‘I Should Give Up?’ (On the eve of his execution,Tookie Discusses bid for clemency - Cites 'Racism')

Newsweek Web Edition ^ | 12/09/2005 | Karen Breslau

[TCats]

Updated: 10:20 p.m. ET Dec. 9, 2005 - Unless California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger grants his appeal for clemency, Stanley (Tookie) Williams is scheduled to be executed late Monday night at San Quentin State Prison, where he has been on death row since 1981 following a conviction for quadruple murder.

Williams spoke Friday with NEWSWEEK’s Karen Breslau by phone from his cell on San Quentin’s death row. Excerpts:

Why do you want to go on under the conditions you live in?

Williams: First and foremost, I have the heart, the fortitude and the redemption to fight. I’m not culpable. I’m not guilty. I’m not a quitter. I’ve been fighting all my life. Being black is the paramount [reason]. This integrity and fortitude I possess has been foisted down to me from my ancestors who fought to stay alive when they were in slavery, who fought to stay alive during moments of lynching, on down through profiling and other attacks of injustice.

[TCats]

Yep. The good old 'Racism' defense. Nary a word about any regrets but plenty about the racism that forced him to where he's at. The last part of the interview is very telling - His Lib Handler interrupts and cuts it off - Again, citing Racism in a question from the interviewer.

[Gordongekko909]

Tookie blames racism for his execution?

And in other news, the sun rose in the east this morning...

[Brett66]

This integrity and fortitude I possess has been foisted down to me from my ancestors who fought to stay alive when they were in slavery, who fought to stay alive during moments of lynching, on down through profiling and other attacks of injustice.

So were your ancestors responsible for the murdering, robbing, gangbanging part of you?

[Mike Darancette]

A lying murderer claiming racism.

[billhilly]

If it was about race, his victims lost the race.

[Fintan]

I've gotten to the point where I think he should be executed just to shut him up.

[msnimje]

I’m not culpable. I’m not guilty

This statement makes him ineligible for clemency as far as I am concerned.

[TCats]

Agree - And for my part they can throw a couple of his most ardent supporters in the deal.

[Charles Henrickson]

Williams spoke Friday with NEWSWEEK’s Karen Breslau by phone from his cell on San Quentin’s death row.

He's got a cell phone?

[al baby]

No Better yet let him live and let Mike Ferrall take his place

[al baby]

Yup a cell phone not a mobil phone ha ha ha

[VeniVidiVici]

This integrity and fortitude I possess has been foisted down to me from my ancestors who fought to stay alive when they were in slavery, who fought to stay alive during moments of lynching, on down through profiling and other attacks of injustice.

This is true. I hear they are going to have another go at this in Eritrea where thousands of African-Africans have died and are going to die simply because they are different from each other.

[Malsua]

Is he getting the needle?

If it isn't Gas or old sparky, there's an injustice going on.

Looking at the faces that he blew apart with a shotgun, he needs to die more brutally, but I guess we'll have to settle for his quiet death.

[TCats]

I think in California the default method is the needle but the condemned can elect gas if he wants.

[I see my hands]

I'd like to know more about this "foisting" business.

[frankjr]

I wish they would show Tookie's execution on pay per view.

[Anti-Bubba182]

"..Williams: First and foremost, I have the heart, the fortitude and the redemption to fight. I’m not culpable. I’m not guilty. I’m not a quitter. I’ve been fighting all my life. Being black is the paramount [reason]. This integrity and fortitude I possess has been foisted down to me from my ancestors who fought to stay alive when they were in slavery, who fought to stay alive during moments of lynching, on down through profiling and other attacks of injustice..."

The effrontery!

[Gordongekko909]

He could probably get a firing squad if he requested it.

[Valpal1]

I see Tookie is still stuck on stupid (himself). He's gonna mouth off all the way to the gurney.

They oughta let this guy talk all day every day to the press. He's exhibit 1 for voting republican.