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Post by judywaits4u on Dec 16, 2005 9:04:50 GMT -5
Abolish the death penalty
The state of California’s cold-blooded execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams throws a harsh light on the barbaric practice of capital punishment in the United States.
Williams’ execution was a travesty of justice.
Williams maintained his innocence until the end. His trial was full of holes - a key witness later recanted, and others were themselves felons with something to gain by testifying against him.
But regardless of whether he was guilty or innocent of the crimes for which he was executed, Williams was a model of the redemption that our "justice" system is supposed to bring about. He went from being a gang leader to a peacebroker between rival gangs and an author of children’s books with an anti-gang message. He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
The problem goes beyond the issue of redemption. The death penalty is inextricably bound up with our racist and class-biased justice system and for that reason alone can never be just. Look at the spectacle around murder trials of wealthy people. They are able to hire "star" lawyers, and almost always wind up with relatively mild prison time, if any. Who can remember the last rich person to be executed?
A working-class person, especially one who is Black, Latino or another minority - like Williams - generally ends up with an overworked public defender, often facing a jury picked to exclude his or her peers, and an unsympathetic judge.
Check the statistics: although crimes actually committed by African American or Latino are roughly proportional to their percent of the population, African Americans and Latinos make up a vastly disproportionate percentage of those who have been executed, or are on death row, and of those incarcerated.
As has been widely documented, with the shortcomings and inequities in our judicial system, the existence of the death penalty guarantees the execution of innocent people. The death penalty has never produced a decrease in crime. It is not only useless - it is itself a crime. It should be abolished.
(source: Editorial, People's Weekly World)
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Post by swebb on Dec 16, 2005 9:06:16 GMT -5
deleted by Suzanne
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Post by judywaits4u on Dec 16, 2005 9:08:17 GMT -5
Gov. Speaks Out On Williams' Execution By Nannette Miranda
For the 1st time since denying death row inmate Stanley "Tookie" Williams clemency, Governor Arnold Schwarzengger is speaking out about his decision.
Given today's comments by the governor, clemency is likely to be rare under this administration. In the meantime, more calls in Sacramento today to reform California's death penalty. This time to put inmates to death sooner.
In his 1st public appearance since denying clemency to Stanley "Tookie" Williams, the governor said the evidence of guilt was too overwhelming to commute the inmate's death sentence. Williams' anti-gang crusade behind bars apparently did not come into play.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-California: "There was nothing there that made me go against the will of the people, or the law, or the opinions of all the judges in the courts, all the way up to the top."
Williams was actually on death row for nearly a quarter of a century, before he was put to death Tuesday.
California's next execution is that of convicted killer Clarence Ray Allen on January 17th. The 76-year-old has been on death row for as along as Williams. He's asking for mercy because he's blind, wheelchair-bound and has heart problems.
St. Senator Roy Ashburn will introduce a bill next month that will triple the size of the California Habeas Corpus Resource Center from 45 lawyers to 127. He says that will speed up the appeals process and shorten most inmates time on death row to 2 years, avoiding a decades long stay like Williams or Allen.
St. Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield: "How many people whose lives he touched negatively had an opportunity to know any peace, any justice, any conclusion? It's certainly unfair to the person who has committed the crimes and more unfair to the victims and their families."
The governor has denied clemency to 3 death row inmates based heavily on evidence. If his track record continues, it's unlikely requests for mercy will save Allen's life. In fact, clemency has not been granted in this state since 1967.
Michael Satris, Allen's clemency attorney: "The recent history of governors concerns me greatly in their failure to recognize the value of clemency to implement in cases that cry out for it."
(source: KGO TV news)
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Post by judywaits4u on Dec 16, 2005 9:13:34 GMT -5
What if.......there really was evidence to prove he did not kill those people? ? Do you actually think he would still be alive today? Tookie was killed for starting the Crips! These Political Asses didn't care about the "Victims" they made an example out of Tookie to the Crips and other gangs. One of these days those gangs will make an example out of MR Terminator! I wonder where he will have his Feathers scattered? deleted by Suzanne The reason why there were not a great number of black people rioting over this murder is because the people of minorities know that the system and the country will do nothing good for them. There is a good chance that this bill will pass but I doubt that it will make that much difference to the execution rate in California because though Californians like have the death penalty, they are not that bothered about it being carried out.
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Post by skyloom on Dec 16, 2005 9:14:17 GMT -5
I think you would be very surprised to know how many people are in prison for crimes they did not commit. What happens is that they may have done something which the police could not prove they did. Police are not happy when someone they believe is a criminal slips through their hands. Consequently, when another similar crime is committed the police immediately think of the person they could not get on the first crime and they manage to find evidence that frames that person for the second crime. Two ways they use that are fairly easy for them are leading witnesses to misidentify the suspect and intimidating witnesses who could provide the suspect with a genuine alibi. I guess anyone knows that Mr. Williams did not always lead a model life... to say the least. At the same time, it is perfectly possible that he did not commit the crimes of which he was actually accused. If that is the case, then the murderer of those people is probably still at large, possibly murdering still more people. The police, as noted, do not solve every murder. Far from it, and especially if the victim is poor and his or her family is without the resources to demand that the case be solved. Mr. Williams, whether guilty or not, did manage to do some good work even given the limitations of the prison system. He had settled in, was no longer a threat or a discipline problem, and could have been given a life without parole sentence. As it is, other men and women on death row now have no incentive to even try to make the best of life in prison. Some probably wouldn't anyhow, but some probably would try. I think it would be better all around... for the prisoners, for the guards, and even for those of us on the outside... to reward good behavior, even while not forgetting the bad behavior.
