Redemption~~~The Tookie Williams Story
With all of the negative things going on in the world today, its so easy to just overlook one mans story of redemption. I have been following this story for the past while, and have seen how this man has completely changed his life while incarcerated and in my belief is very valuable to young children . Through his books and movies he has turned many youths lives around with his story. And now, while he awaits his fate at San Quentin Prison, I think his story needs to reach more children , so that they can learn what violence has done.
Anyways, his website is www.tookie.com and there is also an area where , if you feel passionate about this issue, you can vote online for his clemency.
I wasnt sure whether to post this here, as a debate being the last thing I want to come up. I understand everyone has their own opinions, and I respect that. But this just goes so much further.
Re:Redemption~~~The Tookie Williams Story
Tookie's story is an interesting one, to say the least.
His denials of having been responsible for the murders for which he faces the death penalty does not surprise me, as there are few convicted murderers who admit their roles in the crime for which they are convicted.
Given the obvious problems with the death penalty, I support a moratorium, until such time as we can amend the system to prevent the innocent from being punished, as we discovered only a few years ago a large number of innocent people who had been wrongfully convicted and put on death row, due to police/prosecutorial perjury, false testimony, etc.
If the system cannot be fixed to exclude the innocent from being convicted, I do not think anyone should be executed for any crime, unless the accused fully admits his/her guilt, videotaped evidence of the crime in progress and/or DNA evidence fully supports conviction.
That said, it does not help Tookie's case that he openly admits starting one of the most nototrious street gangs in the United States: the Crips, which, along with the Bloods, has cause untold amounts of pain and suffering in LA and numerous other cities across the United States.
That alone, may cause many people to wish to take vicarious revenge against a gang that had caused them to suffer personal injury or the death of a loved one.
Tookie undoubtedly has many supporters, along with people who oppose, on principle, the death penalty. However, despite his apparent change of heart and efforts to combat youth involvement with crime and gangs, his efforts in starting the Crips in the first place will work against his efforts to avoid being executed.