Who is Stan Tookie Williams?

Stan was the co-founder in 1971 of the Los Angeles Crips gang. In 1981 he was convicted of murdering four people during two robberies and sentenced to death row at San Quentin State Prison. Stan deeply regrets his gang involvement but has always maintained his innocence of these crimes.

His trial was based on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of several witnesses, all of whom were facing a range of felony charges, including fraud, rape, murder and mutilation. Even the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals stated in a September 10, 2002, ruling that the witnesses in Stan’s case had “less-than-clean backgrounds and incentives to lie in order to obtain leniency from the state in either charging or sentencing.”

YES, IN NEARLY ALL MURDER CASES, PEOPLE WHO MURDER OTHER PEOPLE, GENERALLY ASSOCIATE WITH OTHER CRIMINALS. STANLEY WILLIAMS DIDN'T HANG OUT WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS, HE WAS A DRUG ADDICTED, VIOLENT GANG MEMBER. DOESN'T IT MAKE SENSE THAT THE PEOPLE HE ASSOCIATED WITH ALSO HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS?

There was physical evidence, but none of it pointed to Stan.

WELL, NOT EXACTLY. REMEMBER THE GUN USED IN THE MURDERS WAS PURCHASED BY STANLEY "TOOKIE" WILLIAMS. THAT'S PRETTY STRONG EVIDENCE.

• Fingerprints were found at both crime scenes, but they were not Stan’s. These fingerprints have never been identified.

BOTH OF THESE MURDERS WERE COMMITTED IN PUBLIC AREAS. A STORE AND A MOTEL, BOTH OF WHICH HAS DAILY CUSTOMERS USING THE BUSINESSES. MAYBE THE "REAL KILLER" WENT TO STANLEY'S HOME, STOLE HIS GUN, COMMITTED THE MURDERS, THEN DECIDED TO PUT THE GUN BACK INTO IT'S HIDING PLACE.

• A bloody boot print left near the victim at one of the crime scenes was not Stan’s. This boot print has never been identified.

ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH CRIME SCENES, KNOWS THAT IS COMMON TO HAVE SOMETIMES DOZENS OF PEOPLE WALK THROUGH THE CRIME SCENE BEFORE EVIDENCE IS PHOTOGRAPHED OR COLLECTED. (FIREFIGHTERS, EMS, POLICE OFFICERS, DETECTIVES). IT'S NOT LIKE CSI!

• A shotgun shell found at that crime scene was said to be from a gun purchased by Stan five years earlier. But the gun was, in fact, found under the bed of two people – a husband and wife facing felony insurance fraud charges and who were also under investigation for murdering their own crime partner. This husband-and-wife crime team did not serve any prison time and their murder investigation was dropped after they testified that Stan “volunteered” a confession to them.

WHY WASN'T THIS HUSBAND AND WIFE NOT CHARGED WITH ANOTHER MURDER??? BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY'S CLAIM. AND NOT ONLY DID STANLEY GIVE THEM INFORMATION ABOUT THE MURDERS....HE TOLD THEM INFORMATION THAT HAD NOT BEEN RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC--INFORMATION THAT SOMEONE WOULD GET FROM ONLY BEING THERE AT THE CRIME SCENE.

• The “star” witness at Stan’s trial – a white man and longtime felon who was placed in a nearby cell while Stan awaited trial and was years later discovered to have been a paid police informant – also testified that Stan “volunteered” a confession to him. But nearly 20 years after Stan’s trial it was discovered that a Los Angeles police officer had left a copy of the police murder file involving Stan’s case in this informant’s cell for overnight study. The next day the murder file was picked up by that same officer, and the informant informed the police that Stan had volunteered a confession to him. In return for this testimony, the informant – who himself was facing the death penalty for rape, murder and mutilation – was given a lesser sentence that allowed him the possibility of parole and freedom.

THEY HAVE CHOOSEN TO DESCRIBE ONE OF THE WITNESSES AS A "STAR WITNESS." EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE SEVERAL WITNESSES THAT STANLEY ADMITTED COMMITTING THE THE MURDERS TO.

WHY DO THEY SAY "WHITE MAN" IN THEIR DESCRIPTION OF THIS WITNESS? WHAT DOES HIS RACE HAVE TO DO WITH HIS TESTIMONY? REMEMBER THEY WERE NUMEROUS WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED AGAINST WILLIAMS.

