Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams

The Fight Goes On

2005-12-13T12:20:00.000-08:00

Campaign to End the Death Penalty Action Alert

STAN WAS EXECUTED, BUT THE FIGHT GOES ON

Stan Tookie Williams was executed early this morning after Governor Schwarzenegger refused to grant Stan clemency. A number of actions took place yesterday, including a protest at the gates of San Quentin, and demonstrations and vigils in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York City and others. Thousands of people condemned this execution. There is no doubt that this is a blow to our side. We lost someone who not only showed redemption was possible, but was living his life, confined in a cell the size of a bathroom and doing more to lead kids away from joining gangs than any lawmaker, politician or criminal justice court.

In killing Stan, they're trying to kill the hope he has inspired in so many that they could have a second chance--that they could ever turn their lives around. Now that Stan is dead, the ruthlessness of our politicians and our criminal injustice system is laid bare. It's ugly--real ugly. One need only read the governor's statement on why he denied Stan clemency to see just how ugly.

We must keep up the fight. We must use our sense of outrage to fuel our continued mobilization. We need to remember those we have lost to capital punishment and fight on in their names--Stan Tookie Williams, Wesley Baker, Frances Newton, Napoleon Beasley, Tyrone X Gilliam, Shaka Sankofa, Karla Faye Tucker and so many others.

And we must use the broad, multiracial fightback we were able to build in support of Stan to spark the efforts to win a moratorium in California, and to get rid of the death penalty altogether. That is the best way to remember Stan and all the others who have been killed by the state; it's to fight on.

If you aren't already, please get involved. Work with the Campaign to End the Death Penalty--join a chapter closest to you. Go to our website at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the "get involved" button to find a listing of our chapters. If no chapters are close to where you live, consider starting one. Send me an e-mail if you are interested.

You can download a CEDP flyer, both in Word and a PDF, as a tribute to Stan, here:
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/downloads/RememberingTookie.pdf

Folks should download it and make copies to put around on your campus and in your community. On the Word document, there is a space for you to write in your own local contact phone numbers and e-mails.

Marlene Martin

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CONTENTS - Reports from events last night - Thoughts about Stan's execution - Selected news stories

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SAN QUENTIN - Phil Gasper

The scene outside San Quentin last night was amazing. People had started arriving at the prison gates in the early afternoon, soon after Governor Schwarzenegger announced that he was denying clemency for Stan Tookie Williams. By the time I arrived, shortly after 8:00 pm, the crowd had swelled to 1500, and for the next four hours, people kept coming. Two thousand, three thousand-after that it was impossible to keep count.

Young and old, blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians, Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, socialists, and just plain outraged, all made the long trek to protest the legal lynching of an African American man who had atoned for the crimes that he did commit and who was being killed for those that he did not. A handful of right-wing provocateurs, hoping to provoke a clash with their message of racism and hate, were surrounded and quickly pushed to the margins, where they could not disrupt the rally.

There was great sadness that the fight to save Stan's life and prevent another senseless death had been lost. But unlike most other executions I've protested outside San Quentin, the mood was not somber but angry and defiant. One electric speaker after another addressed the crowd. Joan Baez sang and declared, "Tonight is a planned, efficient, calculated, antiseptic, cold-blooded murder." Angela Davis praised Stan and Mumia Abu-Jamal as the most eloquent voices against the death penalty and placed them in the context of black radical struggles. Exonerated California death-row inmate, and former Black Panther, Shujaa Graham drew the parallels between his life and Tookie's, and explained how he had escaped execution in spite of the system, not because of it.

Read more at: http://www.counterpunch.com/

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Nick Chin

I'm proud to have stood in front of the Department of Justice and confronted this country's death machine. There are no words to express the sadness as the state of California murders Tookie Williams. With his denial of clemency, Arnold has chosen to align with Republican agenda: with the death penalty, with the war, with the Texecutioner himself George W. Bush. But this continues beyond Tookie. This is about the fight against capital punishment as a whole, and for us, particularly the cases in Maryland. We must continue the movement against the death penalty and be sure that those in power pay a price for their decisions.

Some ideas that have been floated are holding a press conference with some of the forces out at the rally tonight and to conduct a solidarity funeral march. People should email their thoughts on this and we will debate what makes sense at our meeting this Wednesday. This is an incredibly important meeting. Nationally, the Campaign has offered to help with the press conference but those of us here, old and new, need to think through what makes sense as a next step after this execution. Finally, I want to be sure people are aware how conscious a method of oppression this decision was. In his denial, the Governor points to the dedication of one of Tookie's books for his decision: "The dedication of Williams' book 'Life in Prison' casts significant doubt on his personal redemption... Specifically the book is dedicated to 'Nelson Mandela, Angela Davis, Malcolm X, Assata Shakur, Geronimo Ji Jaga Pratt, Ramona Africa, John Africa, Leonard Peltier, Dhoruba Al-Mujahid, George Jackson, Mumia Abu-Jamal, and the countless other men and women behind bars.' The mix of individuals on this list is curious. Most have violent pasts and some have been convicted of committing heinous murders, including the killing of law enforcement." We stand in the tradition of those who have fought, from both sides of the prison walls. this is our movement, and we should see this as nothing short of an outright attack on those of us who believe in humanity, redemption, and social justice.

SEATTLE - Nick Hart

Over 40 people showed up in Seattle at the Garfield Community Center to see Redemption. The event was attended by Lewis C, a former Crip who knew Tookie and was saved by him. He spoke about Tookie's innocence and the need to continue his good works. The film was followed by an open discussion in which activists spoke about the importance of struggle to win justice and next steps we can take to honor Tookie, continue the fight against the death penalty and gang violence. Afterwards we held a candlelight vigil outside the community center and chanted "they say lynching, we say no! Stanley Williams off death row!" Local TV stations KOMO and KCPQ filmed the vigil (and chanting) live, as well as interviewed several activists who put the event together. KIRO radio was also present for interviews and KBCS radio hosted a call-in show. Some people saw the vigil on the news and came down to join us.

SANTA CRUZ - Marilyn Strayer

In Santa Cruz, we held a candlelight vigil from 8pm until just after midnight. We had about 75 people throughout the evening. Several people joined us when the heard about the vigil on TV. Our local newspaper came by to do a short interview.

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. - Matthew Pillischer

Last night, a small crowd gathered in Lambertville, NJ, in the freezing cold, to show our support for Stan Tookie Williams, and to protest his execution. Signs read: "At 12:01am, California will kill a peace activist," and "Tookie was redeemed-- Shame on you, Terminator." Overall, responses from passers-by were good. Occasional shouts along the lines of, "An eye for any eye," were heard, but those who stopped to engage in conversation were all supportive of us and Tookie. I work as a social worker with youth with behavioral problems, ages 5-15, in the poorest communities of Trenton, NJ. I see the effects of gang life on these children every day. We need more people like Stan Williams, who these children know and respect, who came from "thug life," to be able to show that transformation and self-education and change are all possible. We need people like Stan to show that there are alternatives, that there are ways to get out, ways to redeem yourself, ways to live life to the fullest even under the most horrifying of circumstances. What kind of a sign do we show these children when we execute this man? Do we show them there is hope? Or is it truly a sign that there is never a possibility to change for the better? That there is no reward for positive change. That hope for positive change is executed by the state. Williams' execution will certainly make my job, and the job of all social workers, more difficult in already overwhelming circumstances. If Stan Williams is granted clemency, he can continue to give us tools necessary to battle gang violence and the self-destruction of many of today's youth.

MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA - Gail Hutchinson

I had a small group hold a candlelight vigil at my house at the time of the murder. We cried, prayed and vowed to start a Northwest Indiana Chapter of your organization. Please, if you could, post my email -- indigail@sbcglobal.net -- as a contact for individuals interested in joining. Gail Hutchinson, Michigan City, Indiana - Home of the execution chamber at Indiana State Prison

CHICAGO - Alice Kim

About 25 of us gathered at the Federal Plaza last night after we heard the news that Schwarzenegger had denied clemency to Tookie. Holding signs and candles, we spoke out against this legal lynching. We refused to allow the state of California to proceed with pre-meditated murder in silence. As we protested and expressed our outrage, we chanted, "Arnold Schwarzenegger, you can't hide, we charge you with homicide!"

Exonerated Illinois death row prisoners Darby Tillis and Madison Hobley talked to the media about the lethal flaws in the death penalty. "Tookie didn't get a fair trial," said Darby Tillis, "And I just don't understand the court system overlooking this." "I know personally that the system is not perfect, that it's accident-prone," Madison Hobley told reporters. "I know the courts are not fair. Today is a sad day." Following the protest, a group of us got together at my house to honor Tookie and to stay up together for the duration. It was hard to fathom what was about to take place. We wanted to be there for Tookie and for each other. We fought hard to save Tookie. And despite our efforts, the State of California was about to proceed with their pre-meditated murder. We vowed to keep fighting for Tookie and others like him-Frances Newton, Wesley Baker and Girvies Davis-who lost their precious lives to state sanctioned murder.

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THOUGHTS ABOUT STAN'S EXECUTION

DARBY TILLIS, exonerated death row prisoner: I'm angry as hell. Disappointed in the system. It's time that the community begin to scrutinize the justice system and the death penalty. To the custodians of the judicial system-you have failed a generation. Long live Tookie-Tookie lives.

MADISON HOBLEY, exonerated death row prisoner: This is another travesty here in America. This shows the world that we're a nation of hypocrisy. This is just a bloodthirsty nation to me. I feel very disappointed and beyond belief that we're still talking about execution knowing that the system is flawed and knowing that the case against him was flawed. Kill the head and the body will fall, that's what they think."

JACKIE CASIMER: Being a Black mother of a male child, my only child, I'm saddened about the decision that Arnold Schwarzenegger made. How would he feel if it was his child facing this-and knowing that his child was innocent. When they go into the court system, they say the just want the facts. Welll, the facts were ignored in Stan's case. We have a failing judicial system. How can they sleep at night knowing that they murdered Stan. We all make mistakes in our life because we're human. Maybe Stan has sinned, but the crimes for which he was convicted, weren't crimes that he committed. We're here in Chicago fighting for justice. We will continue to protest against the death penalty. Every woman that's a mother should stand up against the death penalty. Stan's legacy will live on.

GLORIA JOHNSON: I'm hurt. I feel that the justice system failed Stan and failed all of us. This man has done so much why they want to take his life-it's barbaric. No man has the right to take another man's life. An Stan has so much to help kids around the world staying out of gangs. Now Gov Schwarzenegger has Stan's blood on his hands. This has got to stop. We cannot have another person put to death by the hands of the state. The churches need to come together and step up to the plate to stop this injustice. They need to walk the walk. I'm just hurt. As a mother of a former death row inmate, I have compassion for Mrs. Williams. No mother wants to bring a child into this world and see her child die before she does. You expect your child to bury you, not the other way around. I'm praying that she continue to be a strong proud black woman. Stan's life will be lived on through the books that he's written. May these books continue to lead our children in the direction that they should be going.

INAYYAH: I sit here to night in tears and reading through the list of books he has written. I have become so close to Tookie in the past two months. I am with a group from Connecticut. I have seen such outpouring of pure love for him and sincere care. I can say this was such a very senseless thing for this California governor to do. I will do all that I can on this end to help you to get the word out about abolition of the death penalty. I pray for you all each day. It is nice to meet you. May God bless you for your wonderful efforts.

PRANAV JANI: Lies, hypocrisy, racism, double standards -- they want to keep hammering away at two ideas: Tookie Williams is a brutal murderer, and his transformation is a sham. They got their execution, but they still need to whip up the hatred. Why? So that they can set the stage for the next Black man who's executed. They want to build on the momentum of the Schwarznegger rejection of clemency. That's why CNN, Fox, and MSNBC keep showing the same images of a young, huge-muscled Tookie with the handlebar mustache, and a full Afro. The pictures of an older Tookie with glasses and white hair appear, but not as prominently. They all interview Lora Owens, stepmother of Albert Owens, whom Tookie allegedly killed. They all say that the protestors don't care about the victims and their families. But you know what? They moved to Lora because Linda Owens, Albert's widow, came out with a statement on Friday supporting clemency for Tookie: "I, Linda Owens want to build upon Mr. Williams' peace initiative. I invite Mr. Williams to join me in sending a message to all communities that we should all unite in peace. This position of peace would honor my husband's memory and Mr. Williams work." I guess victims' families' opinions don't matter when they don't fit the stereotype. And I guess the Asian victims' families don't matter at all. Has anyone seen or heard interviews with the Asian families? Then there's the double standard around clemency. On the one hand, the idea's that redemption and transformation don't matter a bit; it's all about guilt or innocence in committing the crime. But when you read Schwarzenegger's comments, it's not that apologies don't matter, but that they only matter when you want them to. So Schwarznegger said: "Is Williams' redemption complete and sincere, or is it just a hollow promise? Without an apology and atonement for these senseless and brutal killings, there can be no redemption." Would Tookie be off death row is he admitted to the murders and repented? Isn't is more likely that the bloodthirsty supporters of the death penalty would say, "His apology is hollow, just to get clemency"? Of course, what Tookie does apologize for, over and over, is founding the Crips -- but that doesn't seem to matter at all. The right wing wants to build on their momentum. But we've got to build on ours. The movement made a huge push and got Tookie's case on the front page news, everywhere you turned. We didn't win this time, and as I write it looks like the machinery of death is churning on... But we will win, we will end this brutal and racist policy of death, and when we do, we'll remember the role that Tookie played in making the world a better place.

ABE BONOWITZ, director of Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty: Standing vigil via CNN here in Dayton, Ohio, working up a reminder that on December 14 at 6:00 PM EST, John Nixon is scheduled to be killed by the people of Mississippi in revenge for the murder of Virginia Tucker. Nixon is 77 years old and has been on death row almost 20 years. Larry King Live featured a panel on the whole Tookie thing, but that was followed by the first interview with Richard Pryor's wife since Pryor died on Saturday. The first thing she did was add her emphatic call for clemency for Tookie, speaking both for herself, "and for Richard - he would have wanted that." Carry on!

LAETITIA: I'm French. I'm sorry for my English. I wake up this morning, i switch on my computer, I've read my mail and in few minutes, they will kill a man. Again, I don't understand, i cry. I'm really shocked, why why they kill a man? What for?

ADRIAN ZUPP: Thank you for all your hard and passionate work. Take heart that you rallied so many people and invigorated a spirit of compassion across the country. And Tookie himself must have known how many people cared: both about him and the issue of state-sanctioned murder. To be blunt, Gov. S is a dim lowlife. His life's deeds are testament to that. But he is just one part of the larger problem of an undemocratic political system that lets the privileged and famous climb to high office while the so-called "average person" stands little chance of doing likewise. The death penalty has to go. It is cold-blooded murder and the governor of California is himself a cold-blooded murderer like so many governors before him. It's a long and incremental battle but it will be won.

A.R. RODRIGUEZ: Who is the Governor to say that Tookie didn't redeem himself? How would he know? Is he his maker? I wrote the Governor yesterday, and I told him that him and all of his political buddies have just defeated their own purpose. They think that they are punishing him by killing him...when it's anything but. Tookie didn't meet his maker as a judge, he met his maker as a friend, and this government put Tookie in a place where people like them can never hurt him again. They are the ones that will have to live with his death on their conscious for the rest of their lives...here and in eternity. My hear cries out for losing him on this earth, but we have just gained an angel whose message will be louder than ever. We all know where Tookie is now, and we all know where Arnold and his buddies are going to end up...so who has the last laugh? Let's strive to make Tookie our last defeat...

CONOR KENNELLY: It is upsetting to hear the news. It got a lot of coverage on the news here [in Ireland]. As an xmas present for my family I've decided to make another donation to the campaign. Be in touch and keep up the good fight.

PHYLLIS: Hi Carol and Others, It's over, I am Sad, Tired, but alive. I hoped until the last moment. I put all the lights on in my home, set my timer and prayed. I played my Gil Scott-Heron CD and put the song on repeat called : "Did you hear what they said" This is for you Tookie! This is for Us All! Love, Light and Peace Always, Let's Never Forget to Remember! Phyllis.

DEB S. BARTON: Maybe folks should be reminded of what a piece of filth the Governor is himself. The man's a moral coward who signed that death certificate and then didn't have the balls to view the results of his actions, and spent a fair part of his acting career being infamous for treating women like pieces of meat. What else can you expect from such a moral degenerate? He's going back to movies, Terminator 3 is supposed to be in the pipeline, we've heard over in the UK. Maybe we should make it known that his films will be boycotted and cinemas that show his films in the future can expect pickets outside their picture houses.

LEE WENGRAF: It's hard to put thoughts together right now, but one thing that struck me in recent weeks was how determined Stan was to remain unbroken and undefeated. The way he refused to back down when they were hell-bent on seeking revenge sends a powerful message about the kind of courage and convictions Stan had. He refused to let them destroy the possibility of redemption, to get away with their justification for the whole rotten death penalty system. His refusal to back down arms us for what lies ahead.

I was also struck by how many people cared so deeply for Stan and what he stood for, the way people again and again would come up to me when I was petitioning and want to know why the Governor was doing this, what they could do about it. People threw themselves into this fight; I met people who had contacted the governor constantly. Others who were moved to tears and outrage by how vicious the execution was. In NYC, although we never had huge numbers on the streets, the kind of responsiveness was very moving. We had events and actions to stop the execution every day here for the past 2 weeks. Several thousand signatures were sent to Scwarzenegger, and many more made calls, sent emails and wrote faxes. I think a number of people have emerged from this fight wanting to keep on pushing. One note that has made the past few days easier to take is the breakthrough in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal: at least for some of us, this news gives us something solid to hold onto and go forward, and the determination we've seen for Tookie from people around us this past month.

