Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Tookie's Death=More Violence
Nothing Good Will Come From Killing Tookie
If America were different-Tookie, a native son, might be governor instead of someone else. If America were different, Tookie might have been a famous, wealthy actor with several Hummers in his garage. If America were different, Tookie might have married into the Kennedy family.
but America is the same. A young white boy from Austria could come to the US and day one he had things going for him that a Tookie or anybody like Tookie would never have. Being born in America, being born black in America, is not the blessing so many Americans like to portray to the world.
Maybe Schwarzenegger wasn’t mired in the hate, despair, hopelessness, oppression, etc that so many native sons and daughters have been. It’s hard to have that unfailing optimism when all you’ve seen is poverty, despair and oppression.
Yes, Tookie could have taken another road. But do any of you think he could have been Governor or anything near it for that matter? The truth is a foreigner can come to these shores and day one they have more opportunity, more hope than many of our native born. Why is it this way? Why is America so violent? Why is America so hypocritical? Why is America so self-righteous?
In the sixties, LBJ called for a great society. On that would lift everyone up…a society where all of us belonged. The Reagan/Bush years have destroyed any vestige of that idealism, the hope that came with that message. Now we only have the death penalty, wars where the American rich send the American poor off to die based on lies and deception. We have an America with leaders seemingly bought off by the highest bidder. And now we are going to kill off Tookie and everything will be all right.
Is it going to be all right for the children who have gotten inspiration from Tookie’s words? What are they going to feel? They are only going to feel the ugliness, the hate, the hopelessness that has been such an enduring part of this American experiment. Will Tookie’s death inspire them to do good things or bad? I think it will demoralize them and, for some, turn them in the wrong direction.
In many ways, Tookie’s fate was sealed when he was born. Born black in one of the most backwards states in the US, Louisiana. That sure doesn’t mean that he couldn’t have become a legitimate success in America, but lets be real. For many of us, the doors are closed at birth. Like Ann Richards said about George Bush, some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Others are not.
Tookie’s death will bring no joy, no inspiration, no hope, no promise. It will do nothing positive. I think it will lead to more violence, more despair and more hopelessness. And it will drive more of a wedge between a corrupt government and the people who are its subjects.
but America is the same. A young white boy from Austria could come to the US and day one he had things going for him that a Tookie or anybody like Tookie would never have. Being born in America, being born black in America, is not the blessing so many Americans like to portray to the world.
Maybe Schwarzenegger wasn’t mired in the hate, despair, hopelessness, oppression, etc that so many native sons and daughters have been. It’s hard to have that unfailing optimism when all you’ve seen is poverty, despair and oppression.
Yes, Tookie could have taken another road. But do any of you think he could have been Governor or anything near it for that matter? The truth is a foreigner can come to these shores and day one they have more opportunity, more hope than many of our native born. Why is it this way? Why is America so violent? Why is America so hypocritical? Why is America so self-righteous?
In the sixties, LBJ called for a great society. On that would lift everyone up…a society where all of us belonged. The Reagan/Bush years have destroyed any vestige of that idealism, the hope that came with that message. Now we only have the death penalty, wars where the American rich send the American poor off to die based on lies and deception. We have an America with leaders seemingly bought off by the highest bidder. And now we are going to kill off Tookie and everything will be all right.
Is it going to be all right for the children who have gotten inspiration from Tookie’s words? What are they going to feel? They are only going to feel the ugliness, the hate, the hopelessness that has been such an enduring part of this American experiment. Will Tookie’s death inspire them to do good things or bad? I think it will demoralize them and, for some, turn them in the wrong direction.
In many ways, Tookie’s fate was sealed when he was born. Born black in one of the most backwards states in the US, Louisiana. That sure doesn’t mean that he couldn’t have become a legitimate success in America, but lets be real. For many of us, the doors are closed at birth. Like Ann Richards said about George Bush, some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Others are not.
Tookie’s death will bring no joy, no inspiration, no hope, no promise. It will do nothing positive. I think it will lead to more violence, more despair and more hopelessness. And it will drive more of a wedge between a corrupt government and the people who are its subjects.
