Stars line up in ex-gangster plea

BBC ^ | 11/28/05 | n/a

[kiriath_jearim]

Monday, 28 November 2005, 10:58 GMT

Stars line up in ex-gangster plea

Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx is among a number of high-profile stars calling for clemency for reformed gang leader Stanley "Tookie" Williams.

Foxx, who starred in a dramatisation of Williams's life, protested against Williams's planned execution at the premiere of his new film Jarhead.

Last week rap star Snoop Dogg spoke at a rally at San Quentin prison saying Williams's voice "needs to be heard".

Williams, 51, was sentenced to death in 1981 for the murder of four people.

Co-founder of the notorious Los Angeles Crips street-gang, Williams denies committing the 1979 murders that put him on death row.

He faces death by lethal injection on 13 December 2005.

While in jail, Williams has won praise for his anti-gang books, earning several Nobel Peace Prize nominations for his teachings.

His supporters range from Foxx and Snoop Dogg (himself a former Crips member) to Bishop Desmond Tutu and the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

They hope to persuade California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that Williams can do more for society alive than dead.

When the Williams' biopic Redemption aired on US television last year, Foxx said: "If Stan "Tookie" Williams had been born in Connecticut in the same type of situation, and was a white man, he would have been running a company."

"But, born a black man who has the capability of having brute strength and the capability of being smart in the ways of the world, he's going to get into what he gets into."

But US prosecutors said Williams was a "cold-blooded killer" who did not deserve "atonement" for his "brutal, murderous acts".

The crimes Williams was accused of were "heinous," said former MASH star Mike Farrell, who has lobbied for him for several years, but insists he has made"an extraordinary transformation".

Russell Crowe and Harry Belafonte are among the signatures Farrell has collected calling for clemency for Williams.

[GregoTX]

I rekon you and I look at the death penalty differently. IMO, a person sentenced to 15 years for a series of thefts, assaults ect is a candidate for an attempt to be rehabilitated. A person sentenced to life or capitol punishement does not. A death row inmate's attitudes or actions be they positive or negative would have no bearing on his sentence. Most condemned inmates claim jail house conversions. Good for them, I hope their conversions are real, I hope they had a change of heart and feel remorse. Doesnt change the penalty. Murdering a strangers in robberies cant be forgotten.

I gather from your perspective that a persons actions and attitudes AFTER a capitol penalty sentence is given would be an argument for clemency. Many people see it that way, but I take a different position on that.

[Paradox]

I gather from your perspective that a persons actions and attitudes AFTER a capitol penalty sentence is given would be an argument for clemency.

Actually, I would see this only as an argument if we were to have to choose for clemency between two convicted murderers. I don't see that this would ever be the case. This guy deserves what he gets, its just a shame that we may lose any positive influence he might have had. Of course, its terrible what he did, if I was a family member of the victims, I would want to kill him myself.

I do have a generalized opposition to the death penalty, but it is based on the fallibility of justice and law, and the inability to "take back" certain punishments, once meted.

[Rummyfan]

Hopefully the Guv realizes that this murderer has been duly tried and convicted, and has had the opportunity to utilize and exhaust the appeals process fully. There is no questioning of the process, neither his representation, nor procedure, nor guilt. No new evidence. If the Guv is half as politically smart as I think he is, he will let the process complete December 13th.

[Rummyfan]

"But, born a black man who has the capability of having brute strength and the capability of being smart in the ways of the world, he's going to get into what he gets into."

Did Foxx just state that Black Men have no control over their animal instincts? Did Foxx just state that Black Men are more animal than human, something less than human?

Sure seems like he did!

[BlueStateDepression]

Being that there has been a flurry of appeals lasting for over 20 years, what is your basis of opposition for claiming it is based on the fallibility of justice and law, and the inability to "take back" certain punishments, once meted.?

Are you suggesting that that Tookie is innocent?

Or are you simply saying that you oppose all death penalty sentences in general for the possability of a mistake? Are you, by extension of that, saying that lack of perfection means total failure?

Again you fell sorrow for the 'good' he would bring if he was not executed and you do not mention the good that was coming from those he killed. Again you ignore the innocent victims and decide to point out the offender is some kind of victim or that society is somehow a victim of punishing the guilty.

The shame for any good Tookie could have brought the world does not rest on those that will execute him or those that want to see it be done already. That shame lays with Tookie HIMSELF because his actions were his own choices.

[Paradox]

Are you suggesting that that Tookie is innocent?

Not at all. I simply oppose the death penalty in general for the reasons stated. That said, there are plenty of murderers on whom I would execute myself.

[Lanza]

From what I saw on Fox this weekend, he's still a piece of scum. According to sources at San Quentin, the guy has raped inmates and throws feces at prison guards. They didn't clarify if had done so recently. However, the officials at the prison do not agree that he's a good guy. He also ran the crips right from his jail cell.

[BlueStateDepression]

For clarification, you support something but you oppose it? You would take an action you directly oppose?

I would offer that you oppose mistakes in conviction regarding the death penalty and not the death penalty itself. Otherwise, you vote for it before you vote against it.