Amt.: Exempt Codes: N    
SALE HISTORY Sale1 Sale2 Sale 3 Transfer
Recording Date: 03/07/2002 01/11/1978 11/08/1971 03/07/2002
Recorded Doc: 546886 546886 546886
Rec. Doc Type:  
Transfer Amount:  
Seller (Grantor):  
1st Trs Dd Amt: Code 1: 2nd Trs Dd Amt: Code 2:

***********
PROPERTY DETAIL

Los Angeles, CA  RICK AUERBACH, ASSESSOR
Parcel# (APN): 3386-001-027 Use Description:  
Parcel Status:    
Owner Name: WACTER PAUL D  SCHWARZENEGGER BLIND TRUST
Mailing Addr: 3110 MAIN ST SANTA MONICA CA 90405
Situs Addr: AVE K/VIC 59 STE ROSEVELT CA 93535
Legal Description: W 1/2 OF W 1/2 OF NW 1/4 OF NE 1/4 OF NE
ASSESSMENT
Total Value: $10,182 Use Code: 580V Zoning: LCA21*
Land Value: $10,182 Tax Rate Area: 03828    
Impr Value: Year Assd: 2005 Impr Type:
Other Value: Property Tax: Price/Sqft:
% Improved: Delinquent Yr:    
Exempt Amt.: Exempt Codes: N    
SALE HISTORY Sale1 Sale2 Sale 3 Transfer
Recording Date: 06/18/2004 03/14/1977 06/18/2004
Recorded Doc: 1566505 1566505 1566505
Rec. Doc Type:  
Transfer Amount:  
Seller (Grantor):  
1st Trs Dd Amt: Code 1: 2nd Trs Dd Amt: Code 2:

************
PROPERTY DETAIL

Los Angeles, CA  RICK AUERBACH, ASSESSOR
Parcel# (APN): 3326-033-034 Use Description:  
Parcel Status:    
Owner Name: WACHTER PAUL D  SCHWARZENEGGER BLIND TRUST
Mailing Addr: 3110 MAIN ST #300 SANTA MONICA CA 90405
Situs Addr: AVE G(PAV)/VIC 240 STE HI VISTA CA 93535
Legal Description: *SE 1/4 OF SW 1/4 OF SE 1/4 OF SE 1/4 (E
ASSESSMENT
Total Value: $3,672 Use Code: 580V Zoning: LCA11*
Land Value: $3,672 Tax Rate Area: 03449    
Impr Value: Year Assd: 2005 Impr Type:
Other Value: Property Tax: Price/Sqft:
% Improved: Delinquent Yr:    
Exempt Amt.: Exempt Codes: N    
SALE HISTORY Sale1 Sale2 Sale 3 Transfer
Recording Date: 06/18/2004 06/01/1976 06/18/2004
Recorded Doc: 1566506 1566506 1566506
Rec. Doc Type:  
Transfer Amount:  
Seller (Grantor):  
1st Trs Dd Amt: Code 1: 2nd Trs Dd Amt: Code 2:

       
by Johnny Cash
"San Quentin, may you rot and burn in hell.
May your walls fall and may I live to tell.
May all the world forget you ever stood.
And may all the world regret you did no good."
by foto
owensboro.jpg
Rainey Bethea, a 22-year-old black man who was convicted of rape and murder, hangs from the gallows in downtown Owensboro, KY., as 20,000 spectators watch on Aug. 14, 1936. A group of 200 people mobbed the scaffold to get a piece of the black death hood as a souvenir after Bethea's execution. The carnival atmosphere, with its "necktie breakfasts" and "hangman's parties," prompted such an outcry that the state legislature ordered that all executions take place in a state penitentiary.
by CJ Laity
C29300

One minute into the thirteenth of December
Can't find the vein! Can't find the vein!
Thirty-nine witnesses and seventeen reporters
Can't find the vein! Can't find the vein!
Behind thick glass only feet from the stage
Can't find the vein! Can't find the vein!
Barbara blows a kiss and pumps her fist
Can't find the vein! Can't find the vein!
Shackled at the wrists in a San Quentin chamber
Can't find the vein! Can't find the vein!
Black straps hold back the winces of pain
Can't find the vein! Can't find the vein!
Twelve minute search for the Terminator
Can't find the vein! Can't find the vein!
Twenty-six years and they still can't find it
Can't find the vein! Can't find the vein!
Loaded surgical gloves preparing to aim
Can't find the vein! Can't find the vein!
Shotgun blast in the form of a padded gurney
Needle in the vein! Needle in the vein!
Torrent of words spits the death warrant
Needle in the vein! Needle in the vein!
Head falls limp and chest stops rising
Needle in the vein! Needle in the vein!
Through a hole in the door comes the white paper
Needle in the vein! Needle in the vein!
To verify the success of the act of murder
Needle in the vein! Needle in the vein!
Two thousand strong outside the prison gates
Needles in the vein! Needles in the vein!
Needles in the vein! Needles in the vein!