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
The Death Penalty is a pro-violence is message. It is the state carrying out a form of ritualized revenge. The death penalty legitimizes violence, not in self-defense, but as an act of punishment. There is no deterrent effect, study after study shows this.
If the goal is to reduce violence in society, the death penalty for Stan Williams, as well as others, only makes the problem worse.
If the goal is to reduce violence in society, the death penalty for Stan Williams, as well as others, only makes the problem worse.
The state of California will kill Wilson at 12:01 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2005. There is no more hope for him.
in bellingham wa. a white man ran over and killed a black man while shouting ''damn ni###rs''. i think the man was given like 20 years.this killing was not robbery or anything like that.it was sheer HATE.why isnt sheer HATE not a death row ''case''.??"is it because ''robbery'' is a material crime that involves ''gain'' for a black man(getting in our cookie jar ,economic money etc,) while sheer hatred and killing of black is tolerated?in other wwords ,black man kill (ALLEGEDLY) to get money or other ''things'' is reason for death,but if white man just kills racially (and getting that particular black man out of the economic system) is reason to spare the white man even a life sentence?.racist bias all the way.;
Terminator kennt keine Gnade
Kaliforniens Gouverneur Arnold Schwarzenegger hat das Gnadengesuch des Todeskandidaten Stanley Williams abgelehnt. Der verurteilte Mörder wird am Dienstag hingerichtet, wenn nicht noch in letzter Minute ein Bundesgericht einschreitet.
Todeskandidat Williams: Gouverneur Schwarzenegger lehnte Grandengesuch ab
Großbildansicht
DPA
Todeskandidat Williams: Gouverneur Schwarzenegger lehnte Grandengesuch ab
San Francisco - Das Büro des Gouverneurs gab Arnold Schwarzeneggers Entscheidung am Montagabend bekannt. Zuvor hatte bereits ein Bezirksberufungsgericht einen Aufschub der Hinrichtung abgelehnt. Damit wird der frühere Bandenchef Stanley "Tookie" Williams wohl in der Nacht zum Dienstag um 0.01 Uhr Ortszeit (9.01 Uhr MEZ) durch eine Giftspritze sterben.
Laut Medienberichten begründete Schwarzenegger seine Entscheidung damit, dass er trotz eingehender Prüfung "keine Rechtfertigung" für eine Begnadigung habe finden können. Schwarzenegger hatte sich mit seiner Entscheidung viel Zeit gelassen, die Stimmung in den USA war geteilt. Auf der einen Seite stand die mehrheitlich für die Todesstrafe votierende kalifornische Öffentlichkeit, auf der anderen Seite die Kritik seiner einflussreichen Familie und vieler Hollywood-Kollegen, die sich klar gegen dieselbe stellen.
Zahlreiche prominente Bürgerrechtsaktivisten, Musiker und Filmschauspieler hatten sich für den verurteilten Vierfach-Mörder eingesetzt, da er im Gefängnis der Gewalt abgeschworen hatte. Unter ihnen Bischof Desmond Tutu und Winnie Mandela, die Schauspieler Jamie Foxx, Dannie Glover, Anjelica Houston, Tim Robbins und der Pastor Jesse Jackson. 50.000 Menschen unterzeichneten eine Petition. Auch das Gnadengesuch von Williams' Anwälten argumentierte damit, dass sich dieser in der Haft geläutert habe. In seinen Kinderbüchern warnt der 51-Jährige vor der Bandenkriminalität, weshalb er mehrfach für den Friedens- und Literaturnobelpreis vorgeschlagen wurde. Er bekennt sich dazu, früher ein verbrecherisches Leben geführt zu haben. Die Verantwortung für die vier Morde, für die er 1981 verurteilt wurde, streitet er jedoch ab.