DEE: They say that prisons are for rehabilitation, but I think not. The execution of Tookie Williams proves that. If an inmate can be rehabilitated, why would he still be executed. This was an act of revenge. It's going to put a message in the minds of inmates, that it doesn't matter if you rehabilitate yourself, society will still punish you. Tookie was a role model for young people. What statement has society given them? That it's legal to murder someone? It's legal to strap them on a gurney and shoot lethal drugs in their veins? I think that's the statement they have gotten.

LEAH MERJIL: I too am sad and disgusted, outraged and disappointed. I prayed all night that if there was no last minute reprieve, that Tookie have peace, comfort and no fear as he faced the end of his life. I hate the death penalty and just feel so helpless. How can we make MORE of a difference and somehow change the way things are??

RAFAEL JESUS GONZALEZ: The vigil is over; Stanley Tookie Williams has been pronounced dead in San Quentin, California, and my heart is heavy. With his death one more piece of our decency is eroded away; may what his legacy gives us redeem our humanity as a nation. It will be a hard path; the governments insists on its right to torture, it demands the right to persecute immigrant workers, every day it shreds our civil liberties and rights, every minute it wages war and kills people in foreign lands, sacrifices our youth, fills the prisons and the death-chambers. The times are dark and what light there is we must nurture in our hearts to light the torch of freedom and take away the shame of our acquiesce to injustice, to tyranny, to villainy. Let us nurture that light and share it with another or we perish in the darkness of our cowardice, our despair, or worse, of our inaction and indifference.

KEVIN NEEL: Arnold's statement brings us back to principle -- to his real base -- to the long term interests of the ruling class. Stan was killed because he was becoming dangerous -- as someone who had already become a statesman against the death penalty, the criminal justice system, and the deep-rooted racism at the heart of capitalist America. He is inspired by the heroes in the struggle against racist injustice here and around the world, including revolutionaries. And he in turn is inspiring tens of thousands (or more). He wasn't yet a political activist per se, nor had he broken completely with black nationalism, but he was moving in those directions, and reaching out in a way that, e.g., Mumia doesn't appear to.

Arnold and co. calculated that the danger of allowing him to live and evolve was greater than the danger of horrifying those already moved by him. Most of those had mostly been moved to social action, not primarily political action, and Arnold hopes that by masking this execution in questions of true redemption, political questions will be weakened.

But he made one mistake -- revealing the real intentions, by showing that he equates the struggle for justice with common criminal activity, with gang violence. We should use that mistake as an opening everywhere we talk about Stan -- explain who George Jackson is, why the ruling class hates him and Stan, and what real legacy we must uphold.

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SELECTED NEWS STORY

- AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF STANLEY TOOKIE WILLIAMS' EXECUTION

>From the San Francisco Chronicle: The execution of convicted murderer Stanley Tookie Williams was a defiant, determined and messy affair -- surprising right up to the bitter end, just like his unfortunate life. From the moment five guards walked him into the death chamber at 11:59 p.m. until 36 minutes later when Williams' heart stopped beating, the 51-year-old former gangster and his supporters tried their hardest to get through his final minutes on earth on their own terms. And they succeeded, as well as could be done under the circumstances -- and certainly more than in any of the 11 other executions since 1992, when San Quentin Prison's lime-green death chamber was put back into action after a 25-year hiatus. All of the other men killed by lethal injection lay so quietly on the gurney as they were strapped down and poisoned that, except for a few small movements, it was hard to tell if they were even awake. Even in the two gassings at San Quentin that preceded the injections, Robert Alton Harris and David Mason faced their ends stoically. Williams was different.

Read the full article at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/12/13/MNGCKG79QJ16. DTL

- THEY MURDERED A PEACEMAKER

>From Socialist Worker: The state of California rewarded redemption with cold-blooded murder--justified with a press release and carried out in the dead of night... The former leader of the Crips in Los Angeles has spent the last decade of his life as one of the most powerful and articulate voices warning youth against violence, crime and prison. Gang truces negotiated along the lines of his "Protocol for Peace" have saved lives across the U.S. But it didn't matter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who refused Stan's plea for clemency. Or to the state and federal judges, who turned a blind eye to the evidence of racism and bigotry in Stan's capital murder trial two-and-a-half decades ago. Or all the pro-death penalty politicians and media blowhards who calculated that Stan's death was in their interests. They claimed that Stan's redemption couldn't be real. But it's their death penalty system that is irredeemably barbaric and unjust. This was the legal lynching of a Black man to advance political careers--an age-old tradition in American politics.

Read the full article at: http://www.socialistworker.org/2005-2/569/569_01_Stan.shtml

- EUROPEANS OUTRAGED AT SCHWARZENEGGER

>From the Associated Press: California's execution of Stanley Tookie Williams on Tuesday outraged many in Europe who regard the practice as barbaric, and politicians in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's native Austria called for his name to be removed from a sports stadium in his hometown... Capital punishment is illegal throughout the European Union, and many Europeans consider state-sponsored executions to be barbaric. Those feelings were amplified in the case of Williams, due to the apparent remorse they believe the Crips gang co-founder showed by writing children's books about the dangers of gangs and violence.

Read the full article at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051213/ap_on_re_eu/europe_williams_execution_1

Less than 24 hours... The clock is ticking... Save Stan!

2005-12-12T07:10:00.000-08:00

Campaign to End the Death Penalty Action Alert

THE CLOCK IS TICKING... Stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams!

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CONTENTS -
Take action for Stan today!

- Reports and news about Tookie
Sign a petition to the Justice Department to stop Stan's execution
Activists call for immediate intervention
A new witness surfaces in Stan's case
Sister Helen Prejean joins the fight for Stan
What will Schwarzenegger do?
The hypocritical prosecutor who wants to kill Stan
Donate much-needed funds for our efforts

- Where to find more information

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TAKE ACTION FOR STAN TODAY!

Gov. Schwarzenegger went another day Sunday without announcing his decision on clemency for Stan. He has drawn out the process so that his announcement must now be made within hours of the execution.

We have said all along that there is good reason to hope that the decision will go Stan's way--we have made our case, with so many people taking a stand. But knowing that the decision is still up in the air--and that the governor could announce that he is denying clemency--many different groups have planned actions for today. In the Bay Area, activists will gather at San Quentin Prison to protest the pending execution. In Chicago, a protest is planned at the Federal Building; in Washington, D.C., one will take place at the Department of Justice building; in New York, Stan's supporters will meet in Union Square Park. The Bay Area also has plans for events following Monday if clemency is denied and the execution is carried out. There will be an emergency press conference and demonstrations on Tuesday, plus plans for speakouts and meetings later in the week. These would be good ideas for people to consider in other cities. The events that we know about are listed below. There are a lot that we don't know the details about. Some others can be found at the SaveTookie.org Web site at: http://www.savetookie.org. Still others are still being finalized. The Campaign urges all chapters, organizations and individuals to participate in these actions in your city--or organize one if you can. It could be at Republican headquarters or a federal building or a state of California office--or on campus if that's where you're located. It could be a picket and speakout, it could involve civil disobedience, it could be a forum and film showing, it could be an email and fax blast. Of course, if Schwarzenegger does the right thing, we should be ready to celebrate, too! But if not, we want to make sure our voices of opposition and outrage are heard--we will not be silent.

- AUSTIN, Texas Protest and Banner Display for Tookie Please join us for another Texas show of support for clemency for Stan Tookie Williams! At 5:30 pm, in front of the Capitol at 11th and Congress. Call 494-0667 or email lilymae30@hotmail.com for information

- BURLINGTON, Vt. Press Conference and Phone-a-Thon Beginning at 8 am, at Johnson State College, students, faculty and staff plan to flood the governor's office with calls, faxes and e-mails demanding clemency for Stan Tookie Williams. We will also be screening the film "Redemption" with Jamie Foxx all day long so people can be better educated about this injustice.

- CHICAGO Emergency Protest for Stan At 4:30 pm at Federal Plaza (Dearborn and Monroe). Sponsored by the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, call 773-955-4841 for more information.

- CLEVELAND Save the Peace Maker Rally and Vigil At 5:30 pm at Cleveland City Hall. Sponsored by Peace In The Hood and the Task Force for Community Mobilization. Contact RStandiford9@aol.com for information.

- DENVER Block Party Protest Speakers include Ernesto Vigil (Crusade for Justice), Ward Churchill (American Indian Movement), and Ramona Africa (MOVE). At 3 pm at the Colorado State Capitol, 15th and Colfax. For more information, or to volunteer, contact Earl Armstrong 303-208-9138, Shareef Aleem 720-436-7606 or Steve Nash 720-309-1418.

- NEW YORK CITY Victory Rally or Protest for Stan At 5:30 pm at the north end of Union Square Park (17th Street). Call 518-253-5029 for information

- SAN FRANCISCO TO SAN QUENTION Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

- SAN QUENTIN, Calif. PROTEST AT THE PRISON >From the Save Tookie Committee: We believe that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will do the right thing and grant clemency to Stan Tookie Williams. However, if we have not received a decision or if he does not grant clemency, we plan to have a large peaceful protest at San Quentin. At 8 pm at the East Gate of San Quentin Prison. You can park on Francisco Blvd. E, but expect to walk 1 to 1.5 miles to get to the east gate. It will be dark, and there is uneven pavement. We suggest you bring a flashlight, water, and wear good shoes and warm clothing. This will be a peaceful protest. Please listen to security people and don't engage the opposition as it only encourages them. Contact the Save Tookie Committee at 510-253-5418 or 510-333-7966, or e-mail info@savetookie.org for more information.

- SANTA CRUZ, Calif. Vigil Against the Death Penalty At 8 pm at the town clock. Sponsored by the Santa Cruz Chapter of Death Penalty Focus.

- SEATTLE Screening of "Redemption" At 7 pm at Garfield Community Center, 2323 E. Cherry St. $5 donation requested at the door. Email vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862 for information.

- WASHINGTON, D.C. Emergency Action for Tookie At 4:30 pm at the U.S. Justice Department, 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (Pennsylvania Ave., between 9th and 10th Streets). Metro Center, Federal Triangle or Archives Metro Stations. Call 301-801-7616 or e-mail cedp_dc@hotmail.com for information.

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REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- SIGN A PETITION CALLING ON THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO STOP STAN'S EXECUTION

The Campaign to End the Death Penalty and other supporters of Stan are circulating a petition calling on the Justice Department to intervene and take immediate action against Stan's pending execution. Activists will deliver the petition at an emergency demonstration for Stan at 4:30 pm at the U.S. Justice Department, 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. If you would like to sign, email cedp_dc@hotmail.com, or contact David Thurston at 646-382-4181. The petition statement reads:

We, the undersigned, oppose the state of California's plan to execute reformed gang leader Stanley Tookie Williams at midnight on December 13, 2005. Although we remain hopeful that the Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will grant clemency to Stanley Tookie Williams, we call upon the Department of Justice and US Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales to intervene on behalf of Williams and stop his execution. The case of Stanley Williams is a measure of the fairness of the criminal justice system in The United States. The state's case against him is deeply flawed, and Williams's work over the past fifteen years preventing gang violence has shown that redemption is possible. If the State of California refuses to take the side of justice in the case of Stan Tookie Williams, then it is imperative that the government of the United States intervene on Willams's behalf. We call on the attorney general, the Civil Rights Division, and the U.S. Supreme Court to take immediate action to prevent this unjust execution.

Sign the petition statement by e-mail (give your organization for identification purposes only): cedp_dc@hotmail.com

- A NEW WITNESS SURFACES IN STAN'S CASE

A former prisoner has come forward, calling the NAACP office in Compton, Calif., to say that he has new evidence which could prove Stan Tookie Williams' innocence. In a sworn affidavit, Gordon Von Ellerman says that he shared a cell with a prosecution witness in Stan's case, and that Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department personnel delivered copies of documents related to different criminal cases, including Stan's. The witness told Von Ellerman that he would use the information in the files to create his testimony against Stan.

Read the affidavit and see a video of Von Ellerman at: http://www.savetookie.org

Read the Associated Press story on the new revelations at: http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/tookie121205

- SISTER HELEN PREJEAN JOINS THE FIGHT FOR STAN

>From CBS News in the Bay Area: Flanked by actor-turned activist Mike Farrell of MASH fame, Sister Helen Prejean, the renowned death penalty opponent, appeared on Williams' behalf in San Francisco Sunday. She sees an irony between California's death penalty law and the kind of gang lifestyle Tookie Williams once manifested. "If someone has killed one of our gang members, don't tell us you changed your life. Don't tell us you're helping kids now. Don't tell us you're working so that there will be no more games and there will be peace," says Prejean. "Did you do the crime? Then we've gotta kill you." But Sister Prejean says that kind of gang mentality at the state level must stop and she says she's praying Governor Schwarzenegger saves Tookie Williams' life.

Read the full article at: http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_345194752.html

- WHAT WILL SCHWARZENEGGER DO?

>From Trey Ellis at Huffingtonpost.com: Back in May, the first thing I ever wrote for the Huffington Post was on the fate of Stanley "Tookie" Williams. I'm hoping that what I write here tonight will not be one of my last posts on him. Back in May I had no idea that so much global attention would shine on the fate of one man. I also had no idea that capital punishment would still be such a divisive issue in a civilized, Western democracy.

Read the full article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/trey-ellis/-wwsd-what-will-schw_b_12110.html

- THE HYPOCRITICAL PROSECUTOR WHO WANTS TO KILL STAN

>From the San Jose Mercury News: As he presses for Stanley Tookie Williams' execution for four murders, a top county prosecutor faces legal troubles of his own for killing a man he confronted while working as a reserve sheriff's deputy. Deputy District Attorney John Monaghan, 53, urged Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday to deny the Crips gang co-founder clemency, saying he committed senseless and brutal slayings in Los Angeles County. In February 2003, Monaghan shot and killed an unarmed driver he had pulled over while working as a San Bernardino County sheriff's reserve deputy. The defense argues Monaghan acted in self-defense after a foot chase.

Read the full article at: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/13384820.htm

- DONATE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign sent Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses--so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

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WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

2 days. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-12-11T08:53:00.000-08:00

Campaign to End the Death Penalty Action Alert
There's only 2 days left to save Stan Tookie Williams.

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CONTENTS
- Reports and news about Tookie
If Stan doesn't get the clemency he deserves...Take action tomorrow!
Stan's case featured on CNN "Sunday Night"
Watsonville High School students stage walkout for Stan
International support for Stan
Growing questioning of the death penalty amid Stan's case
Rev. Jesse Jackson calls for clemency
Advocate for the condemned
Donate much-needed funds for our efforts

- Upcoming events

- Where to find more information

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REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- IF STAN DOESN'T GET THE CLEMENCY HE DESERVES...TAKE ACTION TOMORROW!

Gov. Schwarzenegger still has not announced his decision on clemency for Stan. We have all been watching and waiting. There is good reason to hope that the decision will go Stan's way--we have made our case, with so many people taking a stand. But in the event that Gov. Schwarzenegger decides not to grant clemency--or if we still don't know his decision by tomorrow afternoon--many different groups have planned actions for Monday the 12th. In the Bay Area, activists will gather at San Quentin Prison to protest the pending execution. In Chicago, a protest is planned at the Federal Building; in Washington, D.C., one will take place at the Department of Justice building. The events that we know about are listed below--there are a lot that we don't know the details about. Others can be found at the SaveTookie.org Web site at: http://www.savetookie.org. The Campaign urges all chapters, organizations and individuals to make plans for a December 12 action or event if clemency is denied. It could be at Republican headquarters or a federal building or a state of California office--or on campus if that's where' you're located. It could be a picket and speakout, it could involve civil disobedience, it could be a forum and film showing. If your group has an event planned, please e-mail us at marlene@nodeathpenalty.org. Of course, if Schwarzenegger does the right thing, we should be ready to celebrate, too! But if not, we want to make sure our voices of opposition and outrage are heard--we will not be silent.

- STAN'S CASE FEATURED ON CNN "SUNDAY NIGHT"

Look for Phil Gasper, initiator of Educators for Tookie, to appear on CNN's "Sunday Night" at 8 pm Pacific time.

- WATSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS STAGE WALKOUT FOR STAN

>From the Santa Cruz Sentinel: About 40 Watsonville High School students walked off campus Friday morning to protest the looming execution of Crips co-founder Stanley "Tookie" Williams. Trailed by school administrators, the students marched through downtown, chanting "No more blood." "I'll probably get suspended for this," said 17-year-old senior Zeltzin Sanchez, who spearheaded the protest. "But it's worth it, of course. Every life is worth it."... During a stop at the City Plaza, Sanchez said she didn't believe Williams was guilty, but she wouldn't want to see him die in any case. "I lost two cousins to gang violence but that doesn't mean I'm going to kill," she said. "We shouldn't kill. No more blood for blood."... The students initially planned to hold their protest on campus during the morning break, Zeltzin said. But then she was called to the office just before break by administrators, she said. The protesting students were just starting to gather near the school library when a buzzer announced the end of break. As most students returned to class, the protesters headed off campus.

Read the full article at: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2005/December/10/local/stories/02lo cal.htm

- INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR STAN

>From Yann, a teacher in France: Today, I got an answer from a French senator who told me he wrote a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger to ask for clemency. This is important because this senator, Robert Badinter, was the justice minister in 1981, and he is the one who officially abolished the death penalty in France that same year. So he is very well-known and respected for that in our country. My students are very interested in Stan's case, and they ask me every day if I have fresh news. One girl told me today that she watched the news on TV for the first time in her life yesterday to see if they would talk about it.