--CJ Laity
by Kevin Boyd (uniquefamily [at] earthlink.net)
This is called who can where Tookie's shoes.Everybody in the media is saying his not rehabilitate his self. First he was not talking about redemption for the murders that America tells us everyday innocent till proven guility.In 1960-2005 Blacks are all ways treated guility.Innocent to America is just a look or expression on our face.Redmeption is admit your wrong doing.He said he was innocent but we all know appeal denied over and over again.Arnold Schwarzenegger the (Executioner). Tookie the blanks of America's unloaded gun.Nobody can define his color,personally or courage by pass damage.When he said I have change, he was talking about his gang life. Why? gang life is because of all rich and racism. Told we don't care, but shown everyday on TV.As a black man or woman we was born asleep never woken by America hands of acceptance.Tookie will always live on threw every gang member.Wounds of our color will heal challenges ahead of Society.My color poison to the truth, fill in my blanks of history and the elements of life.
by sak
I'm not going judge tookie. But I trully feel sorry for the victims and their family, My prayers are with them. But..but this is what I want to say. If one man kills another it makes sense to keep him locked up and put him away from society. But it does not give any other man the right to kill him. A murderer deserves life in prison but not death aleast not by a human hand. For example a murderer is doing life in prison, he is locked up away from society. To take a man and poisoning and killing him with leathal injection for the murder will not bring back the victim(s). Once he dies he wil face his judgement or punishment for the sin(s) he committed. GOD will judge him not us. So if you take a convicted murderer and kill him don't you thinks thats a sin. "THOU SHALL NOT KILL".
by Juan Vasquez (elzorro43 [at] laguna2000.com)
Hey they should put the execution of cold bloded killers like tookie williams on national television that way kids will learn what will hapen to them if they kill. Maybe put it on pay perview, make some money out of it, i bet you millions of people will pay to watch a live execution and give all the profits to the relatives of his victims! Also they should charge his relatives for the expense of his execution.
by roger
reasons why tookie won

(a cold-blooded assessment):

1) the mobilization was huge, multi-generational, multi-ethnic.

2) when the system is weak, it must act strong, which it did. clemency or a stay would have been an admission of weakness, which it couldn't afford, neither from the governor, the 9th circuit, or sandra day o'connor, any of whom could have stopped it.

3) the system exposed its bankruptcy once again, this time under the gaze of a broader public. arnold, and leading democrat bill lockyear, pushed for the execution, thus helping to erase partisan delusions -- and this time it was before a generation that was burned (or at best, confused) by the left's 2004 embrace of the democrats. it showed its bankruptcy also in the fact that tookie attempted to be a peacemaker within the very population that the government ostensibly blames for society's violence and demonizes. by failing to value tookie's work, the police state reveals its true motives: to keep the lower classes divided, caught up in conventional "crime" and thus constantly subject to criminal justice supervision, thereby avoiding redirection of all that imagination, talent, energy, organization -- and violence -- toward their class enemy.

4) the more the u.s. alienates european progressives, the more resistence the european governments face from their populations to global neoliberalism, a u.s.-led imperialism, etc.. many europeans see the u.s. death penalty as barbaric, repellant, unforgiveable.

5) tookie's execution will focus more attention, not less on the death penalty, the color of death row, the criminal justice system, mumia, etc. there's nothing like a martyr to focus a movement. and here, a martyr who went to his death unbowed, without a forced confession, without a last meal.

6) the nature of this case (the arguments for clemency based on tookie's anti-gang work) display the ideological and irrational absolutism of death penalty supporters. clemency, stays, etc. -- all these can be seen as tools to make the death penalty palatable to the squeamish. but here the state threw them away.

so...

tookie lost his life, but he won his struggle to a greater extent than anyone could have imagined. he brought decades of anti-death penalty activism to its peak, and reached a wider and deeper constituency than mumia. his execution will cost the state much more than it knows.
by TheCacheKidd (Balla4real5 [at] sbcglobal.net)
Why? Why? Why would you kill a man that's in jail for life. He straightened his life up and you kill him. I'm deeply sorry for the victim's families but I understand why you would take a another man's life. You are just as much of a murderer as he is. Listen Mr. Williams I didn't know him personally but ive researched him alot and he was a man trying to get his life together but yall just took that from him like it was no big deal. This man was a positive influence on young people. He was a role model to alot of young people including myself. It would of been a dream come true to be able to meet the man responsible for the writings of all the wonderful written children's books. My DREAM is OVER..... So for the people that wanted him dead I want you to think to yourself and ask yourself is life any better without him here and to Mr. Swarzenegger you should be terminated for the murder of Mr. STANLEY TOOKIE WILLIAMS. Alot of young people looked up to you to mr. govenor. NOT ANYMORE!!!!! Anyways Im only 16 years of age. Im not in a gang thanks to Mr. Williams. He saved my life along with thousands of others. So thank you Mr. Williams for being a positive influence on life and maybe just maybe we will meet in heaven. REST IN PEACE!!!

Yours Truly,
Desmond G. Butler
by Kristi (KNN0712 [at] aol.com)
Tookie did not deserve to die. He changed his life around and he showed that he was a good man. But for that you take his life. Thats not telling us kids that we can change thats telling us that if we do change then no one is going to care. Just like TOOKIE. I believe in my heart that he was a good person and for being a good person you murdered him. That was so wrong. Just think how would you feel if tookie had of been your family or friend and someone killed him. THINK ABOUT IT. Kristi
by CJ Jones
You've been a heroin addict for years, CJ, you talentless hack.
by treina (brownsugah_78 [at] yahoo.com)
everyone deserves a second chance and i dont believe that you should have executed tookie williams.....not only did you execute him but it was on my birthday, what a sad way to bring a birthday in.....furthermore......you are the one that has tolive with that burden on your heart. You didnt bring him into this world so therefor you have to reason to take him out. Like I said previously. everyone deserves a second chance. If you were on death row. you would want someone to give you a second chance so why not do that for someone else.
by zolaente
If we are killing children and women in other countries for no reason it is not shocking we kill our own. Now that the truth is out from the last one they say it will stop. We will see. I think I have no faith in the usa at all. They kill them in jails and cover it anyway so to be on death row probably makes them live longer since they are then higher profile.
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