THEY ALSO FORGOT THAT THERE WERE OTHER INMATE WITNESSES WHO STANLEY WILLIAMS APPROACHED ABOUT MAKING AN ESCAPE ATTEMPT.

DID YOU KNOW THAT IN THE COURT DOCUMENTS STANLEY WILLIAMS WAS PLANNING TO ESCAPE PRISON AND TO HAVE ANOTHER WITNESS MURDERED?

DID YOU KNOW HE PLANNED ON MURDERING CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS DURING THE PROCESS?

DID YOU KNOW THAT A WOMEN WAS CAUGHT TRYING TO SMUGGLE STANLEY A TOOL TO AID IN AN ESCAPE? WHY HASN'T STANLEY EVER ADDRESSED THESE ISSUES?

WHY DO THEY NOT MENTION THE OTHER EVIDENCE PRESENTED AGAINST STANLEY IN TRAIL SUCH AS THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THESE CRIMES THAT ALSO PROVIDED EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM.

DID YOU KNOW ONE WITNESS TESTIFIED THAT STANLEY WILLIAMS LAUGHED AND MADE FUN OF THE SOUNDS OWEN WILLIAMS MADE AS HE LAY DYING?

Nobel Peace Prize Nominee

While on death row, Stan has written 9 highly-acclaimed children’s books that educate young people to avoid gangs, crime and incarceration. He has also worked to end gang violence through his peace protocol and Internet Project for Street Peace, an international peer mentoring program. Stan has saved the lives of over 150,000 youth, as reported by them, their parents, teachers and law enforcement officials in their emails to Stan (tookie@tookie.com).

SAVED THE LIFE OF OVER 150,000? WE AGREE THAT WILLIAMS THOUGHTS AND WRITINGS HAVE PROBALLY BEEN AN INFLUENCE FOR SOME PEOPLE TO CHANGE. (JUST AS HIS CREATION OF THE CRIPS HAS INFLUENCED OTHERS TO MAKE A NEGATIVE CHANGE). BUT IS HE REALLY TAKING CREDIT OF CHANGING PEOPLE'S LIVES? EVERYONE WE HAVE MET WHO HAS MADE A CHANGE IN THEIR LIFE HAS DONE SO BECAUSE OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT INFLUENCES AND FACTORS.

HE TAKES CREDIT FOR SAVING 150,000. WHY DOESN'T HE ALSO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE DAMGE HE HAS DONE BY CREATING THE CRIPS?

He has recently published his memoir, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, which has been nominated for a James Madison Book Award. His work has resulted in multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace and Literature prizes. This summer Stan’s work was even recognized by the President of the United States when he received a presidential award for his volunteer work to help youth.

ANYONE CAN RECEIVE THE "PRESIDENTIAL AWARD" FROM THE PRESIDENT. IT IS AN EASY PROCESS AND IS RETURNED ON A FORM LETTER THAT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ADMITTED IS NOT REVIEWED. IT ONLY COST A COUPLE BUCKS AND A $.37 STAMP.

Stan’s story was also recently made into a television movie, “Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story,” starring Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx. The movie was honored by the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals, and was nominated for a Golden Globe and other prestigious awards.

Saving Stan, Saving Our Civil Rights

Stan, like many prisoners, experienced racism in the criminal justice system. His prosecutor kicked off three African-Americans from serving as jurors in Stan’s trial, resulting in Stan being convicted by a virtually all-white jury (no African-Americans; one Latino; one Filipino; ten Caucasians).

"KICKED OFF" THREE AFRICAN-AMERICANS FROM SERVING AS JURORS?

WELL, WHY WERE THEY "KICKED OFF"? ONE REPORTED THEY COULD NOT SERVE BECAUSE OF A WORK COMMITMENT AND ANOTHER DID NOT SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY. THE THIRD WAS REMOVED FROM THE JURY BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR SITUATION.

SO WHY DIDN'T WILLIAM'S DEFENSE TEAM BRING THIS UP DURING TRIAL OVER 20 YEARS AGO? OR EVEN 10 YEARS AGO? OR EVEN 5 YEARS AGO?

HE HAD AN EXCELLENT DEFENSE TEAM. WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT THEN?

HIS DEFENSE TEAM HAS TRIED EVERYTHING THEY COULD AND NOW IT APPEARS THEY ARE PLAYING THE 'RACE CARD.'