- GROWING QUESTIONING OF THE DEATH PENALTY AMID STAN'S CASE

>From the San Francisco Chronicle: Pollsters regularly measure the public's opinion of the death penalty, but there is scant research on the soul-searching question that shrouds the case of Stanley Tookie Williams, the quadruple killer and gang founder who is scheduled to be executed Tuesday in San Quentin prison: Do you believe that inmates have the capacity to reform? Advocates on both sides of the death penalty issue believe that Californians are having their most introspective public discussion in decades about whether the state should execute people. Though polls show that two-thirds of Californians support the death penalty, the cultural landscape has slowly been changing. From the Legislature's 2004 creation of a commission that is examining flaws in the capital punishment system, to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger adding the word "rehabilitation" to the title of the state Department of Corrections this year, there are signs of introspection behind the poll numbers. In January, the Assembly will hold a hearing on a bill that would halt executions until January 2009, a year after the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice's report on capital punishment is supposed to be done. The public conversation was jump-started this fall with Oscar winner Jamie Foxx and hip-hop star Snoop Dogg touting Williams' post-incarceration redemption.

Read the full article at: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/11/WILLIAMS.TMP

- REV. JESSE JACKSON CALLS FOR CLEMENCY

>From the Contra Costa Times: With only two days left before the scheduled execution of Stanley Tookie Williams, the Rev. Jesse Jackson made another appeal for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to spare the life of the reformed gang leader Saturday. Jackson said Williams had changed dramatically while in prison, worked to discourage troubled youths from joining violent street gangs, and could serve humanity better if allowed to live... Jackson also used the news conference at his Rainbow/PUSH headquarters on the South Side to call for an end to the death penalty. "We must kill the idea of killing as a solution," he said. "The eyes of the world are upon us."

Read the full article at: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/nation/13379359.htm

- ADVOCATE FOR THE CONDEMNED

>From the Marin Independent Journal: In a 55-year career, lawyer Carl Shapiro of San Anselmo has done his share of death row cases and clemency appeals. He is an avowed opponent of the death sentence and an advocate for sparing convicted murderer Stanley Tookie Williams. He has his reasons. "Anyone who spends time on death row either goes insane or becomes a changed person." Williams, he believes, is the latter. "He's doing a lot of good things and having a constructive effect on a lot of people."

Read the full article at: http://www.marinij.com/ci_3297740

- DONATE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign sent Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses--so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

- DECEMBER 11 - New York City Discussion of "Blue Rage, Black Redemption" and Screening of "Redemption" At 5 pm at Bluestockings, 177 Allen Street, between Stanton and Rivington (take the V/F to Second Ave.). Call 212-777-6028 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - Oakland, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" Hosted by: Oakland City Councilmember Desley Brooks, Rev. Dr. Harold R. Mayberry, First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Save Tookie Committee and others. At 6:30 pm at Oakland City Hall Council Chambers. Email lajpr@aol.com or call 510-568-5899 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - Chicago Protest for Stan At 4:30 pm at Federal Plaza (Dearborn and Monroe). Sponsored by the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, call 773-955-4841 for more information.

DECEMBER 12 - Cleveland Save the Peace Maker Rally and Vigil At 5:30 pm at Cleveland City Hall. Sponsored by Peace In The Hood and the Task Force for Community Mobilization. Contact RStandiford9@aol.com for information.

DECEMBER 12 - Denver Block Party Protest Speakers include Ernesto Vigil (Crusade for Justice), Ward Churchill (American Indian Movement), and Ramona Africa (MOVE). At 3 pm at the Colorado State Capitol, 15th and Colfax. For more information, or to volunteer, contact Earl Armstrong 303-208-9138, Shareef Aleem 720-436-7606 or Steve Nash 720-309-1418.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Quentin, Calif. PROTEST AT THE PRISON >From the Save Tookie Committee: We believe that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will do the right thing and grant clemency to Stan Tookie Williams. However, if we have not received a decision or if he does not grant clemency, we plan to have a large peaceful protest at San Quentin. At 8 pm at the East Gate of San Quentin Prison. You can park on Francisco Blvd. E, but expect to walk 1 to 1.5 miles to get to the east gate. It will be dark, and there is uneven pavement. We suggest you bring a flashlight, water, and wear good shoes and warm clothing. This will be a peaceful protest. Please listen to security people and don't engage the opposition as it only encourages them. Contact the Save Tookie Committee at 510-253-5418 or 510-333-7966, or e-mail info@savetookie.org for more information.

- DECEMBER 12 - Seattle Screening of "Redemption" At 7 pm at Garfield Community Center, 2323 E. Cherry St. $5 donation requested at the door. Email vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862 for information.

- DECEMBER 12 - Washington, D.C. Emergency Action for Tookie At 4:30 pm at the U.S. Justice Department, 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (Pennsylvania Ave., between 9th and 10th Streets). Metro Center, Federal Triangle or Archives Metro Stations. Call 301-801-7616 or e-mail cedp_dc@hotmail.com for information.

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WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

3 days. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-12-10T07:16:00.000-08:00

There's only 3 days left to save Stan Tookie Williams.

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CONTENTS
- Reports and news about Tookie
More than just waiting...Get ready for action
Media reports on Schwarzenegger's deliberation
Stan's supporters hold a "People's Clemency Hearing"
Report on the December 6 Save Tookie meeting in New York City
Mumia Abu-Jamal speaks out for Stan
Wife of murder victim calls for support of Stan's efforts
NAACP supports clemency
Bianca Jagger on Stan's case
Amnesty International calls for clemency
Stan's case reveals the flaws in the death penalty
On seeing Wesley Baker die
Donate much-needed funds for our efforts

- Upcoming events

- Where to find more information

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- MORE THAN JUST WAITING...GET READY FOR ACTION

We have all spent the last two days since the end of the private clemency hearing called by Gov. Schwarzenegger on pins and needles--watching and waiting for news, which now could come today or tomorrow or even Monday. The reason we have gotten this far is because so many people have decided to make their voice heard and take a stand for Tookie. Because of this mobilization, Stan's case is national news, and is raising all kinds of questions about the continued use of the death penalty, the reality of racism in American society, and what is needed to change the conditions and violence of inner-city life. As Phil Gasper, initiator of Educators for Tookie, put it. "The campaign has done great work--we have forced Schwarzenegger to consider clemency. Now it's up to him." There is good reason to hope that the decision will go Stan's way. But many different groups have planned actions for Monday the 12th, in the event that Gov. Schwarzenegger decides not to grant clemency. In the Bay Area, activists will gather at San Quentin Prison to protest the pending execution. In Chicago, a protest is planned at the Federal Building. The events that we know about are listed below--there are a lot that we don't know the details about. Others can be found at the SaveTookie.org Web site at: http://www.savetookie.org. The Campaign urges all chapters, organizations and individuals to make plans for a December 12 action or event if clemency is denied. It could be a picket at Republican headquarters or a federal building or a state of California office, or civil disobedience, or a campus speakout, or a forum and film showing. If your group has an event planned, please e-mail us at marlene@nodeathpenalty.org. Of course, if Schwarzenegger does the right thing, we should be ready to celebrate, too! But if not, we want to make sure our voices of opposition and outrage are heard--we will not be silent.

- MEDIA REPORTS ON SCHWARZENEGGER'S DELIBERATION

>From Bay Area ABC News: Governor Schwarzenegger is still struggling with the decision of clemency for death row inmate Tookie Williams. The founder of the Crips gang is scheduled to die Tuesday unless the governor decides to spare his life. Schwarzenegger's stand -- I'm thinking about it.

Read the full article at: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=politics&id=3712093

Read other news reports at: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/09/BAGTAG51KH38.DTL http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10381516/site/newsweek/from/RSS/

- STAN'S SUPPORTERS HOLD A "PEOPLE'S CLEMENCY HEARING"

>From Inside Bay Area: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger heard last-ditch arguments Thursday for and against the execution of convicted murderer, Crips gang founder and anti-gang activist Stanley Tookie Williams. As about 100 of Williams' supporters and death penalty opponents held a "people's clemency hearing" on the Capitol's east steps, the governor met privately for an hour with Williams' defense team, Los Angeles prosecutors and others connected to the case... Outside the Capitol on Thursday, activists called Williams a priceless resource for steering at-risk youths away from lives of violence. Among those who spoke was Donald Lacy, 46, of Oakland, whose 16-year-old daughter, LoEshe, was slain in a 1997 drive-by shooting near McClymonds High School. He said for a time after his daughter's death he was angry and wanted revenge, but after prayer "realized that I had to forgive." "We must save Stanley Tookie Williams' life so he can save other young people's lives," Lacy said. "He's saving lives all over the world...No one can do what this man can do. Regardless of what his past is, I can only judge someone by what they're doing now," Lacy added after leaving the podium. "I'm looking at the big picture."... Shujaa Graham, 55, of Maryland, who served several years on California's death row before being exonerated and released in 1981, has become an anti-death penalty activist and said Thursday all potential executions are equally important. But Williams' case takes on special meaning because of the work he does: "We can continue to use him as an instrument to reach men and children I or you could never reach."

Read the full article at: http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_3293790

- REPORT ON THE DECEMBER 6 SAVE TOOKIE MEETING IN NEW YORK CITY

>From Lee Wengraf: On December 6th, the Save Tookie Committee-NYC organized a rally and benefit for Stan Tookie Williams. This event was held at the National Black Theater in Harlem. A multiracial crowd of about 125-150 attended the event. The event was incredibly powerful; many of the speakers and performers made very concrete and personal connections about what Tookie has meant to them, and the racism and injustice exemplified by his case. Yusef Salaam and Anthony Papa both spoke about their experiences in the criminal injustice system. Yusef Salaam, who was wrongfully convicted in the Central Park Jogger case as a teenager, had his youth stolen from him in prison. When he was finally exonerated, he received no apology or compensation. Yet it was clear that his spirit had not been broken and he read a poem he wrote called "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" that spoke about the need to continually resist. The Central Park jogger case was heavily used by politicians in New York State in the early 1990s to whip up support for bringing back the death penalty, and Yusef put the stakes quite clearly when he said, "If the death penalty had been law, I would be a ghost today." Ras Baraka, the deputy mayor of Newark, spoke alongside members of rival gangs who had brokered a ceasefire using Tookie's Protocol for Peace. Baraka condemned the priorities of funding incarceration and not education, and the conditions--like Tookie himself describes--that lead people to join gangs. Rosa Clemente, from the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, got a standing ovation when she called on Bush to answer for his crimes in the murder of thousands of Iraqis and Afghanis, described all people on death row as political prisoners of a racist system, and showed how barbaric the death penalty is. Speaking on behalf of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, I talked about the stakes in Tookie's case and the fight to abolish the death penalty entirely. Other speakers and performers included: spoken-word artists Fish Vargas, the Welfare Poets, 3rd Party (hip-hop band), Sundiata Sadiq (Free Mumia Coalition), Panama Alba (Justice Committee, Vieques Brigades, former Young Lord), Randy Fisher (Hip Hop Youth Summit Council) and King of Kings (youth hip hop/anti-gang initiative). Brian Jones of the Save Tookie Committee and Harlem ISO and Daniel Coles of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty did a fantastic job MC-ing. This was an amazing event and many people left full of anger and a sense of conviction to keep up the momentum over the next few days. Many who spoke/performed and who attended are connected to grassroots struggles and personal experiences with the criminal injustice system. Many people came up to us afterwards to thank us for organizing the event. As one of the poets wrote the next day, "the vibe in the room was fantastic." Many people signed up to get involved in the Campaign, for the next week and beyond.

- MUMIA ABU-JAMAL SPEAKS OUT FOR STAN

>From Mumia Abu-Jamal: The name Stanley Tookie Williams, is both famous and infamous. Infamous because of his multiple murder convictions in California, which led him to Death Row; Famous because of his works while there, and the growing movement to spare his life, and perhaps achieve his freedom from California's notorious San Quentin prison... Several months ago, the anti-death penalty publication, The New Abolitionist (published by the Chicago-based Campaign to End the Death Penalty), published a brief letter from Tookie in which he addressed the issues of both his innocence and his sincerity. He wrote: "My detractors in the media and elsewhere have questioned my redemption. Their doubt is driven largely by my open apology (....at http://www.tookie.com) to Black folks and others who might have been offended by the fact that I helped create the Crips youth gang in Los Angeles 34 years ago. My detractors argue that I could not be redeemed because I have not apologized to the family members of the victims that I was convicted of killing. But please allow me to clarify. I will never apologize for capital crimes that I did not commit -- not even to save my life. And I did not commit the crimes for which I was sentenced to be executed by the State of California..." It can be said that Tookie didn't receive a fair trial, by any standard. How can he then face death? The death penalty has been losing steam for years, largely because of cases which were 'won' by unfairness. With the support of the people, that may be ending, as the fight for the life of Tookie begins!

Read the full article at: http://www.mumia2000.org/majwriting/tookie.html

- WIFE OF MURDER VICTIM CALLS FOR SUPPORT OF STAN'S EFFORTS

>From the NAACP: Linda Owens, the widow of Albert Owens, who was slain during a convenience store robbery, issued a statement today in support of Stanley Tookie Williams' efforts to bring an end to gang violence and his call for peace between gangs. In a statement sent to attorneys for Williams for public release, Ms. Owens said: "I, Linda Owens want to build upon Mr. Williams' peace initiative. I invite Mr. Williams to join me in sending a message to all communities that we should all unite in peace. This position of peace would honor my husband's memory and Mr. Williams' work."

Read the full article at: http://eurweb.com/story.cfm?id=23852

- NAACP SUPPORTS CLEMENCY

>From Bruce Gordon of the NAACP: Stanley Tookie Williams is a one-of-a-kind human asset who, if granted clemency, will continue to touch the lives of many young Americans, particularly from the African-American community. For this reason alone, I strongly encourage Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant him clemency. Stan's voice of peace and hope must not be silenced on Dec. 13.

Read the full article at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/12/09 /EDG7VG4KK71.DTL

- BIANCA JAGGER ON STAN'S CASE

>From Huffingtonpost.com: Clemency is "the historic remedy for preventing miscarriages of justices where judicial process has been exhausted." While we are constantly being reminded of the shopping days we have left before Christmas, Stanley Tookie Williams has a far more urgent countdown, his life clock is ticking away, while he waits for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to decide his fate.

Read the full article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bianca-jagger/arbitrary-justice_b_12010.html

- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CALLS FOR CLEMENCY

Amnesty International is calling on the California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to exercise his power to halt the forthcoming execution of Stanley 'Tookie' Williams, a death row prisoner due to be executed next week in the US state.

Read the full article at: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news/press/16669.shtml

- STAN'S CASE REVEALS THE FLAWS IN THE DEATH PENALTY

>From David A. Love in the Taiwan News: The story of Stanley "Tookie" Williams tells you all you need to know about why the death penalty should be abolished... Williams, 51, who was convicted by an all-white jury and sentenced to die for the murder of four people in two robberies in 1979, says he is innocent. For two decades in prison, Williams has dedicated himself to peace. He negotiated a truce between the Crips and Bloods gangs. He has written nine books, including children's books that warn about the dangers of gang involvement. He has been nominated for a Nobel Prize in literature four times and once for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Read the full article at: http://www.etaiwannews.com/showPage.php?setupFile=showcontent.xml&menu_item_ id=10&did=d_1134187796_13837_8FFBEC2462C949CACCC823A32CA7EC2C0004DD0D_22&are a=taiwan&area_code=00000

- ON SEEING WESLEY BAKER DIE

>From Dave Zirin and Mike Stark on CounterPunch: No, we weren't in the room. We didn't see the technicians spread and shackle his arms. We didn't see the priest lightly graze Wesley's cheek and whisper in his ear. We didn't hear his "five or six rasping breaths" before his heart stopped. We weren't there earlier when Wesley ate his last meal, breaded fish, green beans, bread, fruit punch and milk. We weren't witness to an execution that had more in common with a lynching than anything resembling justice. We were right outside, shivering in the lightly falling snow. We were joined by roughly fifty others, including Wesley's mother Delores who also couldn't stop trembling, but not from the snow as her quiet sobs revealed. Delores is no stranger to seeing her children die. She already had buried two other sons, swallowed whole by violence. Now the state of Maryland would snuff out a third. In an earlier interview with the press she stated, "I understand the [victim's] family, the suffering they have been through. I just don't want to lose my son. I think I've had my share."

Read the full article at: http://www.counterpunch.org/zirin12092005.html

- DONATE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign sent Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses--so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

UPCOMING EVENTS

- DECEMBER 10 - Berkeley, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" and Discussion At 6 pm at Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck (across the street from La Pena).

- DECEMBER 10 - Chicago Speak Out for Justice Featured speakers include Julia Sitko, former teacher in South Central LA; Madison Hobley, exonerated prisoner and member of the Illinois Death Row 10; Darby Tillis, Illinois' first exonerated death row prisoner; Greta Holmes, Campaign to End the Death Penalty; hip hop artists from the Southwest Youth Collaborative; and more. At 3 pm at University Church, 5655 S. University, in Hyde Park.

- DECEMBER 10 - New York City Save Stan Tookie Williams/Celebrate Mumia's Legal Victory Featuring Fred Hampton Jr., who visited Tookie along with other human rights activists; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Herman Ferguson, co-chair, National Jericho Movement; Lynne Stewart, to be sentenced in December by the U.S. government; Masai Ehehosi, Free Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Rap Brown) Campaign; and others. At 4 pm at Salem Methodist Church on 129th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A cultural program and dinner will be served. $10 donation at the door. For information, call the Free Mumia Hotline at 212-330-8029, or 914-941-6046

- DECEMBER 10 - Seattle March for Stan on International Human Rights Day March with the Save Tookie contingent at the International Human Rights Day march and rally in downtown Seattle. Meet at 12:30 pm sharp by the Save Tookie banner on the corner of 2nd and Madison, by the Federal Building. At 1pm, we will march to Westlake and rally support for this peacemaker. We will be talking to people and gathering signatures for Stan's clemency petition. Email vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - New York City Discussion of "Blue Rage, Black Redemption" and Screening of "Redemption" At 5 pm at Bluestockings, 177 Allen Street, between Stanton and Rivington (take the V/F to Second Ave.). Call 212-777-6028 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - Chicago Protest for Stan At 4:30 pm at Federal Plaza (Dearborn and Monroe). Sponsored by the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, call 773-955-4841 for more information.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

- DECEMBER 12 - Seattle Screening of "Redemption" At 7 pm at Garfield Community Center, 2323 E. Cherry St. $5 donation requested at the door. Email vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862 for information.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

4 days. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-12-09T07:42:00.000-08:00

Campaign to End the Death Penalty Action Alert

THE CLOCK IS TICKING... Stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams!

