FCNNEWSSOURCE
LOS ANGELES (FinalCall.com) – The midday Dec. 12 announcement that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger denied clemency to Stanley “Tookie” Williams, a peace activist, who helped to birth the Crips street gang, drew swift, various reactions including anger, disappointment, despair and distrust by activists, residents, and a host of religious organizations, as well as relentless, enduring hope by many of his supporters.
Min. Tony Muhammad, Nation of Islam Western Regional Representative, stated that Gov. Schwarzenegger’s denial in the face of shaky testimony and evidence during trial, of Mr. Williams’ ability to change the lives of millions, and the spiritual and moral positioning of his transformation, showed that the Governor surrendered to political expediency.
“The Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan said to me that you can kill the body, but not the spirit of a man who has been redeemed, and you fear the Creator, God, who can kill body and soul. Although death is the fate dealt by the Governor to Stan “Tookie” Williams, he will be more powerful in his death than he was in his life,” Min. Tony stated.
›Several hours after Gov. Schwarzenegger’s declaration, community activists, clergy and residents held several protests to denounce the move, and to encourage others to continue their calls and emails to his office, in hopes of forging a reversal.
They gathered at Leimert Park and demonstrated at the L.A. Federal Building in Westwood and Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Brentwood mansion.
Sherron Bibbs joined the movement for clemency after following the developments for one week. “The Governor’s decision was disappointing. “Tookie is a changed man and I do believe in giving people a second chance, that people can change,” she stated.
The “Capital Punishment-Dead Wrong” poster tapered to the back of Mark Lott’s sport utility vehicle reiterated his position that Mr. Williams should not be executed. “I think that he’s (Gov. Schwarzenegger) pro-law enforcement. He listened to his political allies and succumbed to the pressure of the politicians, rather than the good and looking at the evidence,” Mr. Lott stated.
L.A. resident Ricky T stated, “If Gov. Schwarzenegger was here I would tell him that he wouldn’t make it into office again anyway, so there’s no use in playing politics by not granting the man clemency.”
“Now is a call for unity and guidance, so now in the Name of Allah and the Hon. Elijah Muhammad and the Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan, I will be calling all Bloods and Crips to come under the banner of unity and accept the guidance of Min. Farrakhan that we can change the reality of the fratricidal murders that we have involved ourselves in, and accept knowledge of self, God and the time, that the gang members who are born fearless warriors can now become the protectors of our communities that they have destroyed,” Min. Tony stated.