This prosecutor made numerous racist remarks during the trial, comparing Stan to a “Bengal Tiger” in the San Diego Zoo whose natural jungle “habitat” was the equivalent of South Central Los Angeles.

STANLEY WILLIAMS WAS COMPARED TO A BEGAL TIGER AND THAT HIS HABITAT WAS CENTRAL LOS ANGELES. AFTER WE READ WHAT HE DID WE AGREE!

MAYBE IT'S JUST US, BUT WE DON'T HOW THIS IS A RACIAL REMARK?

STANLEY WILLIAMS HIMSELF SAID ABOUT HIS EARLY YEARS THAT HE COULD HAVE BEEN AN AGGRESSOR OR A VICTIM. HE CHOOSE TO BE THE AGGRESSOR.

HE KILLED A SINGLE-FATHER, A MOTHER AND FATHER AND A DAUGHTER FOR MONEY TO SUPPORT HIS DRUG HABIT. CALLING A PERSON WHO WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS A TIGER IS ACTUALLY PRETTY MILD!

I'M SERIOUS ABOUT THIS....SOMEBODY PLEASE EMAIL ME AND TELL ME HOW THIS IS A RACIST REMARK.....SERIOUSLY.....EXPLAIN IT TO ME, I JUST DON'T SEE IT.

The California State Supreme Court had twice censured this same prosecutor for equally discriminatory behavior. Indeed, a member of the California Supreme Court at that time made the following statement about that prosecutor:

DISCRIMINATORY BEHAVIOR? NOT FROM WHAT WE READ.

...I believe that we must place the ultimate blame on its real source – the prosecutor. It was he who unconstitutionally struck Black prospective jurors.

UNCONSTIUTIONALLY? WELL, NOT QUIET TRUE. AGAIN, WHAT COURT TRANSCRIPTS ARE THE TOOKIE.COM SUPPORTERS READING? BECAUSE THEY AREN'T READING THE SAME ONES WE ARE.

The record compels this conclusion and permits none other… This prosecutor knew that such conduct was altogether improper. The trial court told him as much. And so did we… This court attempted to teach this same prosecutor that invidious discrimination was unacceptable when we reversed a judgment of death because of similar improper conduct on his part. He failed - or refused - to learn his lesson. The result is another reversal - and another costly burden on the administration of justice.

WHY DO THEY TAKE CERTAIN COMMENTS OUT OF CONTEXT AND NOT LIST THE ENTIRE STATEMENT MADE BY THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT. AND WHY IS IT, THAT STANLEY WILLIAMS IS STILL ON DEATH ROW?

COULD IT BE BECAUSE AFTER THEY REVIEWED THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM THEY ALSO BELIEVE HIM TO BE GUILTY?

On October 11, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Stan’s appeal to investigate the racism and discrimination at the heart of his case, as well as Stan’s innocence issues. This denial established as “case law” for the entire nation the right of prosecutors to exclude jurors on the basis of race and to denigrate minority defendants in front of white juries.

The ruling is a frontal attack on the civil rights of all Americans.

AGAIN, THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO PLAY THE 'RACE CARD' WHEN RACE WAS NOT AN ISSUE DURING OR AFTER TRIAL.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL PROSECUTOR CURRENTLY HANDLING THIS CASE HAS IN HER POSSESSION A DEATH CERTIFICATE FROM ONE OF THE ORIGINAL JURORS SHOWING HIS RACE AS BEING AFRICAN-AMERICAN?

Will the State Execute a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee?

HARD TO SAY. CURRENTLY GOVERNOR SCHWARENEGGER HAS A VERY POOR RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ESPECIALLY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ASSOCIATION, ONE OF THE LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATIONS IN THE NATION.

RECENTLY THE GOVERNOR HAS HIRED A RETIRED STANISLAUS COUNTY SHERIFF TO FORM A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

THE GOVERNOR'S DESIRING TO HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS COULD EFFECT HIS DECISION.

An execution date has been set for Stan Tookie Williams: December 13, 2005. In November 2005 his attorneys plan to file another Federal Habeas Petition that presents new evidence of innocence. At the same time a clemency team of lawyers has been formed to prepare a clemency petition for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s consideration. That clemency petition will be submitted to the Governor of California on November 7, 2005.