There's only 4 days left to save Stan Tookie Williams.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

CONTENTS
- Reports and news about Tookie
Report from the Nobel Prize/Educators for Tookie press conference
Interview with Snoop Dogg and Stan Tookie Williams
The voices supporting Stan
Hear the Save Tookie teach-in at UC-Santa Cruz
America's "strange fruit"
The evidence of a frame-up
National Lawyers Guild urges clemency
Protect the accused, protect justice
Donate much-needed funds for our efforts

- Upcoming events

- Where to find more information

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- REPORT FROM THE NOBEL PRIZE/EDUCATORS FOR TOOKIE PRESS CONFERENCE

>From Inside Bay Area: On the eve of Stanley Tookie Williams' private clemency hearing with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the death row inmate Wednesday was nominated for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize by a Notre Dame de Namur University professor. This was the sixth time Williams, 51, has been nominated for the prize. Nobel prizes are also awarded for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, and literature... Surrounded Wednesday by anti-death-penalty advocates, Williams supporters and media cameras in the university's quad, Professor Phil Gasper announced that he was nominating Williams for the Nobel Peace Prize again because of his international work to end youth gang violence and crime.

Read the full article at: http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/localnews/ci_3290059

- INTERVIEW WITH SNOOP DOGG AND STAN TOOKIE WILLIAMS

>From Breakdown FM w/ Davey D: Yesterday, (Dec 7th) we rolled up to San Quentin prison and caught up with Snoop Dogg who finally was allowed inside the walls to visit with 'Big Tookie' aka Stan 'Tookie' Williams... [W]e caught up with Snoop who held an impromptu press conference as he was leaving San Quentin and asked him what he thought about the whole situation. He spoke about the spirit of Tookie and how he was moved by him. He talked about what Tookie meant to fellow gang bangers and why he would be better alive then dead. He also talked about the enormous responsibility Arnold Schwartznegger had in terms of turning down or granting him clemency. Snoop was definitely on point with his remarks. Earlier this week fellow journalist and community activist Jasmyne A. Cannick got a chance to interview Stan Tookie Williams. He talked to her about his redemption and why he was hoping to the Governor will do the right thing and spare his life.

Hear the interviews at: http://odeo.com/audio/490410/view

- THE VOICES SUPPORTING STAN

The savetookie.org Web site has a new feature that let's you hear the voices of Stan's supporters explaining why they are standing up and speaking out on his behalf.

Hear the voices of Stan's supporters at: http://www.savetookie.org/savetookie.html

- HEAR THE SAVE TOOKIE TEACH-IN AT UC-SANTA CRUZ

As part of an international day of action, a teach-in to save the life of Stanley Tookie Williams took place at UC Santa Cruz on November 30, 2005. Speakers included Elisa Sanchez, Hector, Lance Lindsay, professor Paul Ortiz and professor Angela Davis. There was also a very special performance from Rainbow Theatre.

Hear excerpts from the meeting at: http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/19115/index.php

- AMERICA'S "STRANGE FRUIT"

>From the San Francisco Bay View Newspaper: Kanye West said, "George Bush doesn't care about Black people." Neither does America. Why do they want Stanley Tookie Williams executed? Is it because he was convicted of murdering four people? Intrinsically racist White Americans lynch "strange fruit" like Stan Williams in American courts of law all the time. In these kangaroo courts, Black people, innocent or guilty, are convicted and sentenced to death. Tookie, Black and from the ghetto, was predictably found guilty by a jury that was not "of his peers"--one Latino, one Filipino and 10 whites. This mostly white jury is of the same breed of people who, with local, state and federal governments, instituted Jim Crow laws denying freedom to newly emancipated Blacks. If American courts ever attempt to be fair, no Black person would ever stand trial in front of 12 non-Black Americans.

Read the full article at: http://www.sfbayview.com/120705/strangefruit120705.shtml

- THE EVIDENCE OF A FRAME-UP

>From the Final Call: If Stanley Tookie Williams is executed on Tuesday, Dec. 13, poisoned to death by the State of California, his fame will have doomed him. We may well have killed an innocent man without even realizing it. On the other hand, if California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger grants clemency to Mr. Williams because he has rehabilitated himself, his fame will have saved him, and the crucial question of his innocence will simply fade away. At a time when more and more Americans are turning against the death penalty because of increasing evidence that innocent people have been executed, we have allowed ourselves to be so bedazzled by the celebrity hype surrounding the Tookie Williams case that one important truth has been ignored: Stanley Williams may be innocent of the crimes for which he was convicted.

Read the full article at: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_2313.shtml

- NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD URGES CLEMENCY

The National Lawyers Guild exhorts California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to Stan "Tookie" Williams, reformed gang leader, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and acclaimed author, currently scheduled to be executed in the State of California at 12:01AM on Tuesday, December 13, 2005. The Guild recognizes that, as co-founder of the Crips, Williams caused harm to communities throughout the nation. The Guild also recognizes that as a prisoner on death row, Williams publicly denounced his former gang lifestyle and sincerely apologized for the unnecessary death and destruction caused by the Crips. Williams has had an enormous and positive influence on American youth since then.

Read the full article at: http://www.minjok.com/english/news.php3?code=1030

- PROTECT THE ACCUSED, PROTECT JUSTICE

>From Clarence Page in the Chicago Tribune: What does Khalid el-Masri of Germany have in common with Stanley "Tookie" Williams of California and Steven Avery of Wisconsin? Each offers a bracing example of why, in pursuit of justice, we need to respect the inescapable ability of human beings to make mistakes. A big mistake was made in el-Masri's case. He's the German national of Lebanese descent whom Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice confirmed to German leaders was mistakenly snatched into America's anti-terrorist snare on New Year's Eve 2003 during a vacation trip in Macedonia, all because his name sounded like that of an Al Qaeda suspect... I oppose Williams' execution for the same reason that polls have shown declining support nationwide for executions in recent years: I've seen too many people sent to Death Row by mistake.

Read the full article at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0512070358dec07,1,4520746. column?coll=chi-news-col

- DONATE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses--so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

UPCOMING EVENTS

- DECEMBER 9 - Los Angeles Screening of "After Innocence" A film about the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated--innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. At 7 pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd. Sponsored by the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For information, call Project:Involve at 310-432-1280.

- DECEMBER 9 - New York City Press Conference for Tookie With Councilman Charles Barron and Fred Hampton Jr. At Noon at City Hall, sponsored by the NYC Free Mumia Coalition.

- DECEMBER 10 - Berkeley, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" and Discussion At 6 pm at Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck (across the street from La Pena).

- DECEMBER 10 - Chicago Speak Out for Justice Featured speakers include Julia Sitko, former teacher in South Central LA; Madison Hobley, exonerated prisoner and member of the Illinois Death Row 10; Darby Tillis, Illinois' first exonerated death row prisoner; Greta Holmes, Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and a representative of the Southwest Youth Collaborative. At 3 pm at University Church, 5655 S. University, in Hyde Park.

- DECEMBER 10 - New York City Save Stan Tookie Williams/Celebrate Mumia's Legal Victory Featuring Fred Hampton Jr., who visited Tookie along with other human rights activists; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Herman Ferguson, co-chair, National Jericho Movement; Lynne Stewart, to be sentenced in December by the U.S. government; Masai Ehehosi, Free Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Rap Brown) Campaign; and others. At 4 pm at Salem Methodist Church on 129th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A cultural program and dinner will be served. $10 donation at the door. For information, call the Free Mumia Hotline at 212-330-8029, or 914-941-6046

- DECEMBER 10 - Seattle March for Stan on International Human Rights Day March with the Save Tookie contingent at the International Human Rights Day march and rally in downtown Seattle. Meet at 12:30 pm sharp by the Save Tookie banner on the corner of 2nd and Madison, by the Federal Building. At 1pm, we will march to Westlake and rally support for this peacemaker. We will be talking to people and gathering signatures for Stan's clemency petition. Email vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - New York City Discussion of "Blue Rage, Black Redemption" and Screening of "Redemption" At 5 pm at Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street, between Stanton and Rivington. Call 212-777-6028 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

5 days. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-12-08T07:56:00.000-08:00

Campaign to End the Death Penalty Action Alert

THE CLOCK IS TICKING... Stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams!

There's only 5 days left to save Stan Tookie Williams.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

CONTENTS
- Reports and news about Tookie
A day of action for clemency!
Why Tookie deserves to live
Criminal or criminalized
Stan's case featured on Chuck D's show on Air America
A stunning victory for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Donate much-needed funds for our efforts

- Upcoming events

- Where to find more information

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- A DAY OF ACTION FOR CLEMENCY!

Tookie's supporters are gathering today to show their support as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger holds a private clemency hearing with Stan's lawyers and with prosecutors. In the Bay Area, activists are mobilizing for a "people's clemency hearing"--Stan's supporters will convene on the west steps of the capitol building in Sacramento (10th at Capitol Mall), beginning at 10 a.m. Other events are taking place around the country in solidarity with the rally in Sacramento--see the list of events below. If you are from the Bay Area, a casual carpool is leaving MacArthur BART Station at 8 a.m. If you have a car and can take people, or if you need a ride, please arrive well before 8 a.m. to arrange seats. We can't guarantee a seat! AMTRAK is an alternative. Go to http://www.amtrakcapitols.com/ to get information on stations; the train picks up in Hayward, Oakland and Richmond. The Capitol Corridor Train 522 arrives in Sacramento 9:45 a.m., just in time to walk (7 blocks) over to the People's Clemency Hearing. "Train" 537 (which is really a bus) departs for the Bay Area at 12:10 and Train 541 departs at 2:10. The Amtrak station is at 401 I Street at 5th. The rally is at 10th and Capitol Mall. The fare is $17 each way.

- WHY TOOKIE DESERVES TO LIVE

>From Socialist Worker: Unless California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger commutes his sentence or stays the execution--or the courts step in at the last moment--Stan Tookie Williams will be killed in San Quentin's death chamber just past midnight on December 13. But growing numbers of people are determined to stop California's execution machine from being switched on, and they have pressured the governor into holding a private clemency hearing... Socialist Worker convenes its own "hearing"--gathering testimony from community activists, former gang members and death penalty opponents to prove why this peacemaker should not be put to death. The "clemency statements" below are from Crystal Bybee, Kevin Tate, Minister Tony Muhammad, Vicky Lindsey, Phil Gasper, Cassandra Gonzalez, Darby Tillis and Marlene Martin.

Read the statements at: http://www.socialistworker.org/2005-2/568/568_06_Clemency.shtml

- CRIMINAL OR CRIMINALIZED

>From M. Junaid Alam on the Left Hook Web site: An unattributed but relatively well-known quote reads, "Kill one man, and it's called murder; kill a hundred thousand, and it's called foreign policy." But there is a way to kill one man without calling it murder: capital punishment. And there is a kind of capital punishment that is preceded by use of biased informants, malicious prosecutors, racist prejudice, and weak evidence: American capital punishment. Such is the predicament faced by Stan Tookie Williams, a death row inmate at San Quentin prison near San Francisco, California, who faces execution on December 13 at 12:01 a.m. unless he is granted clemency by the governor, Schwarzenegger... Stan Williams, or Tookie, as he is frequently called, has undergone a Malcolm X-like transformation while in prison. After spending several years in solitary confinement, Tookie emerged in 1993 as an inverse image of his former self, renouncing all gang ties and beginning a comprehensive crusade against gang violence. He has produced nine anti-gang books aimed at children, including one which won an award from the American Library Association; he has spoken to schools and community groups imploring youth not to get caught up in gangs; and he has even drafted a specific program for resolving conflict violence between gangs - one which has been used to reduce violence between the feuding Blood and Crips gangs in New Jersey.

Read the full article at: http://www.alternet.org/story/29209/

- STAN'S CASE FEATURED ON CHUCK D'S SHOW ON AIR AMERICA

Chuck D and Giana Garel had sportswriter Dave Zirin, author of What's My Name Fool, on their show to talk about Stan's case. You can listen to the show on the Internet--the discussion about Stan starts about two-thirds of the way through.

Hear the Air America show about Stan: http://www.airamericaplace.com/upload/aaor120405.mp3

- A STUNNING VICTORY FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL

>From Dave Lindorff on CounterPunch: In a startling new development, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia has agreed to hear arguments on three claims by Pennsylvania death-row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal that his 1982 trial and state appeal were tainted by constitutional violations. Any one of those three claims, if upheld by the three-judge panel, could lead to a new trial for one of America's most famous and long-standing death row prisoners, a Philadelphia-based journalist and former Black Panther activist who was convicted of the 1981 shooting murder of a white Philadelphia police officer. The decision came as a surprise because the appellate court was only required to consider an appeal from the defense on a single guilt-phase issue-the claim that the prosecution had illegally removed qualified jurors from the case on the basis of race. That claim, while rejected in 2001 by Federal District Court Judge William Yohn, had been certified by the judge for appeal to the Third Circuit. Appellate courts do not have to even accept arguments from defense attorneys on claims that have not been certified for appeal by a lower court, so the fact that the judges agreed to accept the other two claims is a major victory for the defense.

Read the full article at: http://www.counterpunch.com/patrick12072005.html

- DONATE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses--so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

UPCOMING EVENTS

- DECEMBER 8 - Austin, Texas Emergency Press Conference At 5:30 pm at the Governor's Mansion (10th and Lavaca).

- DECEMBER 8 - Boston Press Conference and Picket for Clemency Featuring Prof. William Keach of Brown University, who nominated Stan for the Nobel Prize in Literature. In front of the state house.

- DECEMBER 8 - Los Angeles Chantin' Down the Death Penalty The Hawthorne/Inglewood Save Tookie Committee is holding a "Chantin' Down the Death Penalty" vigil. At 10 am, at Aviation Park, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. (Manhattan Beach Blvd. and Aviation Blvd. in front of the soccer field), Redondo Beach.

- DECEMBER 8 - Los Angeles Demonstration for Clemency Join the Youth Justice Coaltion and Save Tookie Committee. At Noon, outside Central Juvenile Hall and the Juvenile Court on Eastlake, 1605 Eastlake Ave. E-mail freelanow@yahoo.com for more info

- DECEMBER 8 - New York City Save Tookie Protest in Times Square At 5 pm at Times Square, by the military recruiting station. Sponsored by: Save Tookie Committee-NYC. E-mail nyc@nodeathpenalty.org or call 518-253-5029 for information.

- DECEMBER 8 - Rochester, N.Y. Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Rally At 5 pm, downtown at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.

- DECEMBER 8 - Rochester, N.Y. Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at Rochester Institute of Technology, SAU Room Clarke A.

- DECEMBER 8 - Sacramento, Calif. People's Clemency Hearing for Tookie At 10 am, on the steps of the State Capitol building. Called for by the Bay Area Save Tookie Committee.

- DECEMBER 8 - Washington, D.C. Rally to Save Tookie Williams At 5:30 pm at the African American Civil War Memorial, 10th and U St. NW

- DECEMBER 9 - Los Angeles Screening of "After Innocence" A film about the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated--innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. At 7 pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd. Sponsored by the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For information, call : Project:Involve at 310-432-1280.

- DECEMBER 9 - New York City Press Conference for Tookie With Councilman Charles Barron and Fred Hampton Jr. At Noon at City Hall, sponsored by the NYC Free Mumia Coalition.

- DECEMBER 10 - Berkeley, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" and Discussion At 6 pm at Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck (across the street from La Pena).

- DECEMBER 10 - Chicago Speak Out for Justice Featured speakers include Julia Sitko, former teacher in South Central LA; Madison Hobley, exonerated prisoner and member of the Illinois Death Row 10; Darby Tillis, Illinois' first exonerated death row prisoner; Greta Holmes, Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and a representative of the Southwest Youth Collaborative. At 3 pm at University Church, 5655 S. University, in Hyde Park.

- DECEMBER 10 - New York City Save Stan Tookie Williams. Featuring Fred Hampton Jr., who visited Tookie along with other human rights activists; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Herman Ferguson, co-chair, National Jericho Movement; Lynne Stewart, to be sentenced in December by the U.S. government; Masai Ehehosi, Free Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Rap Brown) Campaign; and others. At 4 pm at Salem Methodist Church on 129th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A cultural program and dinner will be served. $10 donation at the door. For information, call the Free Mumia Hotline at 212-330-8029, or 914-941-6046

- DECEMBER 10 - Seattle March for Stan on International Human Rights Day March with the Save Tookie contingent at the International Human Rights Day march and rally in downtown Seattle. Meet at 12:30 pm sharp by the Save Tookie banner on the corner of 2nd and Madison, by the Federal Building. At 1pm, we will march to Westlake and rally support for this peacemaker. We will be talking to people and gathering signatures for Stan's clemency petition. Email vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - New York City Discussion of "Blue Rage, Black Redemption" and Screening of "Redemption" At 5 pm at Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street, between Stanton and Rivington. Call 212-777-6028 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

6 days. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-12-07T09:25:00.000-08:00

CONTENTS
- Reports and news about Tookie
Educators for Tookie press conference today!
Save the Peacemaker rally/People's Clemency Hearing
What Stan will do with the rest of his life
BET News Web page on Stan's case
The errors in Stan's trial
If the state of California kills Tookie
Donate much-needed funds for our efforts

- Upcoming events

- Where to find more information

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- EDUCATORS FOR TOOKIE PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY!

