Stanley "Tookie" Williams
earlier today: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/12/national/12-tookie.html
most recent, longer article: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/13/national/13tookie.html?hp&ex=1134450000&en=84209d282753e6c4&ei=5094&partner=homepage
What is the justice system for, if not this? If not a man who realizes his wrong-doing and wants to make the world better from it? He wrote children's books, gave motivational speeches via telephone, negotiated the accord between the Crips and the Blood gangs of L.A. He has done so much more than numerous other criminals who serve life in prison, or who are let out of jail only to commit further crimes. He's not the man he was in 1979. Schwarzenegger wouldn't even allow another trial when further evidence and arguments arose. This is very disheartening.
"To threaten me with death does not accomplish the means of the criminal justice system or satiate those who think my death or my demise will be a closure for them. Their loved ones will not rise up from the grave and love them. I wish they could. I sympathize or empathize with everyone who has lost a loved one. But I didn't do it. My death would not mollify them."
most recent, longer article: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/13/national/13tookie.html?hp&ex=1134450000&en=84209d282753e6c4&ei=5094&partner=homepage
What is the justice system for, if not this? If not a man who realizes his wrong-doing and wants to make the world better from it? He wrote children's books, gave motivational speeches via telephone, negotiated the accord between the Crips and the Blood gangs of L.A. He has done so much more than numerous other criminals who serve life in prison, or who are let out of jail only to commit further crimes. He's not the man he was in 1979. Schwarzenegger wouldn't even allow another trial when further evidence and arguments arose. This is very disheartening.
"To threaten me with death does not accomplish the means of the criminal justice system or satiate those who think my death or my demise will be a closure for them. Their loved ones will not rise up from the grave and love them. I wish they could. I sympathize or empathize with everyone who has lost a loved one. But I didn't do it. My death would not mollify them."