Why Stanley Tookie Williams Should Receive Clemency

In the United States clemency is a request for a Governor (only a Governor can grant clemency) to not impose the death penalty, but instead to impose an alternative sentence: Life without the possibility of parole. So clemency does not mean freedom for the prisoner. It means that the person will spend the rest of his life in prison unless he can later prove innocence through further appeals.

Stanley Tookie Williams deserves clemency. From a 9-by-4 foot cell he has undertaken extraordinary work to serve humanity in his effort to reverse the destructive legacy of the Crips youth gang. If Governor Schwarzenegger grants clemency to Stanley Tookie Williams he will have made an historic move to diminish youth violence in this country and abroad because of the powerful work that Stan would be able to continue to do, using his credible voice to reduce the presence of street gangs throughout this nation and around the world. Even the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals wrote an unprecedented conclusion to its September 10, 2002, ruling about Stan. The Court concluded that Stan was doing “laudable” work that made him “worthy” of consideration for clemency. To that end, Stan has:

• Saved the lives of over 150,000 youth who were either preparing to join a gang or got out of a gang, based on the testimonies of tens of thousands of emails received by Stan at tookie@tookie.com from kids, parents, teachers, librarians and even law enforcement officials who say Stan’s

ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S A PRETTY BOLD STATEMENT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE TRANSFORMATION PROCESS OF ANOTHER PERSON.

• Written nine highly acclaimed anti-violence, anti-gang and anti-drug books for elementary school students (Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence, a series of eight books) and middle school children (Life in Prison, a book that deromanticizes incarceration) that are in schools, libraries and juvenile correctional facilities throughout the nation and around the world. Life in Prison was honored by the American Library Association.

HIGHLY ACCLAIMED? BY WHO?

• Written his autobiography, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, for high school students and imprisoned adults to inspire them and to demonstrate to them how they can rehabilitate themselves no matter the difficulty surrounding their life circumstance. Blue Rage, Black Redemption was recently nominated for a James Madison Book Award.

WAIT? CAN'T ANYONE BE NOMINATED FOR THE JAMES MADISON BOOK AWARD?

• Written the “Tookie Protocol for Peace: A Local Street Peace Initiative,” which provides step-by-step instructions for how a community can create peace – block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood, city by city. Nearly 200 Crips and Bloods in Newark, New Jersey, for example, signed a truce document based on Stan’s peace protocol one month after downloading that sample peace treaty from his website (www.tookie.com). Until then, those Crips and Bloods had been responsible for 32 gang-related deaths during the first four months of 2004. By May 2004, after signing the truce document, the murder rate in Newark, New Jersey, dropped significantly. The Deputy Mayor of Newark credits Stan’s work as playing a significant role in the lessening of violence in his city. Reformed gang members in other states, such as Indiana, have also reported their successful use of Stan’s peace protocol to secure treaties that stopped gang violence in their communities.

• Written letters to incarcerated youth that have been used as counseling and learning tools by juvenile correctional officers. The letters are available for free on his website

• Provided live mentoring via telephone to the principals of the 23 most at-risk elementary schools in the Chicago Public Schools during an in-service training session about Stan’s work. The session was so successful that the Chicago Public Schools decided to create a curriculum around Stan’s Blue Rage, Black Redemption book and his other work. That curriculum was launched in September 2005 within those 23 schools. It is proving to be so successful with students that there is a waiting list to become a participant.

• Provided live mentoring to at-risk youth via the telephone by calling schools, a Bay Area juvenile correctional facility and community-based after-school programs serving troubled youth

• Provided live mentoring to very high-risk youth who visit him at San Quentin State Prison

• Recorded anti-gang Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that have been played on radio stations throughout the United States and Canada. A British station is preparing to air his PSAs

• Assisted in the creation of an award-winning movie made about his life, “Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story,” starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is being sold in DVD format globally – in, for example, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Iraq to U.S. soldiers fighting there. The movie of Stan’s life is proving to be so inspirational that it, too, is saving lives. (See emails at www.tookie.com.)

• Been nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize – once by a member of the Swiss Parliament and four times by a growing list of eminent professors from the United States and Europe. He has also been nominated four times for the Nobel Prize for Literature by William Keach, Professor of English Literature from Brown University.

• Received from President George W. Bush a 2005 Presidential Call to Service Award for his volunteer efforts to help youth

RECEIVED FROM PRESIDENT BUSH A "FORM" LETTER THAT THE WHITE HOUSE SAID WAS NOT REVIEWED AND THAT ANYONE CAN RECEIVE THE SAME LETTER.