A press conference today will announce the nomination of Stanley Tookie Williams for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, and the support of more than 500 educators nationwide urging Governor Schwarzenegger to grant clemency. Among the speakers will be Philip Gasper, initiator of Educators for Tookie; and Barbara Becnel, executive director of the Neighborhood House of North Richmond and co-author of Stan's anti-gang children's books. Professor Gasper and fellow educators are calling attention to Stan's work as a global peacemaker who has campaigned to stop gang violence and prevent children from joining gangs. In addition to nominating Stan for the Nobel Peace Prize, Professor Gasper worked with Professor William Keach of Brown University and the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, a national grassroots anti-death penalty organization, to reach out to fellow educators nationwide in an initiative called Educators for Tookie. The press conference will take place at 2 pm at Notre Dame de Namur University, Quad (next to Campus Center, 1500 Ralston Ave., Belmont Calif. If you have contacts with the Bay Area media, please let them know about this event.

Media inquiries should be directed to: Alice Kim, 773-412-2716

- SAVE THE PEACEMAKER RALLY/PEOPLE'S CLEMENCY HEARING

On December 8, Tookie's supporters far and wide will hold our own clemency hearing to coincide with the private clemency hearing that Gov. Schwarzenegger has scheduled regarding Tookie. Activists in Northern California will gather on the west steps of the capitol building in Sacramento (10th at Capitol Mall), beginning at 10 a.m. Other events are taking place around the country in solidarity with the rally in Sacramento. If you are from the Bay Area, there will be a carpool leaving MacArthur BART station in Oakland at 8 am on December 8. Spaces are very limited and cannot be guaranteed. If you can drive to the event please pick up passengers at MacArthur BART.

For more information, call 510-253-5418 or 510-333-7966.

- WHAT STAN WILL DO WITH THE REST OF HIS LIFE

>From the NAACP: Stanley Tookie Williams said in a soon to be published essay titled What I Will Do With the Rest of My Life that if he wins clemency he will partner with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on programs aimed at persuading at-risk youths to avoid gangs. Williams said, "In the beginning, redemption was an alien concept to me. However, while in solitary confinement, during 1988 to 1994, I embarked upon a transitional path toward redemption. I underwent disciplined years of education, soul searching, edification, spiritual cultivation and battling my internal demons. Though I was loathed for being the co-founder of the Crips, my redemption caused me to repudiate my gang leadership role, to repudiate any affiliation with the Crips or other gangs."

Read the full article at: http://www.naacp.org/news/2005/2005-12-06.html

- BET NEWS WEB PAGE ON STAN'S CASE

Read BET News' collected coverage of Stan's case at: http://www.bet.com/Site+Management/Packages/stanley_tookie_williams.htm

- THE ERRORS IN STAN'S TRIAL

>From the Contra Costa Times: What the jury saw was a muscle-bound hulk in a 4X jacket. What they heard about was barbaric: two cold-blooded robbery murders within 12 days, four dead and a suspect who was said to laugh hysterically as he mimicked the gurgling last breaths of one victim. Who they heard it from: an alleged accomplice granted immunity, a jailhouse informant, an acquaintance with a checkered criminal past, a friend who later claimed police beat him into testifying. A police expert tied a shell casing from one crime scene to a slide-action 12-gauge shotgun owned by Stanley "Tookie" Williams, but there were no fingerprints, no pictures, no bystanders to finger him. And no DNA that could bolster or silence his claim of innocence. A quarter-century later, the trial that landed the Crips gang co-founder on death row draws renewed focus as his Dec. 13 execution date nears. While his backers highlight his tale of atonement and anti-gang outreach from prison, debate over his 1981 prosecution is bound to play out in the Capitol on Thursday as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger entertains his case for clemency.

Read the full article at: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/nation/13339771.htm

- IF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA KILLS TOOKIE

>From BlackNews.com columnist Earl Ofari Hutchinson: The dangling question in the raging debate over the fate of Stanley "Tookie" Williams is what if the state kills him? Though President Bush didn't specifically mention Williams' pending execution, he recently took the occasion of the execution of a North Carolina inmate, to publicly declare that the death penalty saves lives. Death penalty opponents vehemently dispute that. They say that it's inhumane, and ineffectual. Victims rights groups say that killing Williams and other killers bring closure to the family members of the killer's victims. Many in the media worry that with passions running white hot over the case, Williams' execution could spark violence, and turn him into a martyr. These are hotly debated and disputed points. There is no evidence that killing Williams or any of the other 1,000 men and women that states have executed since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 has deterred killers from killing. Eighteen of the twenty states with the highest murder rates impose the death penalty. Seventeen of twenty big cities with the highest murder rates are in death penalty states. Michigan and Indiana are next door to each other. One has the death penalty (Indiana), the other doesn't (Michigan), and two decades later their murder rates have remained fairly constant.

Read the full article at: http://www.blacknews.com/pr/tookie801.html

- DONATE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses--so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

UPCOMING EVENTS

- DECEMBER 7 - Belmont, Calif. Educators for Tookie Press Conference More than 500 educators have signed a letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger calling for clemency for Stan. The letter will be the subject of a press conference, featuring Educators for Tookie initiator Phil Gasper, and Stan's advocate Barbara Becnel. At 2 pm at Notre Dame de Namur University, Quad (next to Campus Center, 1500 Ralston Ave., Belmont Calif. E-mail akim007@speakeasy.net or call 773-412-2716 for information.

- DECEMBER 7 - Burlington, Vt. Voices from Death Row Panel Discussion Featuring Darby Tillis, exonerated Death Row prisoner from Illinois; and Marlene Martin of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; with a message from Stan Tookie Williams. At 7 pm at the University of Vermont, Lafayette Hall, Room 108. Call 802-363-4699 for more information or directions.

- DECEMBER 7 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at Northeastern Illinois University, Student Union, (Room TBA), 5500 N. St. Louis. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway. For information, call 619-804-1685 or e-mail tkalonji@Hotmail.com.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

- DECEMBER 8 - Austin, Texas Emergency Press Conference At 5:30 pm at the Governor's Mansion (10th and Lavaca).

- DECEMBER 8 - Boston Press Conference and Picket for Clemency Featuring Prof. William Keach of Brown University, who nominated Stan for the Nobel Prize in Literature. In front of the state house.

- DECEMBER 8 - Los Angeles Chantin' Down the Death Penalty The Hawthorne/Inglewood Save Tookie Committee is holding a "Chantin' Down the Death Penalty" vigil. At 10 am, at Aviation Park, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. (Manhattan Beach Blvd. and Aviation Blvd. in front of the soccer field), Redondo Beach.

- DECEMBER 8 - Los Angeles Demonstration for Clemency Join the Youth Justice Coaltion and Save Tookie Committee. At Noon, outside Central Juvenile Hall and the Juvenile Court on Eastlake, 1605 Eastlake Ave. E-mail freelanow@yahoo.com for more info

- DECEMBER 8 - New York City Save Tookie Protest in Times Square At 5 pm at Times Square, by the military recruiting station. Sponsored by: Save Tookie Committee-NYC. E-mail nyc@nodeathpenalty.org or call 518-253-5029 for information.

- DECEMBER 8 - Rochester, N.Y. Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Rally At 5 pm, downtown at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.

- DECEMBER 8 - Rochester, N.Y. Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at Rochester Institute of Technology, SAU Room Clarke A.

- DECEMBER 8 - Sacramento, Calif. People's Clemency Hearing for Tookie At 10 am, on the steps of the State Capitol building. Called for by the Bay Area Save Tookie Committee.

- DECEMBER 8 - Washington, D.C. Rally to Save Tookie Williams At 5:30 pm at the African American Civil War Memorial, 10th and U St. NW

- DECEMBER 9 - Los Angeles Screening of "After Innocence" A film about the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated--innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. At 7 pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd. Sponsored by the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For information, call : Project:Involve at 310-432-1280.

- DECEMBER 10 - Berkeley, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" and Discussion At 6 pm at Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck (across the street from La Pena).

- DECEMBER 10 - Chicago Speak Out for Justice At 3 pm at University Church, 5655 S. University, in Hyde Park.

- DECEMBER 10 - New York City Save Stan Tookie Williams. Featuring Fred Hampton Jr., who visited Tookie along with other human rights activists; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Herman Ferguson, co-chair, National Jericho Movement; Lynne Stewart, to be sentenced in December by the U.S. government; Masai Ehehosi, Free Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Rap Brown) Campaign; and others. At 4 pm at Salem Methodist Church on 129th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A cultural program and dinner will be served. $10 donation at the door. For information, call the Free Mumia Hotline at 212-330-8029, or 914-941-6046

- DECEMBER 10 - Seattle March for Stan on International Human Rights Day March with the Save Tookie contingent at the International Human Rights Day march and rally in downtown Seattle. Meet at 12:30 pm sharp by the Save Tookie banner on the corner of 2nd and Madison, by the Federal Building. At 1pm, we will march to Westlake and rally support for this peacemaker. We will be talking to people and gathering signatures for Stan's clemency petition. Email vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - New York City Discussion of "Blue Rage, Black Redemption" and Screening of "Redemption" At 5 pm at Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street, between Stanton and Rivington. Call 212-777-6028 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

7 days. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-12-06T09:05:00.000-08:00

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

CONTENTS
- Reports and news about Tookie
"Redemption" screening and fundraiser gets a packed house
Arrested for civil disobedience to protest the 1,000th execution
Thirty-three professors nominate Stan for Nobel Peace Prize
A discussion of Stan's case on the Pacifica station KPFA
Stan's case dominates the Black press
USA Today writer supports clemency
Have the innocent been put to death?
Donate much-needed funds for our efforts

- Upcoming events

- Where to find more information

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- "REDEMPTION" SCREENING AND FUNDRAISER GETS A PACKED HOUSE

>From Todd Chretien: Over 500 people stood and yelled, "Save Tookie," as Elizabeth Terzakis from the Campaign to End the Death Penalty welcomed them to a special screening of "Redemption" at San Francisco's Victoria Theatre, hosted by the Save Tookie Committee. The crowd was multiracial and included whole families and 100 high school and junior high students from some of the roughest neighborhoods in the Bay Area. Next, Danielle Moore, representing the Vanguard Public Foundation, introduced Tookie's co-author Barbara Becnel, who had a surprise for everyone. She walked to the microphone, held up her cell phone, and Tookie himself spoke live from death row. He said, "I appreciate all the support you've given me, and I can sense from you that even those who do not believe in god can tonight detect the warmth of your humanity and caring." After a long ovation, Kevin Epps, director of "Straight Out of Hunters Point," spoke about the inspiration that Tookie gives to young people in his neighborhood, which faces high levels of street violence, racism and police brutality. Elizabeth Sholes representing the California Council of Churches pledged the support of thousands of religious congregations. Boots Riley from the hip-hop group The Coup explained the power Tookie has to reach Black and Brown youth who are in gangs or considering joining a gang. He said, "A lot of times you hear condescending people say, 'why don't you people just stop the violence in your communities.' But they don't have any experience with the conditions young people in our inner cities live. Tookie has that experience, and it means a lot more when he says don't join a gang than coming from anyone else." Cameron Sturdevant from the Campaign to the End the Death Penalty gave a moving and effective pitch for funds that raised thousands of dollars to help cover organizing costs. Hari Dillon, president of the Vanguard Public Foundation, told the audience he had just spoken with Ahmed Kathrada, a leader in the African National Congress in South Africa who spent years in prison with Nelson Mandela, who reported that Tookie's case is now big news in South Africa and all over the world. To top it all off, Danny Glover mounted the stage. In order to attend the meeting for Tookie, he left Toronto early in the morning to get to Houston for an important social justice meeting, and then caught the last plane to San Francisco. He talked about the need to "keep Tookie alive to continue doing his good works. Tookie is one part of the solution to the violence and discrimination and poverty we face, but we, all of us here tonight, are another part that is just as important as Tookie. No one can make these changes on their own, but we need to save Tookie, and we need to stand up and take action ourselves."

- ARRESTED FOR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE TO PROTEST THE 1,000TH EXECUTION

CEDP board member Shujaa Graham, the exonerated former death row prisoner at San Quentin, was among 17 people arrested in Raleigh, N.C., in an act of civil disobedience December 1, shortly before Kenneth Boyd was executed, becoming the 1,000th person put to death since reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. From Renny Cushing of Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights: Thursday night, 17 people were arrested for walking down the driveway of the Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina and non-violently entering the grounds of the compound where the Death House was being prepared to kill Kenneth Boyd. Those who participated in this collective act of conscience in the face of the 1000th execution did so as individuals and not in their capacity as members of any organization. Engaging in civil disobedience is not something done lightly. The abolition movement is appropriately focused on making new laws or changing existing laws concerning the death penalty, crime and punishment. Sometimes, though, it seems that in order to make change it is necessary to break the law. It seemed especially true on December 1, the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks decision to defy the Alabama law that required her to sit on the back of a public bus. The cumulative carnage represented by 1000 executions weighed upon us all. When a little after 10:00 PM Steve Dear announced to the crowd that had assembled in front of the Central Prison to vigil against the death penalty that the North Carolina Governor Easley had turned down Vietnam Veteran Kenneth Boyd’s request for clemency, making his execution inevitable, it was time to act.

- THIRTY-THREE PROFESSORS NOMINATE STAN FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Professor Philip Gasper, Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Notre Dame de Namur University, has nominated Mr. Williams for the Nobel Peace Prize five years in a row, including the current nomination, which is endorsed by thirty-two other professors. "I nominate Mr. Williams for a Nobel Peace Prize because of his courage in sharing his experience with young people throughout the world so that they can learn from his mistakes," said Professor Gasper. Gasper, fellow educators, and Barbara Becnel, executive director of the Neighborhood House of North Richmond and co-author of Mr. Williams' anti-gang children's books will speak at a press conference to announce Stan's nomination for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. At 2 pm, December 7, at Notre Dame de Namur University, Quad (next to Campus Center), 1500 Ralston Ave., Belmont, Calif.

- A DISCUSSION OF STAN'S CASE ON THE PACIFICA STATION KPFA

>From the Pacifica Web Site: Stan "Tookie" Williams' lawyers have a clemency hearing scheduled with California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for Thursday, December 8. If the governor does not grant Tookie clemency, he will be executed on December 13. As that day draws closer, more and more people are beginning to look at the issues of racism and extreme poverty as they pertain to Stan Tookie Williams, and the criminal justice system as a whole. Sarah Olson files this story from Oakland, California.

Go here to find the link to the Webcast: http://www.pacifica.org/programs/fsrn/fsrn_051205.html

- STAN'S CASE DOMINATES THE BLACK PRESS

>From the Pacific News Service: As the Dec. 13, 2005, date for the execution of death row prisoner Stanley "Tookie" Williams creeps closer, mainstream media nationwide have begun to take a look at what has been one of the most widely reported and debated stories in black media for the last two months. Most, but not all, commentary in African American publications has favored granting clemency to Tookie, a five-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize and a co-founder of the notorious Crips street gang.

Read the full article at: http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=c26f2f051b9e24 147dc3768e8ffbd6b8

- USA TODAY WRITER SUPPORTS CLEMENCY

>From USA Today: There is strong evidence that the scales of justice are way out of balance when it comes to the people on death row. As with so much else in this country, race matters in death penalty cases. Killing someone white is far more likely to land a person on death row than murdering blacks. While blacks were nearly 47% of this nation's homicide victims from 1976 (the year the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty) to 2002, 80% of the victims of the people on death row were white, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Read the full article at: http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnist/wickham/2005-12-05-wickham_x. htm

- HAVE THE INNOCENT BEEN PUT TO DEATH?

>From the Scripps Howard News Service: New evidence emerges daily verifying what most of us have long suspected: Innocent persons have been put to death in this country for crimes they didn't commit. We probably will never know how many of the nearly 1,000 executed since 1976 when capital punishment was reinstated by the Supreme Court were not actually guilty of the crimes for which they were convicted. But just one would be excessive. Does this mean that the penalty should be abolished entirely? More and more Americans seem to think so, according to recent polls that show support for the supreme punishment has declined from three-fourths to two-thirds in the wake of increasing doubts about mistakes. That number drops to close to 50 percent when the alternative of life in prison without parole is suggested.

Read the full article at: http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=THOMASSON-12-05-05

- DONATE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses--so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

UPCOMING EVENTS

- DECEMBER 6 - Austin, Texas Screening of "Redemption" At 7 pm at Ruby's BBQ (Back Patio), Guadalupe and 29th Street.

- DECEMBER 6 - Berkeley, Calif. Panel Discussion on Clemency for Tookie Featuring Alice Kim, national organizer for the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; Shujaa Graham, exonerated California death row inmate; and a message from Tookie himself. At 7pm at UC-Berkeley, in 101 Moffit.

- DECEMBER 6 - Chicago Chicago-Hyde Park CEDP Chapter Meeting To plan the December 10 speak out for Stanley Williams, and make it as big and exciting as possible. At 7 pm at University Church, 5655 S. University.

- DECEMBER 6 - New York City Town Hall Meeting to Save Stan Tookie Williams Featuring Ras Baraka (deputy mayor of Newark, N.J.), a representative of SOS (former gang members in Newark who negotiated a truce based on Tookie's Protocol for Peace), Anthony Papa (author and victim of the Rockefeller drug laws), and Yusef Salaam (wrongfully convicted in the Central Park jogger case and recently exonerated), the Welfare Poets (spoken word/hip hop artists), and many more. At 7 pm at the National Black Theater of Harlem, South Tower-Temple of Liberation, 2031 5th Ave. at 125th Street (take the 2,3 to 125th Street or 4,5,6 to 125th Street). $5 donation.