Im Februar und März 1979 soll "Tookie", Anführer der berüchtigten Crips-Gang, bei Raubüberfällen im Süden Los Angeles den Ladenbesitzer Albert Owens und drei Mitglieder einer Einwandererfamilie aus Taiwan, die ein Motel betrieben, getötet haben. Im Gespräch mit Rolling-Stone-Ex-Frau und Menschenrechtsaktivistin Bianca Jagger erklärte er noch vor drei Wochen in San Quentin: "Ich bin unschuldig. Ich habe die Verbrechen, für die ich zum Tod verurteilt wurde, nicht begangen. Ich kann nicht Reue zeigen und für ein Verbrechen um Vergebung bitten, das ich nicht begangen habe, auch wenn ich mit meiner Weigerung mein Leben aufs Spiel setze. Ich kann nicht lügen, um zu leben."
Schwarzenegger hat damit während seiner Amtszeit bereits drei Gnadengesuche von Todeskandidaten abgewiesen. Die bislang letzte Begnadigung eines zum Tode Verurteilten in Kalifornien datiert bis 1967 zurück.
Kaliforniens Gouverneur Arnold Schwarzenegger hat das Gnadengesuch des Todeskandidaten Stanley Williams abgelehnt. Der verurteilte Mörder wird am Dienstag hingerichtet, wenn nicht noch in letzter Minute ein Bundesgericht einschreitet.
Todeskandidat Williams: Gouverneur Schwarzenegger lehnte Grandengesuch ab
Großbildansicht
DPA
Todeskandidat Williams: Gouverneur Schwarzenegger lehnte Grandengesuch ab
San Francisco - Das Büro des Gouverneurs gab Arnold Schwarzeneggers Entscheidung am Montagabend bekannt. Zuvor hatte bereits ein Bezirksberufungsgericht einen Aufschub der Hinrichtung abgelehnt. Damit wird der frühere Bandenchef Stanley "Tookie" Williams wohl in der Nacht zum Dienstag um 0.01 Uhr Ortszeit (9.01 Uhr MEZ) durch eine Giftspritze sterben.
Laut Medienberichten begründete Schwarzenegger seine Entscheidung damit, dass er trotz eingehender Prüfung "keine Rechtfertigung" für eine Begnadigung habe finden können. Schwarzenegger hatte sich mit seiner Entscheidung viel Zeit gelassen, die Stimmung in den USA war geteilt. Auf der einen Seite stand die mehrheitlich für die Todesstrafe votierende kalifornische Öffentlichkeit, auf der anderen Seite die Kritik seiner einflussreichen Familie und vieler Hollywood-Kollegen, die sich klar gegen dieselbe stellen.
Zahlreiche prominente Bürgerrechtsaktivisten, Musiker und Filmschauspieler hatten sich für den verurteilten Vierfach-Mörder eingesetzt, da er im Gefängnis der Gewalt abgeschworen hatte. Unter ihnen Bischof Desmond Tutu und Winnie Mandela, die Schauspieler Jamie Foxx, Dannie Glover, Anjelica Houston, Tim Robbins und der Pastor Jesse Jackson. 50.000 Menschen unterzeichneten eine Petition. Auch das Gnadengesuch von Williams' Anwälten argumentierte damit, dass sich dieser in der Haft geläutert habe. In seinen Kinderbüchern warnt der 51-Jährige vor der Bandenkriminalität, weshalb er mehrfach für den Friedens- und Literaturnobelpreis vorgeschlagen wurde. Er bekennt sich dazu, früher ein verbrecherisches Leben geführt zu haben. Die Verantwortung für die vier Morde, für die er 1981 verurteilt wurde, streitet er jedoch ab.
Im Februar und März 1979 soll "Tookie", Anführer der berüchtigten Crips-Gang, bei Raubüberfällen im Süden Los Angeles den Ladenbesitzer Albert Owens und drei Mitglieder einer Einwandererfamilie aus Taiwan, die ein Motel betrieben, getötet haben. Im Gespräch mit Rolling-Stone-Ex-Frau und Menschenrechtsaktivistin Bianca Jagger erklärte er noch vor drei Wochen in San Quentin: "Ich bin unschuldig. Ich habe die Verbrechen, für die ich zum Tod verurteilt wurde, nicht begangen. Ich kann nicht Reue zeigen und für ein Verbrechen um Vergebung bitten, das ich nicht begangen habe, auch wenn ich mit meiner Weigerung mein Leben aufs Spiel setze. Ich kann nicht lügen, um zu leben."
