Snoop Dogg Rallies for Crips Co-Founder

[KBay84]

Snoop Dogg Rallies for Crips Co-Founder
Saturday, November 19, 2005

•Prison Officials Not Buying Crip's Redemption Claims•Court Clears Crips Founder's Execution
SAN QUENTIN, Calif. — Rapper Snoop Dogg urged Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday to grant clemency to convicted murderer and Crips co-founder Stanley Tookie Williams so he can continue his work with young people.

"Stanley Tookie Williams is not just a regular old guy, he's an inspirator," the rapper and former Crips member told a crowd of about 1,000 outside San Quentin State Prison.

Williams, 51, is set to be executed Dec. 13. He was convicted in 1979 of murdering four people during two robberies in Los Angeles. He has exhausted his appeals and has asked Schwarzenegger for clemency.

Schwarzenegger said this past week that he was "dreading" the decision.

Williams founded the Crips with a childhood friend in 1971 in Los Angeles, and in the following years, the gang battled with its rival, the Bloods, for territory and control of the drug trade.

In prison, however, he gained international acclaim for writing children's books about the dangers of gang life. An award-winning television movie starring Jamie Foxx, "Redemption," was based on his life.

Snoop Dogg, 33, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, said Williams inspired him to work with young people. The rapper said he was once a gang member and now does youth outreach activities, including running a football league for youngsters.

"I didn't get this from somebody that was on the streets. I got this from Stanley Tookie Williams, a brother that was locked up on death row," he said, wearing a white T-shirt with huge black letters that said savetookie.org. "He inspired me to want to do something positive with my life and to go touch the kids."

The rapper had wanted to visit Williams on death row, but his application was denied by prison officials because of his criminal record. Snoop Dogg has been arrested several times for weapons and drug-related offenses, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Organizers played a new Snoop Dogg song called "Real Soon," which promotes Williams' advocacy work.

Todd Chretien, who works with the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, an advocacy group that helped organize the rally, implored the governor to grant clemency.

"There is no reason on earth to kill him, and there is every reason to keep him alive," he said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,176130,00.html

Thats sooooo sweet, Williams writting children's books from inside. I'll bet that just warms the hearts of the families of the four people he killed. And he's the Crips founder? "Say Goodnight, Gracie"

[BrianK]

Convicted in 1979 and just now the sentence will be carried out (maybe) . That really is the fallacy of the death sentence.

Meanwhile if rehabilitation is supposed to be one of the main reasons for incarceration then seems to me that this particular individual has achieved a decent level of rehabilitation.

At one time the death sentence seemed to me like a good way to insure heinous crimes would not be repeated by releasing the convicted person. The actual carrying out of that sentence has resulted in very few meeting that fate. My opinion has changed to life WITHOUT the possibility for parole. I would include the stipulation that pedophiles be housed with the most violent offenders. What happens to them would be up to the system that falls into the catagory of prison justice.

[USA11B]

I am a fan of Calvin and Hobbs. Calvin Broadus a.k.a. Snoop Dogg, I am not a fan of.

[KBay84]

Originally Posted by BrianK

Convicted in 1979 and just now the sentence will be carried out (maybe) . That really is the fallacy of the death sentence.

Meanwhile if rehabilitation is supposed to be one of the main reasons for incarceration then seems to me that this particular individual has achieved a decent level of rehabilitation.

At one time the death sentence seemed to me like a good way to insure heinous crimes would not be repeated by releasing the convicted person. The actual carrying out of that sentence has resulted in very few meeting that fate. My opinion has changed to life WITHOUT the possibility for parole. I would include the stipulation that pedophiles be housed with the most violent offenders. What happens to them would be up to the system that falls into the catagory of prison justice.

Um...BrianK, when you are assigned to Death Row, rehab is not up for discussion. I don't care if he funded welfare out of his own pocket, he needs to go away.

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by KBay84

Um...BrianK, when you are assigned to Death Row, rehab is not up for discussion. I don't care if he funded welfare out of his own pocket, he needs to go away.

I think he should get clemency - the same clemency he doled out to his victims.

[BrianK]

Originally Posted by KBay84

Um...BrianK, when you are assigned to Death Row, rehab is not up for discussion. I don't care if he funded welfare out of his own pocket, he needs to go away.

Uh sentencing to death row doesn't mean that the sentence will be carried out. Meanwhile the person sentenced has the choice in our penal system to use the time constructively or not. Doesn't mean this particular man should be released just means that his time has made a positive impact. Might fall into the catagory of 1st stone throwing.

The question accept that clemancy in particular cases has merit ?

Or to

Execute him to exact justice as was decided 26 years ago when the man was 25.

The 4 people that were murdered during a robbery are just as dead today as they were 26 years ago. Executing a changed man won't bring them back. On top of that what does it say to others that are supposed to be rehabilitated? Makes no differance what you do society won't change it's mind about what you manage to do constructively.

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by BrianK

The 4 people that were murdered during a robbery are just as dead today as they were 26 years ago. Executing a changed man won't bring them back. On top of that what does it say to others that are supposed to be rehabilitated? Makes no differance what you do society won't change it's mind about what you manage to do constructively.

Do they, and their families not deserve justice?