- DECEMBER 6 - San Rafael, Calif. Capital Punishment: Who Are We Executing? A film and discussion about death row and the death penalty. At 7 pm at the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, 1520 Grand Ave., corner of Grand and Acacia Streets.

- DECEMBER 6 - Toledo, Ohio Screening of "Redemption" At 6 pm at Brewed Awakenings.

- DECEMBER 7 - Burlington, Vt. Voices from Death Row Panel Discussion Featuring Darby Tillis, exonerated Death Row prisonerfrom Illinois; and Marlene Martin of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; with a message from Stan Tookie Williams. At 7 pm at the University of Vermont, Lafayette Hall, Room 108. Call 802-363-4699 for more information or directions.

- DECEMBER 7 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at Northeastern Illinois University, Student Union, (Room TBA), 5500 N. St. Louis. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 7 - Sacramento, Calif. Educators for Tookie Deliver their message A delegation of educators who signed a letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger calling for clemency for Stan will meet to deliver their message to the governor. At Noon on the steps of the State Capitol Building. E-mail akim007@speakeasy.net for information.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway. For information, call 619-804-1685 or e-mail tkalonji@Hotmail.com.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

- DECEMBER 8 - Austin, Texas Emergency Press Conference At 5:30 pm at the Governor's Mansion (10th and Lavaca).

- DECEMBER 8 - Los Angeles Demonstration for Clemency Join the Youth Justice Coaltion and Save Tookie Committee. At Noon, outside Central Juvenile Hall and the Juvenile Court on Eastlake, 1605 Eastlake Ave. E-mail freelanow@yahoo.com for more info

- DECEMBER 8 - New York City Save Tookie Protest in Times Square At 5 pm at Times Square, by the military recruiting station. Sponsored by: Save Tookie Committee-NYC. E-mail nyc@nodeathpenalty.org or call 518-253-5029 for information.

- DECEMBER 8 - Rochester, N.Y. Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Rally At 5 pm, downtown at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.

- DECEMBER 8 - Rochester, N.Y. Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at Rochester Institute of Technology, SAU Room Clarke A.

- DECEMBER 8 - Sacramento, Calif. People's Clemency Hearing for Tookie At 10 am, on the steps of the State Capitol building. Called for by the Bay Area Save Tookie Committee.

- DECEMBER 8 - Washington, D.C. Rally to Save Tookie Williams At 5:30 pm at the African American Civil War Memorial, 10th and U St. NW

- DECEMBER 9 - Los Angeles Screening of "After Innocence" A film about the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated--innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. At 7 pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd. Sponsored by the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For information, call : Project:Involve at 310-432-1280.

- DECEMBER 10 - Berkeley, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" and Discussion At 6 pm at Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck (across the street from La Pena).

- DECEMBER 10 - Chicago Speak Out for Justice At 3 pm at University Church, 5655 S. University, in Hyde Park.

- DECEMBER 10 - New York City Save Stan Tookie Williams. Featuring Fred Hampton Jr., who visited Tookie along with other human rights activists; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Herman Ferguson, co-chair, National Jericho Movement; Lynne Stewart, to be sentenced in December by the U.S. government; Masai Ehehosi, Free Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Rap Brown) Campaign; and others. At 4 pm at Salem Methodist Church on 129th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A cultural program and dinner will be served. $10 donation at the door. For information, call the Free Mumia Hotline at 212-330-8029, or 914-941-6046

- DECEMBER 11 - New York City Discussion of "Blue Rage, Black Redemption" and Screening of "Redemption" At 5 pm at Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street, between Stanton and Rivington. Call 212-777-6028 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

8 days. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-12-05T08:18:00.000-08:00

THE CLOCK IS TICKING... Stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams!

CONTENTS

- Reports and news about Tookie
A weekend of protest for Stan in Los Angeles
Rock Out/Speak Out for Tookie
Protesters sit in against 1,000th execution in 30 years
Sign on with Educators for Tookie
"Redemption" screenwriter speaks out for Stan
A plea for clemency
A man's life as a redeemer
San Jose Mercury News editorial favors clemency
San Francisco Chronicle excerpts Stan's writings
Donate much-needed funds for our efforts

- Upcoming events

- Where to find more information

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REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- A WEEKEND OF PROTEST FOR STAN IN LOS ANGELES

>From Dana Blanchard: We had a very successful rally in Leimert Park of about 350 people on Saturday in support of clemency for Stan. Many of the speakers talked about Stan's work in helping turn kids away from gangs, like Vicky Lindsey from Project Cry No More, whose son was killed by a gang member. Other people spoke about the racism in Stan's trial and the fact that he is innocent. Bonnie Williams, Stan's first wife, demanded that the Governor do the right thing and grant clemency. The event included people for the gang intervention community, the anti-death penalty movement, the religious community, and many people from the neighborhood where Stan grew up who have been touched by his work. On Sunday night, we had a candlelight vigil outside Arnold's restaurant, Shatzi's, in Santa Monica. Local junior high and high school students came out and spoke about being touched by Stan's work. One young woman said she wants Stan to live so she can thank him personally for his work in her community, and if he dies she will not have a chance to meet him. Oscar de la Torre, a school board member from Santa Monica, spoke about Stan's redemption, and many activists and parents from the local area were there in support of clemency. Overall, things are going really well in LA. The NAACP speaking tour is coming through on Tuesday for a press conference on the steps of city hall. We also have our next planning meeting on Tuesday night and plans for a support rally on Thursday as the clemency hearing is happening in Sacramento. Next weekend, if the Governor says no to clemency, we have planned action at his house in Brentwood on Saturday and a rally outside his church, Saint Monica's, on Sunday.

- ROCK OUT/SPEAK OUT FOR TOOKIE

>From Laura Nelson: About 60 students and community members came to a Rock Out/Speak Out for Tookie event in Madison, Wisconsin. The event was sponsored by the Madison Campaign for Free Speech on TV and the Coalition Against Legal Lynching (CALL), a student group formed after two busloads of Madison students went to the Millions More Movement in Washington D.C. The students watched the movie Redemption on the way there and decided to form a group dedicated to connecting the issues of the death penalty and the justice system to racism and discrimination against the poor. The event featured musical acts and speakers. Si Kahn, a singer/songwriter and social activist performed his anti-prison pieces and then provided back up for exonerated death row inmate Darby Tillis, who sang the jailhouse blues and gave a riling speech about Tookie and the death penalty. Alice Kim, from the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, also spoke about Tookie's case. Adrian Lomax, a prison activist who was recently released from prison after 24 years, spoke about jailhouse snitches and why prosecutors who use them usually have no legitimate case against the defender. Lomax claimed that there is good evidence that Tookie is innocent because the case against Tookie relied almost solely on people who received dramatic reductions in their sentences after testifying against Tookie. After listening to political speakers the crowd enjoyed musical acts by local political hip hop artists who drew the connections between race and the death penalty.

- PROTESTERS SIT IN AGAINST 1,000TH EXECUTION IN 30 YEARS

>From the New Standard: Death penalty opponents marked a somber occasion overnight as North Carolina took the distinction of putting the 1000th person to death since the Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976. The state put convicted murderer Kenneth Boyd, 57, to death by lethal injection at 2:00 AM, as around 100 protesters marked the occasion with a candle light vigil, by Reuters's estimate. Boyd was pronounced dead fifteen minutes later. The resumption of the death penalty almost 30 years ago has long been a major issue for humanitarian groups, who often point to the fact that only a handful of countries around the world--none of them Western-style democracies--still mete out the ultimate punishment for crimes... According to Reuters, police arrested more than a dozen protesters for trespassing after they crossed onto prison property this morning and knelt in prayer. As part of the demonstration, death penalty opponents read the names of the other 999 executed convicts.

Read the full article at: http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/2644

- SIGN ON WITH EDUCATORS FOR TOOKIE

More than 400 educators have signed our letter urging California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to death row prisoner Stanley Tookie Williams. Among the signers are Noam Chomsky, author and linguist; Howard Zinn, historian and author of People's History of the U.S.; Stephen Bright, law professor and director of Southern Center for Human Rights; and Steve Drizen, law professor and director of Center on Wrongful Convictions. A delegation of signors will deliver the "Educators for Tookie" letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger's office in Sacramento at Noon on Wednesday, December 7, the day before Stanley Tookie Williams' clemency hearing.

To download a copy of the "Educators for Tookie" letter, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/downloads/TookieEducatorsLtr.pdf.

To sign the letter, send the following information to akim007@speakeasy.net: Name, Title, Name of institution (for identification purposes only), Home address, City, state and zip, E-mail address

- "REDEMPTION" SCREENWRITER SPEAKS OUT FOR STAN

>From the Los Angeles Times: L.A. County prosecutors, among others, say "Williams deserves to die for his crimes and for helping start a gang that has claimed thousands of lives over the years." Although there is more than one account of the Crips' genesis, Stan himself says he was a co-founder of the gang, and no one, least of all him, denies that this was a bad thing. But he's on death row because a jury convicted him of four murders, period. Justice needs to be specific. If the prosecutors want him killed for starting the Crips, they need to bring charges, go to trial and get a conviction. The truth is, a new type of street gang was emerging in Los Angeles' poor neighborhoods in the early 1970s, and a Crips-like cancer, with its culture of retaliation and blood vengeance, would have spread with or without Stan Williams. Law enforcement officials say that Stan's redemption can't be real because he refuses to participate with corrections officials in "debriefing" sessions about gang members. Does this really signal "no redemption" and "no atonement"? Last month, one prisoner killed another in the lunch line at the L.A. County Jail. How long do you think Stan Williams would last in San Quentin, surrounded by Crips, if he started cooperating? His chances of surviving lethal injection are probably greater. So it's disingenuous to say his lack of cooperation signals anything but a desire to live.

Read the full article: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/sunday/commentary/la-op-redeem4dec04,0,1 001830.story?coll=la-sunday-commentary

- A PLEA FOR CLEMENCY

>From the Los Angeles Times: In deciding whether Stanley Tookie Williams should die Dec. 13 for murdering four people, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's unenviable task is to play God. The question he must answer is whether Williams' reformation during the last 16 years is sufficient to let him live out his life in prison... Jonathan Harris, a lawyer working for Williams, asks: If he is not granted clemency based on his personal redemption and the thousands of people he has positively touched, who would you give it to? Although affirming Williams' conviction and death sentence, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals took the unprecedented step of urging the governor to seriously consider a clemency petition from Williams.

Read the full article at: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/sunday/editorials/la-op-deathpenalty4dec 04,0,2214884.story?coll=la-home-sunday-opinion

- A MAN'S LIFE AS A REDEEMER

>From the San Francisco Chronicle: A .45-caliber bullet didn't lead Diego Garcia to give up the violent gang life he had known for years. Stanley Tookie Williams did. Garcia, who grew up in the housing projects on Richmond's Easter Hill, joined a gang at age 9 and took part in drug deals, beatings and drive-by shootings before he was shot when he was 18. Months of recovery gave him plenty of time to think about making changes. "I was completely confused. I didn't know whether I should choose the right path," said Garcia, now 30. "I read Tookie's books and it inspired me. I related to him. The books are different because it is the co-founder of the Crips giving you a message. Tookie caught my attention."

Read the full article at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/12/04/MNGH0G2P9H1.D TL

- SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS EDITORIAL FAVORS CLEMENCY

>From the San Jose Mercury News: Arguments for clemency are based on the past decade, during which Williams has forcefully renounced his gang affiliation, written books for children and teens to steer them away from gang life, and talked to numerous groups in conference calls to give tips on helping children avoid a past like his. His attorneys say Williams ``has become a symbol of hope and purpose to those who most need to believe -- the disadvantaged youth of our great nation who live with a sense of hopelessness in circumstances which test the human spirt.'' Schwarzenegger has talked in the past about rehabilitation needing to play a stronger role in our prison system. It is in society's interest to inspire convicted criminals to do what good they can with the rest of their lives. Executing Williams now could raise the question: Why bother to try to change?

Read the full article at: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/13325424.htm

- SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE EXCERPTS STAN'S WRITING

>From the San Francisco Chronicle: Excerpts from books written by convicted murderer Stanley Tookie Williams with the aim of guiding children away from gang life: PRISON TEST: "To get a feel for what it's like to live in a prison cell, test yourself. Spend 10 hours -- nonstop and alone -- in your bathroom at home, which is probably about the size of a cell. Lock yourself inside with no more than a radio, a blanket, a book or magazine, and a couple of sandwiches. To quench your thirst, drink tap water from the sink. You can talk to family members through the door, but don't open it. Even if you're hungry, thirsty, lonely or tired, don't open the door. When your 10 hours are up, think about the fact that I have spent approximately 150,000 hours in prison cells less clean and less comfortable than your bathroom."

Read the excerpts at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/04/EXCERPTS.TMP&fee d=rss.news

- DONATE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses - so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

- DECEMBER 5 - Toledo, Ohio Screening of "Redemption" At 6 pm at the Kent Branch library.

- DECEMBER 6 - Austin, Texas Screening of "Redemption" At 7 pm at Ruby's BBQ (Back Patio), Guadalupe and 29th Street.

- DECEMBER 6 - Berkeley, Calif. Panel Discussion on Clemency for Tookie Featuring Alice Kim, national organizer for the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; Shujaa Graham, exonerated California death row inmate; and a message from Tookie himself. At 7pm at UC-Berkeley, in 101 Moffit.

- DECEMBER 6 - New York City Town Hall Meeting to Save Stan Tookie Williams Featuring Ras Baraka (deputy mayor of Newark, N.J.), a representative of SOS (former gang members in Newark who negotiated a truce based on Tookie's Protocol for Peace), Anthony Papa (author and victim of the Rockefeller drug laws), and Yusef Salaam (wrongfully convicted in the Central Park jogger case and recently exonerated), the Welfare Poets (spoken word/hip hop artists), and many more. At 7 pm at the National Black Theater of Harlem, South Tower-Temple of Liberation, 2031 5th Ave. at 125th Street (take the 2,3 to 125th Street or 4,5,6 to 125th Street). $5 donation.

- DECEMBER 6 - San Rafael, Calif. Capital Punishment: Who Are We Executing? A film and discussion about death row and the death penalty. At 7 pm at the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, 1520 Grand Ave., corner of Grand and Acacia Streets.

- DECEMBER 6 - Toledo, Ohio Screening of "Redemption" At 6 pm at Brewed Awakenings.

- DECEMBER 7 - Burlington, Vt. Voices from Death Row Panel Discussion Featuring Darby Tillis, exonerated Death Row prisonerfrom Illinois; and Marlene Martin of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; with a message from Stan Tookie Williams. At 7 pm at the University of Vermont, Lafayette Hall, Room 108. Call 802-363-4699 for more information or directions.

- DECEMBER 7 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at Northeastern Illinois University, Student Union, (Room TBA), 5500 N. St. Louis. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 7 - Sacramento, Calif. Educators for Tookie Deliver their message A delegation of educators who signed a letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger calling for clemency for Stan will meet to deliver their message to the governor. At Noon on the steps of the State Capitol Building. E-mail akim007@speakeasy.net for information.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway. For information, call 619-804-1685 or e-mail tkalonji@Hotmail.com.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

- DECEMBER 8 - Austin, Texas Emergency Press Conference At 5:30 pm at the Governor's Mansion (10th and Lavaca).

- DECEMBER 8 - Los Angeles Demonstration for Clemency Join the Youth Justice Coaltion and Save Tookie Committee. At Noon, outside Central Juvenile Hall and the Juvenile Court on Eastlake, 1605 Eastlake Ave. E-mail freelanow@yahoo.com for more info

- DECEMBER 8 - New York City Save Tookie Protest in Times Square At 5 pm at Times Square, by the military recruiting station. Sponsored by: Save Tookie Committee-NYC. E-mail nyc@nodeathpenalty.org or call 518-253-5029 for information.

- DECEMBER 8 - Rochester, N.Y. Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Rally At 5 pm, downtown at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.

- DECEMBER 8 - Rochester, N.Y. Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at Rochester Institute of Technology, SAU Room Clarke A.

- DECEMBER 8 - Sacramento, Calif. People's Clemency Hearing for Tookie At 10 am, on the steps of the State Capitol building. Called for by the Bay Area Save Tookie Committee.

- DECEMBER 8 - Washington, D.C. Rally to Save Tookie Williams At 5:30 pm at the African American Civil War Memorial, 10th and U St. NW

- DECEMBER 9 - Los Angeles Screening of "After Innocence" A film about the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated--innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. At 7 pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd. Sponsored by the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For information, call : Project:Involve at 310-432-1280.

- DECEMBER 10 - Berkeley, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" and Discussion At 6 pm at Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck (across the street from La Pena).

- DECEMBER 10 - Chicago Speak Out for Justice At 3 pm at University Church, 5655 S. University, in Hyde Park.