Schwarzenegger hat damit während seiner Amtszeit bereits drei Gnadengesuche von Todeskandidaten abgewiesen. Die bislang letzte Begnadigung eines zum Tode Verurteilten in Kalifornien datiert bis 1967 zurück.
Of California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger the request for grace of the death candidate Stanley Williams rejected. The condemned Mrder is executed on Tuesday, if not still in last minute a Federal court intervenes.
On the http://www.wm3.org website for the West Memphis Three (3 Arkansas teenagers unarguably innocent of the murders of three 8-year old boys in 1993), you have a carefully organized database (complete with search engine) containing the entire trial transcripts, evidence files, crimescene photographs--in addition, there are two documentaries which actually show in court abuses of power designed to railroad these three children right into prison. No forensic evidence, no connection to the victims, the list of injustices goes on and on and on. . .
On Tookie's website, however, you have a bunch of letters from children and ABSOLUTELY ZERO INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE ITSELF. He's had 25 years to make that a public record. But he'd rather just throw some scraps out there about an all-white jury--which in reality had one Asian, two Latinas, and a black man on it-- rather than have the public really examine his case. Also, a prosecutor referred to him as a "Bengal tiger" (as if a white person convicted of the same crimes would be called "the cute little teddy bear from the Snuggle fabric softener commercial"). By playing the race card--he's engaging in racism himself and, in essence, playing Uncle Tom to the white liberals, anxious to "help out the black community" from a distance--as if observing ants on an ant farm. "Look how much the convicted death penalty ant is helping the other little inner-city children ants" Give me a fucking break. As far as a positive message for the black community--how about "stop thinking of yourself as a black community"?
True, there is a made-for-TV movie about Tookie's life. And if you're careful not to blink, you can see a lightning-quick 45 second montage of his trial which doesn't really have time to develop any theme about legitimate innocence, much less give the names of the victims--but it does dramatically end with a white foreman standing up and pronouncing Tookie guilty.
Tookie talks a lot about "re-building the community" instead of getting the fuck out of the community. All right black children, let's clean up Tookie's mess and stick around and sweep up the crack pipes and paint over the graffiti--this is your shitty lot in life. Stay there. And read Tookie's messages for you. Over and over and over. . .oh, and don't forget to write a letter on Tookie's behalf.
You wouldn't tell some redneck from Missouri to stay a part of his community--why are we encouraging black children to think of themselves only as black? Perhaps it's because we never really wanted integration to begin with. For if we did, we wouldn't hold up a race-card playing death row inmate like Tookie. We'd be listening to Bill Cosby.
Why are we continually pumping into black children's heads the idea that they're "at-risk" to join a gang? What purpose does that serve? It's because it puts them where we really want them--all together, easily stereotyped. Multiculturalism IS racism. "You--you're black. This is why this happened to you!"
If Dr. King really did want us to integrate, why are we holding up somebody as a hero who writes "letters to incarcerated youth" that begin with the question: "What is the relationship between guard and prisoner? Is it master versus slave?" Do you think the ultimate end of integration was for some death row inmate to claim prison life is no different than the plantation? Are we that stupid?
Additionally, are we being asked to believe that every judge on every appeals court who has examined this case over the last 25 years is motivated only by racism? Are we really supposed to believe that? As with Mumia, is it simply a matter of picking up a few Latin phrases and growing dreadlocks that turns a black convict into an unjustly-held political prisoner?
As for the white people who are so eager to lick up any con artist bullshit that flows out from death row, I need to remind you that WE ARE NOT OUR ANCESTORS. I am not 400 years old, nor am I old enough to even remember Jim Crow. But I am not about to share in the sins of the white past because I don't consider myself a member of the "white community". (If such a thing is allowed to exist).
So Tookie can blame South Central Los Angeles for his troubled background, he can blame the racist police and prosecutors for his conviction, and soon, he can blame the death penalty for being dead.
Now we can switch our attention to a case of real innocence.
