Stanley 'Tookie' Williams
Stanley 'Tookie' Williams was executed in the US yesterday. Williams, a co founder of notorious street gang 'The Crips' was sentenced to death in 1982 for the 1979 murders of 4 people.
On death row for 24 years, Williams wrote several childrens novels denouncing gang lifestyles. He was nominated for the nobel peace prize for his work against gang violence and had gained recognition in the field of literature.
Up until his execution Williams proclaimed his innocence. Governor Schwarzenegger, who had the power to overturn the sentence, refused on the grounds that Williams wouldn't admit guilt and in the governors eyes show remorse. Surely if guilty, you would tell the truth to save your life.
Williams was 51.
The irony of the story is that 30 years ago, the future governor and avid bodybuilder, met Tookie williams out the front of a Long Beach gym and complimented him on the size and definition of his arms. Little did he know about the power he would have in the future to save or condemn this man.
Stanley 'Tookie' Williams was executed in the US yesterday. Williams, a co founder of notorious street gang 'The Crips' was sentenced to death in 1982 for the 1979 murders of 4 people.
On death row for 24 years, Williams wrote several childrens novels denouncing gang lifestyles. He was nominated for the nobel peace prize for his work against gang violence and had gained recognition in the field of literature.
Up until his execution Williams proclaimed his innocence. Governor Schwarzenegger, who had the power to overturn the sentence, refused on the grounds that Williams wouldn't admit guilt and in the governors eyes show remorse. Surely if guilty, you would tell the truth to save your life.
Williams was 51.
The irony of the story is that 30 years ago, the future governor and avid bodybuilder, met Tookie williams out the front of a Long Beach gym and complimented him on the size and definition of his arms. Little did he know about the power he would have in the future to save or condemn this man.