- DECEMBER 10 - New York City Save Stan Tookie Williams. Featuring Fred Hampton Jr., who visited Tookie along with other human rights activists; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Herman Ferguson, co-chair, National Jericho Movement; Lynne Stewart, to be sentenced in December by the U.S. government; Masai Ehehosi, Free Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Rap Brown) Campaign; and others. At 4 pm at Salem Methodist Church on 129th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A cultural program and dinner will be served. $10 donation at the door. For information, call the Free Mumia Hotline at 212-330-8029, or 914-941-6046

- DECEMBER 11 - New York City Discussion of "Blue Rage, Black Redemption" and Screening of "Redemption" At 5 pm at Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street, between Stanton and Rivington. Call 212-777-6028 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

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WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

10 days. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-12-03T11:19:00.000-08:00

CONTENTS

- Reports and news about Tookie
Calling all educators -- Sign on with Educators for Tookie
Spread the word about December 8
Hear Stan's supporters on the air
Photos from the NYC November 30 Day of Action protest
Hollywood support for Stan
Author Mark Essig on clemency
Stan interviewed in the SF Chronicle
The New York Times on Stan's clemency appeal
Growing doubts about the death penalty

- Upcoming events

- Where to find more information

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REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- CALLING ALL EDUCATORS -- SIGN ON WITH EDUCATORS FOR TOOKIE

We need everyone who gets this action alert to forward this part of the message to any educator they know--and ask them to take a moment right away and sign on with Educators for Tookie. Right now, close to 400 educators have signed our letter urging California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to death row prisoner Stanley Tookie Williams. Among the signers are Noam Chomsky, author and linguist; Howard Zinn, historian and author of People's History of the U.S.; Stephen Bright, law professor and director of Southern Center for Human Rights; and Steve Drizen, law professor and director of Center on Wrongful Convictions. A delegation of signors will deliver the "Educators for Tookie" letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger's office in Sacramento at Noon on Wednesday, December 7, the day before Stanley Tookie Williams' clemency hearing. The delegation will include Professor Philip Gasper who initiated this effort and has nominated Stan for the Nobel Peace Prize.

To download a copy of the "Educators for Tookie" letter, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/downloads/TookieEducatorsLtr.pdf.

To sign the letter, send the following information to akim007@speakeasy.net: Name, Title, Name of institution (for identification purposes only), Home address, City, state and zip, E-mail address

- SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT DECEMBER 8

>From the Bay Area Save Tookie Committee--Please Forward Widely!

The Bay Area Save Tookie Committee invites you to...The People's Clemency Hearing for Stanley Tookie Williams!

When: December 8th, 2005 Where: Steps of the State Capitol Building in Sacramento Time: 12 NOON

On December 8th, 2005 Tookie's supporters far and wide will hold our own clemency hearing to coincide with the private clemency hearing that Gov. Schwarzenegger has scheduled regarding Tookie. Come hear the arguments for our side, have your voice heard and tell the governor to do the right thing. Stanley Tookie Williams Deserves Clemency! To endorse this event, please email Lichi_d@yahoo.com

In conjunction with this action in the Bay Area, we are encouraging people all around the country to hold vigils, press conferences and rallies on December 8, and call, fax or email the governor demanding clemency for Tookie.

- HEAR STAN'S SUPPORTERS ON THE AIR

People who support Stan are getting our message out through the media. Stan's advocate Barbara Becnel is kept busy constantly by requests for interviews. We've also heard of a couple other appearances by Stan's supporters this weekend:

Dave Zirin, author of the book "What's My Name Fool," about politics in sports, will be on Chuck D's Air America radio show to talk about Stan's case. The show airs at 11 pm to 1 am on Sunday nights, and an hour later on XM radio.

Phil Gasper, the initiator of Educators for Tookie, will be interviewed on CNN's "Saturday Morning" tomorrow (Saturday) around 8:30 am Pacific time, and on KALX radio in Berkeley on Sunday morning around 10:20 am Pacific time. You can listen to the KALX broadcast on the Internet at: http://kalx.berkeley.edu/quotes.htm.

- PHOTOS FROM THE NYC NOVEMBER 30 DAY OF ACTION PROTEST

http://homepage.mac.com/bronxred/ISO/PhotoAlbum46.html

- HOLLYWOOD SUPPORT FOR STAN

>From the Independent: Hollywood actors, musicians, church leaders and death penalty opponents staged protests and vigils across the US on behalf of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, founder of the Crips street gang who faces execution in less than two weeks unless the California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, can be persuaded to grant him clemency. The outpouring of support for "International Save Tookie Day" yesterday underlined the controversy surrounding Williams's death sentence and suggested that his execution, if it goes ahead, could be the most contentious judicial killing in America in years.

Read the full report at: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article330456.ece

- AUTHOR MARK ESSIG ON CLEMENCY

>From the New York Times: "Mercy" is not the first word that comes to mind in reference to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California. But he now has an opportunity to change that. To do so, however, he'll have to buck a historic shift in America away from the granting of executive clemency... Commuting Mr. Williams's sentence would almost certainly bring charges that Mr. Schwarzenegger is soft on crime. But the governor has prided himself on being a political maverick. What better way to confirm his strength than by revealing the quality of his mercy?

Read the full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/02/opinion/02essig.html

- STAN INTERVIEWED IN THE SF CHRONICLE

>From the San Francisco Chronicle: Stanley Tookie Williams is not afraid to die. The 51-year-old convicted murderer, who has spent nearly half of his life on Death Row, knows his scheduled execution date is less than two weeks away, but he says he is not fearful, that it's a prospect he has dealt with his entire life. "Being near death is nothing new to me or any other black male," Williams said Thursday during an interview in a visiting room at San Quentin State Prison. "I've been shot and close to death many times. This is no different. But I am praying that I live. Of course, I want to live."

Read the full article at: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/12/02/WILLIAMS.TMP

- THE NEW YORK TIMES ON STAN'S CLEMENCY APPEAL

>From the New York Times: Stanley Tookie Williams, once a leader of a notorious street gang and now perhaps the nation's most prominent death row inmate, leaned over a small wooden table in a cramped visiting cell here and tried to explain what he used to be and what he has become. "I have a despicable background," Mr. Williams said. "I was a criminal. I was a co-founder of the Crips. I was a nihilist." "But people forget," he added, chewing on a turkey sandwich, "that redemption is tailor-made for the wretched."

Read the full article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/02/national/02prison.html

- GROWING DOUBTS ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY

>From the Washington Post: Ruben Cantu is long gone, executed by Texas authorities in 1993 after he was convicted of murdering a man during a San Antonio robbery when he was 17 years old. To the end, Cantu insisted he had been framed, and now his co-defendant and the sole surviving witness both say he was telling the truth. A state legislator called for an investigation this week as prosecutors moved to study the 20-year-old case. Opponents of the death penalty suspect that Cantu may be what they have long expected to find: an innocent person put to death. Houston law professor David Dow said the case shows that "we make mistakes in death penalty cases, too." The nation's 1,000th execution since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976 took place Friday morning at 2:15. The execution of Kenneth Boyd in North Carolina for murdering his wife and her father comes at a time of growing misgivings over the death penalty, as reflected in jury verdicts, opinion polls and the actions of courts and state legislatures. Death sentences have declined to their lowest level in three decades, with juries sentencing 125 people to death last year, compared with an average of 290 per year in the 1990s. The number of inmates executed last year was the lowest since 1996, and the Supreme Court has twice in the past three years limited who can be punished with death.

Read the full article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120200 146.html

- DONATE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses - so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

- DECEMBER 3 - Baltimore Demonstrate at the Supermax prison Protesting the pending execution of Wesley Baker and in support of Stan Tookie Williams. At 2 pm at the Supermax prison, Madison and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 3 - Los Angeles Rally for Clemency for Tookie Leimert Park at 12 Noon. All the groups working in the Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles are asking everyone to come out. For more information, call 310-404-1739 or e-mail cenddeathpenalty@yahoo.com

- DECEMBER 3 - New Hope, Pa. Screening of "Redemption" and Informational Meeting. At 8 pm at the Saraswati River Yoga Center is located at 415 South York Road. Call 609-532-7750 or e-mail mpillischer@yahoo.com for information. Sponsored by the Lambertville Coalition for Peace and Reel Justice.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Screening of "Redemption" At the Bread Stuy Cafe, 403 Lewis Ave., Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners Speakers include Ninotchka Rosca (Philippines, Gabriela network); Andra (Basque Country, Kalera Project); Ashanti Alston (Black Liberation Movement, U.S.), Frank Velgara (Puerto Rican Independence Movement, U.S. and Puerto Rico); plus a Palestinian comrade TBA and statements from David Gilbert and Marilyn Buck, white anti-imperialist political prisoners. At 7 pm at Columbia Law School, 435 W. 116th Street, Room 103 (C or 1 train to 116th Street). $5 donation requested.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Stan Tookie Williams: Blue Rage, Black Redemption A discussion of Tookie's book sponsored by Brownstone Bookstore and the Campaign to End the Death Penalty. At 6 pm at Brownstone Bookstore, 409 Lewis Ave. (at Decatur Street). Take the A/C to Utica Ave. For more information, call Glo at 718-207-3980 or email gloriaross@gmail.com.

- DECEMBER 4 - Los Angeles Candlelight Vigil for Tookie At 7 pm at Schatzi on Main, 3110 Main St., Santa Monica. Bring your candles. Organized by the Save Tookie Committee-LA. Call 310-404-1739 for information.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Francisco Movie Screening of REDEMPTION Hosted by Danny Glover, Barbara Becnel and Kevin Epps, who will present a short program before the movie to explain the status of Stan's case and let people know how to get involved in the movement to stop the execution. At 5 pm at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (next to the 16th Street and Mission BART Station). This event is a fund-raiser for the San Francisco Save Tookie Coalition. Tickets are $5 for students/youth/seniors and $10 for the general public. Co-sponsors and endorsers welcome; donations appreciated. Contact Danielle at Danielle@vanguardsf.org or 415-581-2512 for more information about endorsing or co-sponsoring the event. Tickets available at http://www.victoriatheatre.org or at the door.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Quentin, Calif. Vigil and Action by Religious Imperative to Stop State Murder Continuous vigil and action to begin at San Quentin Prison's Main Gate. Beginning Sunday, December 4th from 2 pm to 4 pm and continuing on December 5th beginning at 10am.

- DECEMBER 5 - Toledo, Ohio Screening of "Redemption" At 6 pm at the Kent Branch library.

- DECEMBER 6 - Berkeley, Calif. Panel Discussion on Clemency for Tookie Featuring Alice Kim, national organizer for the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; Shujaa Graham, exonerated California death row inmate; and a message from Tookie himself. At 7pm at UC-Berkeley, in 101 Moffit.

- DECEMBER 6 - New York City Town Hall Meeting to Save Stan Tookie Williams Featuring Ras Baraka (deputy mayor of Newark, N.J.), a representative of SOS (former gang members in Newark who negotiated a truce based on Tookie's Protocol for Peace), Anthony Papa (author and victim of the Rockefeller drug laws), and Yusef Salaam (wrongfully convicted in the Central Park jogger case and recently exonerated), the Welfare Poets (spoken word/hip hop artists), and many more. At 7 pm at the National Black Theater of Harlem, South Tower-Temple of Liberation, 2031 5th Ave. at 125th Street (take the 2,3 to 125th Street or 4,5,6 to 125th Street). $5 donation.

- DECEMBER 6 - San Rafael, Calif. Capital Punishment: Who Are We Executing? A film and discussion about death row and the death penalty. At 7 pm at the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, 1520 Grand Ave., corner of Grand and Acacia Streets.

- DECEMBER 6 - Toledo, Ohio Screening of "Redemption" At 6 pm at Brewed Awakenings.

- DECEMBER 7 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at Northeastern Illinois University, Student Union, (Room TBA), 5500 N. St. Louis. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 7 - Sacramento, Calif. Educators for Tookie Deliver their message A delegation of educators who signed a letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger calling for clemency for Stan will meet to deliver their message to the governor. At Noon on the steps of the State Capitol Building. E-mail akim007@speakeasy.net for information.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway. For information, call 619-804-1685 or e-mail tkalonji@Hotmail.com.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

- DECEMBER 8 - Los Angeles Demonstration for Clemency Join the Youth Justice Coaltion and Save Tookie Committee. At Noon, outside Central Juvenile Hall and the Juvenile Court on Eastlake, 1605 Eastlake Ave. E-mail freelanow@yahoo.com for more info

- DECEMBER 8 - Rochester, N.Y. Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at Rochester Institute of Technology, SAU Room Clarke A.

- DECEMBER 8 - Sacramento, Calif. People's Clemency Hearing for Tookie At Noon, on the steps of the State Capitol building. Called for by the Bay Area Save Tookie Committee.

- DECEMBER 8 - Washington, D.C. Rally to Save Tookie Williams At 5:30 pm at the African American Civil War Memorial, 10th and U St. NW

- DECEMBER 9 - Los Angeles Screening of "After Innocence" A film about the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated--innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. At 7 pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd. Sponsored by the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For information, call : Project:Involve at 310-432-1280.

- DECEMBER 10 - Berkeley, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" and Discussion At 6 pm at Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck (across the street from La Pena).

- DECEMBER 10 - Chicago Speak Out for Justice At 3 pm at University Church, 5655 S. University, in Hyde Park.

- DECEMBER 10 - New York City Save Stan Tookie Williams. Featuring Fred Hampton Jr., who visited Tookie along with other human rights activists; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Herman Ferguson, co-chair, National Jericho Movement; Lynne Stewart, to be sentenced in December by the U.S. government; Masai Ehehosi, Free Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Rap Brown) Campaign; and others. At 4 pm at Salem Methodist Church on 129th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A cultural program and dinner will be served. $10 donation at the door. For information, call the Free Mumia Hotline at 212-330-8029, or 914-941-6046

- DECEMBER 11 - New York City Discussion of "Blue Rage, Black Redemption" and Screening of "Redemption" At 5 pm at Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street, between Stanton and Rivington. Call 212-777-6028 for information.

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

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WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

12 days. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-12-01T11:44:00.000-08:00

CONTENTS

- Reports and news about Tookie
Reports from November 30 Day of Action events around the U.S.
December 8: The next Day of Action to press for clemency
Educators for Tookie plan to deliver their message
Calif. Supreme Court denies appeal to reexamine case
Stan on Democracy Now!
SF Bay Guardian opposes Stan's execution
Lawyers release video asking for clemency
Meeting to stop an execution in Maryland

- Upcoming events

- Where to find more information

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REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- REPORTS FROM NOVEMBER 30 DAY OF ACTION EVENTS AROUND THE U.S.

>From Dana Blanchard in Los Angeles: We had a great press conference at City Hall yesterday with about 60 people and then a march to the Governor's dowtown office afterward. It was an amazing sight to see activists (including leading black ministers, priests, and young people) marching down the sidewalks shouting "Save Tookie" and "Clemency Now!" The event was well-attended by press and included a speaker from the NAACP, local gang interventionists, reformed gang members, local clergy and ministers, an LA council member, and Bonnie, Tookie's first wife. Yesterday evening at Central Library in LA there was a reading of Tookie's books attended by over 150 people that featured Mike Farrell, Jaime Foxx, Alfre Woodard and Snoop Dogg. Barbara Becnel was there and facilitated a call from Stan to Jaime and the audience that was quite moving. Everyone here is gearing up for our big rally on Saturday at noon in Leimert Park. We are expecting at least 1000 people, possibly more given how much press the event has gotten and how much we have publicized in the community. Our Tuesday "Save Tookie" planning meetings are still drawing about 100 people each week to help plan and build the struggle. We are also planning on sending up some folks to the clemency hearing rally on December 8th.

In Oakland, Calif.: About 150 people came to a special screening of the movie Redemption, hosted by former Black Panther leader and Green Party activist Elaine Brown. The event raised over $850 and brought out a number of activists from different organizations, who networked to discuss the next steps in the struggle.

>From Rosa Haire and Danny Katch in New York City: At City College/CUNY in Harlem, students hung a huge banner in the Rotunda with a countdown to Stan's execution date above his picture with "Save Tookie" written below. Teaser fliers around campus with statistics about the number of Black men in prison vs. college definitely helped create a buzz around his case as many people had some familiarity about it when talking to them on sales and tablings. The NAACP on campus co-sponsored a screening of Redemption with the ISO that drew 12-15 people and people signed up to do future tablings. We also had a tabling on Wednesday's day of action that drew quite a few people who signed petitions and wanted to learn more about his case. Future plans at City include a radio spot on the campus station. The campus tv station has also began running an ad about Tookie. Activists at Hunter College/CUNY showed 'Redemption on campus.' About 10 people came, a few of them took petitions and two new people signed up for getting involved.

News story in the Kansas City Sun: Less than two weeks before Crips street gang co-founder Stanley Tookie Williams is scheduled for execution, celebrities including Snoop Dogg and Jamie Foxx held a "day of action" Wednesday to plead for his life to be spared. The growing campaign by celebrities and activists is putting pressure on California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to Williams, who was convicted of killing a 7-Eleven clerk during a holdup and then, less than two weeks later, killing two motel owners and their daughter in a robbery.

Read the full article: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/13295826.htm

- DECEMBER 8: THE NEXT DAY OF ACTION TO PRESS FOR CLEMENCY

Gov. Schwarzenegger will hold a private clemency hearing for Stan on December 8. The Bay Area Save Tookie Committee is urging all groups and supporters of Stan to make December 8th another day of action to push for clemency. Supporting this call are the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Gray Panthers of Greater Oakland, San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper, Educultural Foundation, Freedom Archives and Bay Area Jericho Amnesty Movement, International Socialist Organization, Mobilization to Free Mumia-Abu Jamal, Socialist Action, Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany and German Network of Support Groups for Mumia Abu-Jamal. If your group would like to endorse this call, please send an email to lichi_d@yahoo.com, with your group's name. The Bay Area Save Tookie Committee will hold a people's clemency hearing for Stan Tookie Williams to coincide with the private clemency hearing. The people's clemency hearing will be held on the steps of the State Capitol Building in Sacramento at 12 Noon, where Tookie's supporters can have their voices heard and explain why he deserves to live.

- EDUCATORS FOR TOOKIE PLAN TO DELIVER THEIR MESSAGE

More than 200 educators have signed on to a letter urging California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to death row prisoner Stanley Tookie Williams. A delegation of signors will deliver the "Educators for Tookie" letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger's office in Sacramento on Wednesday, December 7, the day before Stanley Tookie Williams' clemency hearing. The delegation will include Professor Philip Gasper who initiated this effort and has nominated Stanley Tookie Williams for the Nobel Peace Prize. Our plan is to hold a press conference on the steps of the State Capitol Building at 12 noon then deliver the letter to the Governor's office.