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sdl
New Arrival
Posts: 0
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Post by sdl on Dec 16, 2005 14:02:49 GMT -5
Among those collecting signatures to oppose removing his name from the venue were members of the new party of populist Joerg Haider, the Union for Austria's Future. The party argues that removing the name would generate unnecessary controversy and could lead to financial loss by prompting sponsors to withhold funds from sporting events there. The conservative People's Party of Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel and the rightist Freedom Party also oppose renaming the stadium. Do a google search on Herr Haider..see what you discover...
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Post by kathy on Dec 16, 2005 14:03:11 GMT -5
What if.......there really was evidence to prove he did not kill those people? ? Do you actually think he would still be alive today? Tookie was killed for starting the Crips! These Political Asses didn't care about the "Victims" they made an example out of Tookie to the Crips and other gangs. One of these days those gangs will make an example out of MR Terminator! I wonder where he will have his Feathers scattered? deleted by Suzanne Well guess what Swebb? When the DP is abolished it won't matter how many of you in California voted for your "Step Up The Murder Bill" Wow, to brag about your State Murdering as fast as Texas does........How sad!
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Post by kathy on Dec 16, 2005 14:18:17 GMT -5
And SWEBB, didn't you not long ago post something to the effect of........That you could not watch anymore on TV about Tookie's execution, and you went to bed? (this was a message to Suzanne telling her how you understood what she went through with Rich's)
It would seeem we either have a case of Hypocrite or Dr Jekyll and MS Hyde!
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sdl
New Arrival
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Post by sdl on Dec 16, 2005 14:22:28 GMT -5
What if.......there really was evidence to prove he did not kill those people? ? Do you actually think he would still be alive today? Tookie was killed for starting the Crips! These Political Asses didn't care about the "Victims" they made an example out of Tookie to the Crips and other gangs. One of these days those gangs will make an example out of MR Terminator! I wonder where he will have his Feathers scattered? deleted by Suzanne Kathy... There won't be riots. But, like I've said, Arnold isn't bulletproof. He's the target. Doesn't take a MENSA member to figure that out. swebb...By the way..what type do you take with your meal? O negative? AB positive..?
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Post by judywaits4u on Dec 16, 2005 15:51:00 GMT -5
And SWEBB, didn't you not long ago post something to the effect of........That you could not watch anymore on TV about Tookie's execution, and you went to bed? (this was a message to Suzanne telling her how you understood what she went through with Rich's) It would seeem we either have a case of Hypocrite or Dr Jekyll and MS Hyde! Dear Kathy, The more Swebb writes, the more I am convinced that she is simply a racist death penalty lover. It must be awful all those racial minorities being able to get grants to study. Love and hugs, Judy
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Post by smoke52020 on Dec 17, 2005 17:21:37 GMT -5
deleted by Suzanne
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Post by smoke52020 on Dec 17, 2005 17:22:53 GMT -5
deleted by Suzanne
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Mo-DAWG
Settlin' In
Yes... this is the real Mo-DAWG ..
Posts: 47
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Post by Mo-DAWG on Dec 17, 2005 17:36:25 GMT -5
how can you be so sure about that smoke? you ve not followed their cases and investigations from the very beginning ... working in a prison does mean you dont know more than you are being told about these inmates ... Mo-DAWG
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Post by judywaits4u on Dec 17, 2005 18:22:27 GMT -5
how can you be so sure about that smoke? you ve not followed their cases and investigations from the very beginning ... working in a prison does mean you dont know more than you are being told about these inmates ... Mo-DAWG Dear Mo, She probably has that nickname as she has addled her brain with smoking too much dope and crack........lol If everybody was guilty, why is the USA paying money out every week to innocent people who were sent to prison? Love and hugs, Judy
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Mo-DAWG
Settlin' In
Yes... this is the real Mo-DAWG ..
Posts: 47
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Post by Mo-DAWG on Dec 17, 2005 19:43:43 GMT -5
how can you be so sure about that smoke? you ve not followed their cases and investigations from the very beginning ... working in a prison does mean you dont know more than you are being told about these inmates ... Mo-DAWG Dear Mo, She probably has that nickname as she has addled her brain with smoking too much dope and crack........lol If everybody was guilty, why is the USA paying money out every week to innocent people who were sent to prison? Love and hugs, Judy hi judy ... well i think the problem is that too many c.o´s,cops ...whatever ... blindly believe that the system works always right and never question it ... and then YES they should as themselves why the USA is paying money out every week to innocents who were sent to prison.... Mo-DAWG
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