The West Memphis Three.
http://www.wm3.org
On Tookie's website, however, you have a bunch of letters from children and ABSOLUTELY ZERO INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE ITSELF. He's had 25 years to make that a public record. But he'd rather just throw some scraps out there about an all-white jury--which in reality had one Asian, two Latinas, and a black man on it-- rather than have the public really examine his case. Also, a prosecutor referred to him as a "Bengal tiger" (as if a white person convicted of the same crimes would be called "the cute little teddy bear from the Snuggle fabric softener commercial"). By playing the race card--he's engaging in racism himself and, in essence, playing Uncle Tom to the white liberals, anxious to "help out the black community" from a distance--as if observing ants on an ant farm. "Look how much the convicted death penalty ant is helping the other little inner-city children ants" Give me a fucking break. As far as a positive message for the black community--how about "stop thinking of yourself as a black community"?
True, there is a made-for-TV movie about Tookie's life. And if you're careful not to blink, you can see a lightning-quick 45 second montage of his trial which doesn't really have time to develop any theme about legitimate innocence, much less give the names of the victims--but it does dramatically end with a white foreman standing up and pronouncing Tookie guilty.
Tookie talks a lot about "re-building the community" instead of getting the fuck out of the community. All right black children, let's clean up Tookie's mess and stick around and sweep up the crack pipes and paint over the graffiti--this is your shitty lot in life. Stay there. And read Tookie's messages for you. Over and over and over. . .oh, and don't forget to write a letter on Tookie's behalf.
You wouldn't tell some redneck from Missouri to stay a part of his community--why are we encouraging black children to think of themselves only as black? Perhaps it's because we never really wanted integration to begin with. For if we did, we wouldn't hold up a race-card playing death row inmate like Tookie. We'd be listening to Bill Cosby.
Why are we continually pumping into black children's heads the idea that they're "at-risk" to join a gang? What purpose does that serve? It's because it puts them where we really want them--all together, easily stereotyped. Multiculturalism IS racism. "You--you're black. This is why this happened to you!"
If Dr. King really did want us to integrate, why are we holding up somebody as a hero who writes "letters to incarcerated youth" that begin with the question: "What is the relationship between guard and prisoner? Is it master versus slave?" Do you think the ultimate end of integration was for some death row inmate to claim prison life is no different than the plantation? Are we that stupid?
Additionally, are we being asked to believe that every judge on every appeals court who has examined this case over the last 25 years is motivated only by racism? Are we really supposed to believe that? As with Mumia, is it simply a matter of picking up a few Latin phrases and growing dreadlocks that turns a black convict into an unjustly-held political prisoner?
As for the white people who are so eager to lick up any con artist bullshit that flows out from death row, I need to remind you that WE ARE NOT OUR ANCESTORS. I am not 400 years old, nor am I old enough to even remember Jim Crow. But I am not about to share in the sins of the white past because I don't consider myself a member of the "white community". (If such a thing is allowed to exist).
So Tookie can blame South Central Los Angeles for his troubled background, he can blame the racist police and prosecutors for his conviction, and soon, he can blame the death penalty for being dead.
Now we can switch our attention to a case of real innocence.
The West Memphis Three.
http://www.wm3.org
Tookie spent over two decades in jail for killing four people while robbing a bank. He was put to death for those crimes against society.
While his death sentence and finally his execution attracted the support of movie stars, rappers, etc. a true Native Son continues to languish in prison for the crime of fighting for his people's rights.
No movie stars, rappers, etc. are demanding Leonard Peltier's freedom. Leonard Peltier didn't kill anyone while robbing a bank yet he's in his 31st year in prison. Despite the injustice, the Lakota warrior continues to serve his people (visit http://www.freepeltier.org).
If anyone is truly interested and dedicated to justice then they will join in the cry "Free Leonard Peltier!"
While his death sentence and finally his execution attracted the support of movie stars, rappers, etc. a true Native Son continues to languish in prison for the crime of fighting for his people's rights.
No movie stars, rappers, etc. are demanding Leonard Peltier's freedom. Leonard Peltier didn't kill anyone while robbing a bank yet he's in his 31st year in prison. Despite the injustice, the Lakota warrior continues to serve his people (visit http://www.freepeltier.org).
If anyone is truly interested and dedicated to justice then they will join in the cry "Free Leonard Peltier!"
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$345.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network