To download a copy of the "Educators for Tookie" letter, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/downloads/TookieEducatorsLtr.pdf.

To sign the letter, send the following information to akim007@speakeasy.net: Name, Title, Name of institution (for identification purposes only), Home address, City, state and zip, E-mail address

- CALIF. SUPREME COURT DENIES APPEAL TO REEXAMINE CASE

>From CNN: California's Supreme Court Wednesday refused to stop the execution of convicted killer Stanley "Tookie" Williams, the founder of the Crips street gang who became an anti-gang crusader while on Death Row, a court spokeswoman said. Williams' attorney, Jonathan Harris, told CNN he was disappointed by the court's 4-2 decision. But Harris said he plans to make a compelling case before Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger or his staff at a December 8 clemency hearing to commute Williams' sentence to life in prison without parole... Williams spoke by phone Wednesday night to a Los Angeles audience listening to readings of some of the children's books he has authored. "The fact of the matter is, I'm prepared for life and not death," he said, his voice heard on a cell phone held up to a microphone by actor Jamie Foxx. "My love goes out to all of you. And I know that you will continue to strive to not only help me, but help other people who are in trouble," Williams added."

Read the full article: http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/11/30/williams.execution

- STAN ON DEMOCRACY NOW!

Stan's case was featured yesterday on Democracy Now!, the syndicated radio and TV show broadcast on Pacifica and other networks around the country. From the transcript of the segment: It was a paradigm of racism. We are talking about prosecutorial misconduct. We are talking about exclusion of exculpatory evidence. We are talking about I.A.C., which is ineffective assistance of counsel. We are talking about biased jury selection, which results in an all-white jury. We're talking about involuntary psychotherapic druggings, the misuse of jailhouse and government informants. And last, but not least...not a shred of tangible evidence, no fingerprints, no crime scenes of bloody boot prints. They didn't match my boots, nor eyewitnesses. Even the shotgun shells found conveniently at each crime scene didn't match the shotgun shells that I owned.

Read the full transcript: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/11/30/153247

- SF BAY GUARDIAN OPPOSES STAN'S EXECUTION

>From the San Francisco Bay Guardian: This newspaper opposes the death penalty, as a matter of principle and of honest and decent law enforcement. Executions aren't only morally wrong - they don't deter crime. They cost the state millions of dollars. The people who die are almost always indigent, and most of them are people of color. And there's always the chilling and sometimes all-too-real chance that an innocent person will die. So naturally we don't want to see Stanley "Tookie" Williams sent to die by lethal injection in the old San Quentin gas chamber. But this is an unusual, and particularly compelling, case - and it ought to represent the turning point in the battle against state-sponsored executions.

Read the full article at: http://www.sfbg.com/40/09/news_ed_tookie.html

- LAWYERS RELEASE VIDEO ASKING FOR CLEMENCY

>From the Sacramento Bee: Lawyers for Stanley "Tookie" Williams released an emotional video Tuesday laying out why they believe the man convicted of four murders more than two decades ago should be spared the death penalty. In jailhouse interviews and telephone conversations, the 10-minute video portrays Williams, 51, as a reformed man who has touched the lives of thousands with his anti-gang message... "Each of you possess the innate ability to transcend these prison walls by virtue of your own positive message to your own loved ones, in society and/or in prison," Williams says in a message to his fellow San Quentin inmates dated earlier this year. "Teach them how to avoid our destructive footsteps. Teach them to strive for higher education. Teach them to promote peace. And teach them to focus on rebuilding the neighborhoods that you, others and I helped to destroy."

Read the full article at: http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/13919594p-14757771c.html

- MEETING TO STOP AN EXECUTION IN MARYLAND

>From the Baltimore Sun: The sister of a death-row inmate called on activists yesterday to stop the execution next week of Wesley Eugene Baker. "The death penalty here in Maryland is wrong," Gwen Bates, a sister of Vernon L. Evans Jr., told fellow capital-punishment opponents. "God is the one who gives life, and it is up to God to take a life."

Read the full article: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/crime/bal-md.death01dec01,1,7319491.s tory?coll=bal-local-headlines

- DONATE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses - so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

- DECEMBER 1 - Baltimore Prayer Service Against the Death Penalty At 6:30 pm at St. Vincent DePaul Church, Fayette and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 1 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim and Marlene Martin, of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at the University of Illinois-Chicago African American Cultural Center, Addams Hall, Second Floor. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 1 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim and Marlene Martin, of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at Harold Washington College, Room 308, 30 E. Lake Street. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 1 - Columbus, Ohio Speakout for Stan Tookie Williams Including readings from letters written to Tookie Williams and his books. At Noon at the Ohio Union, Ohio State University. Sponsored by Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams

- DECEMBER 1 - Greensboro, N.C. Screening of Redemption At the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

- DECEMBER 1 - San Diego Save Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at SDSU, Aztec Center, Calmecac Room, sponsored by the International Socialist Organization.

- DECEMBER 1 - Seattle Seattle Save Tookie Committee Weekly Meeting Every Thursday at Seattle Central Community College, in room 4130. E-mail vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862 for information.

- DECEMBER 1 - Toledo, Ohio Screening of "Redemption" At 6 pm at the Sanger Branch library.

- DECEMBER 2 - Palo Alto, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" Viewing of the film, followed by discussion and letter-writing to ask the governor to grant clemency. At 7 pm at St. Alberts' Church, 1095 Channing Ave.

- DECEMBER 3 - Baltimore Demonstrate at the Supermax prison Protesting the pending execution of Wesley Baker and in support of Stan Tookie Williams. At 2 pm at the Supermax prison, Madison and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 3 - Los Angeles RALLY FOR CLEMENCY FOR TOOKIE Leimert Park at 12 Noon. All the groups working in the Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles are asking everyone to come out. For more information, call 310-404-1739 or e-mail cenddeathpenalty@yahoo.com

- DECEMBER 3 - New Hope, Pa. Screening of "Redemption" and Informational Meeting. At 8 pm at the Saraswati River Yoga Center is located at 415 South York Road. Call 609-532-7750 or e-mail mpillischer@yahoo.com for information. Sponsored by the Lambertville Coalition for Peace and Reel Justice.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Screening of "Redemption" At the Bread Stuy Cafe, 403 Lewis Ave., Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners Speakers include Ninotchka Rosca (Philippines, Gabriela network); Andra (Basque Country, Kalera Project); Ashanti Alston (Black Liberation Movement, U.S.), Frank Velgara (Puerto Rican Independence Movement, U.S. and Puerto Rico); plus a Palestinian comrade TBA and statements from David Gilbert and Marilyn Buck, white anti-imperialist political prisoners. At 7 pm at Columbia Law School, 435 W. 116th Street, Room 103 (C or 1 train to 116th Street). $5 donation requested.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Stan Tookie Williams: Blue Rage, Black Redemption A discussion of Tookie's book sponsored by Brownstone Bookstore and the Campaign to End the Death Penalty. At 6 pm at Brownstone Bookstore, 409 Lewis Ave. (at Decatur Street). Take the A/C to Utica Ave. For more information, call Glo at 718-207-3980 or email gloriaross@gmail.com.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Francisco Movie Screening of REDEMPTION Hosted by Danny Glover, Barbara Becnel and Kevin Epps, who will present a short program before the movie to explain the status of Stan's case and let people know how to get involved in the movement to stop the execution. At 5 pm at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (next to the 16th Street and Mission BART Station). This event is a fund-raiser for the San Francisco Save Tookie Coalition. Tickets are $5 for students/youth/seniors and $10 for the general public. Co-sponsors and endorsers welcome; donations appreciated. Contact Danielle at Danielle@vanguardsf.org or 415-581-2512 for more information about endorsing or co-sponsoring the event. Tickets available at http://www.victoriatheatre.org or at the door.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Quentin, Calif. Vigil and Action by Religious Imperative to Stop State Murder Continuous vigil and action to begin at San Quentin Prison's Main Gate. Beginning Sunday, December 4th from 2 pm to 4 pm and continuing on December 5th beginning at 10am.

- DECEMBER 5 - Toledo, Ohio Screening of "Redemption" At 6 pm at the Kent Branch library.

- DECEMBER 6 - New York City Town Hall Meeting to Save Stan Tookie Williams Featuring Ras Baraka (deputy mayor of Newark, N.J.), a representative of SOS (former gang members in Newark who negotiated a truce based on Tookie's Protocol for Peace), Anthony Papa (author and victim of the Rockefeller drug laws), and Yusef Salaam (wrongfully convicted in the Central Park jogger case and recently exonerated), the Welfare Poets (spoken word/hip hop artists), and many more. At 7 pm at the National Black Theater of Harlem, South Tower-Temple of Liberation, 2031 5th Ave. at 125th Street (take the 2,3 to 125th Street or 4,5,6 to 125th Street). $5 donation.

- DECEMBER 6 - San Rafael, Calif. Capital Punishment: Who Are We Executing? A film and discussion about death row and the death penalty. At 7 pm at the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, 1520 Grand Ave., corner of Grand and Acacia Streets.

- DECEMBER 6 - Toledo, Ohio Screening of "Redemption" At 6 pm at Brewed Awakenings.

- DECEMBER 7 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim and Marlene Martin, of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at Northeastern Illinois University, Student Union, (Room TBA), 5500 N. St. Louis. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 7 - Sacramento, Calif. Educators for Tookie Deliver their message A delegation of educators who signed a letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger calling for clemency for Stan will meet to deliver their message to the governor. At Noon on the steps of the State Capitol Building. E-mail akim007@speakeasy.net for information.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway. For information, call 619-804-1685 or e-mail tkalonji@Hotmail.com.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

- DECEMBER 8 - Rochester, N.Y. Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at Rochester Institute of Technology, SAU Room Clarke A.

- DECEMBER 8 - Sacramento, Calif. People's Clemency Hearing for Tookie At Noon, on the steps of the State Capitol building. Called for by the Bay Area Save Tookie Committee.

- DECEMBER 9 - Los Angeles Screening of "After Innocence" A film about the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated--innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. At 7 pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd. Sponsored by the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For information, call : Project:Involve at 310-432-1280.

- DECEMBER 10 - Berkeley, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" and Discussion At 6 pm at Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck (across the street from La Pena).

- DECEMBER 10 - Chicago Speak Out for Justice At 3 pm at University Church, 5655 S. University, in Hyde Park.

- DECEMBER 10 - New York City Save Stan Tookie Williams. Featuring Fred Hampton Jr., who visited Tookie along with other human rights activists; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Herman Ferguson, co-chair, National Jericho Movement; Lynne Stewart, to be sentenced in December by the U.S. government; Masai Ehehosi, Free Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Rap Brown) Campaign; and others. At 4 pm at Salem Methodist Church on 129th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A cultural program and dinner will be served. $10 donation at the door. For information, call the Free Mumia Hotline at 212-330-8029, or 914-941-6046

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

13 days. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-11-30T08:14:00.000-08:00

CONTENTS
- Reports and news about Tookie

Take action today! November 30 National Day of Action
December 8: The Next Day of Action to press for clemency
Stan interviewed on Democracy Now!
Stan Tookie Williams: Speaking out from death row
Virginia governor grants clemency
The fight to save Stan Tookie Williams
Stan interviewed by MSNBC
San Francisco Chronicle supports clemency
Educators for Tookie -- Sign on now!
Donate much needed funds for our efforts

- Upcoming events
- Where to find more information

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REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- TAKE ACTION TODAY! NOVEMBER 30 NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

In dozens of cities and towns around the country, people will come together today to call on California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to Stan Tookie Williams. The outpouring of support for this day of action ahs been incredible. Below is a list of some of the events we know about that are taking place today. There are many more we don't. Among the events are a rally at City Hall in San Francisco with Stan's long-time advocate Barbara Becnel; a picket at Republican National Headquarters in Chicago; a musical "Speak Out" for Tookie at the University of Wisconsin's Madison campus, featuring exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis playing "Death Row Blues" on the harmonica; and a town hall meeting in Boston, featuring Professor William Keach of Brown University, who previously nominated Williams for the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature Everyone who can should find out what's happening in their city and be a part of it. The struggle to save Tookie is growing, and we have to keep the pressure on. We know that we're having an effect. Several days ago, Gov. Schwarzenegger announced that he would hold a clemency hearing for Stan. This would not have happened without people throughout California and around the country making sure that the governor couldn't ignore Stan. Since the clemency hearing called by Gov. Schwarzenegger is private and limited only to Stan's lawyers, the Bay Area Save Tookie Committee is planning to hold a people's clemency hearing, on the steps of the State Capitol Building in Sacramento at 12 noon. Along with the CEDP, the Save Tookie Committee is encouraging people around the country to mobilize for another day of action on December 8. At all the events today, be sure to announce that December 8th has been named as the next Day of Action.

- DECEMBER 8: THE NEXT DAY OF ACTION TO PRESS FOR CLEMENCY

Gov. Schwarzenegger will hold a private clemency hearing for Stan on December 8. In conjunction with the action taken by the Bay Area Save Tookie Committee, we urge all groups, chapters, etc. to make December 8th another public push for clemency. The December 8th Day of Action should be announced at all November 30th events.

>From Lichi Damelio: The Bay Area Save Tookie Committee decided to hold a people's clemency hearing for Stan Tookie Williams to coincide with the private clemency hearing that Governor Schwarzenegger will be holding on December 8. We plan on going to the steps of the State Capitol Building in Sacramento at 12 Noon, where Tookie's supporters can have their voices heard and explain why he deserves to live. If your group would like to endorse this call for a people's clemency hearing, please send an email to lichi_d@yahoo.com, with your group's name. The Bay Area Save Tookie Committee encourages people all around the country to hold vigils, press conferences and rallies on December 8, and call, fax or email the governor demanding clemency for Tookie. Momentum is building, time is short, and we have to keep the pressure on.

- STAN INTERVIEWED ON DEMOCRACY NOW!

Democracy Now! the syndicated news program airing on over 350 radio and TV stations, will devote a segment on Wednesday, November 30, to an interview with Stan Tookie Williams. Democracy Now! can be found on Pacifica, NPR, community and college radio stations; on public access, PBS, satellite TV stations (DISH network: Free Speech TV ch. 9415 and Link TV ch. 9410; DIRECTV: Link TV ch. 375); on the World Radio Network's European Service and on the Community Broacasting Association of Australia service; as a "podcast", automatically downloaded to your computer or portable audio player; and streams live M-F at 8am EST at http://www.democracynow.org

For more information, go to: http://democracynow.org

- STAN TOOKIE WILLIAMS: SPEAKING OUT FROM DEATH ROW

Phil Gasper, one of the most visible spokespeople for the campaign to win clemency for Tookie, interviewed Stan by phone from Death Row on the day after Thanksgiving. From Socialist Worker: If you would have told me 15 years ago that I was going to change my life, that I would write children's books, that I would be helping thousands upon thousands of children, that I would eventually be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and that they would eventually make a movie about me, I would have looked at you as if you had lost your mind. The reason is because, being a Crip, so-called "cripping" was all that I knew. I felt that would be what I would do for the rest of my life. It was all I knew. I felt that was my reason to exist. So quite naturally, I thought that was how I would die. I would live until a bullet to the back of the brain, or what have you. I never expected to do anything else, because that was my raison d'etre. There was nothing that could penetrate that armor of the gang life at that time. That's what I thought--until, to my amazement, something did. What happened was that I was slowly but surely becoming human.

Read the full interview at: http://www.socialistworker.org/2005-2/567/567_06_TookieInterview.shtml

- VIRGINIA GOVERNOR GRANTS CLEMENCY

>From the San Francisco Chronicle: Virginia's governor on Tuesday spared the life of a convicted killer who would have been the 1,000th person executed in the United States since the Supreme Court allowed capital punishment to resume in 1976. Robin Lovitt's death sentence was commuted to life in prison without parole a little more than 24 hours before he was to be executed by injection Wednesday night for stabbing a man to death with a pair of scissors during a 1998 pool-hall robbery. In granting clemency, Gov. Mark R. Warner noted that evidence from the trial had been improperly destroyed, depriving the defense of the opportunity to subject the material to the latest in DNA testing.

Read the full article at: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/11/29/national /a135556S78.DTL

- THE FIGHT TO SAVE STAN TOOKIE WILLIAMS

By Dave Zirin in the Nation magazine: "Years ago, I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth.... While there is a lower class, I am in it, while there is a criminal element, I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free." --Eugene V. Debs These words of the fabled social activist also define the life of NFL hall of famer and actor Jim Brown. He has mediated truces between the toughest gangs in Los Angeles and fought racism from South Central to Soweto. But today he is involved in a different kind of fight: the race to save Stan Tookie Williams, who now awaits execution on California's death row. Williams is due to be executed December 13, and Brown has linked arms with a motley crew of activists from Archbishop Desmond Tutu to hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg demanding that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spare his life.

Read the full article at: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051212/zirin

- STAN INTERVIEWED BY MSNBC

>From MSNBC: COSBY: Why shouldn't you be executed? WILLIAMS: Well, first and foremost, I'm innocent. And secondly, being allowed to live enables me to continue to disseminating my positive message to youth and adults throughout this country and abroad. And you know, lastly, being able to live, it would allow me to inevitably prove my innocence. COSBY: Why have you not expressed remorse for the four killings which you've been convicted of? WILLIAMS: Well, because as you and I both know, conviction does not denote guilt. And I've been proclaiming my innocence for the longest. So for me to express remorse or an apology, that would, as I stated before, connote culpability, which I'm not. In fact, it would be disingenuous on my part.

Read the interview at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10252436/

- SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE SUPPORTS CLEMENCY

>From a Chronicle editorial: GOV. Arnold Schwarzenegger should be commended for taking seriously the clemency application for Crips co-founder Stanley Tookie Williams. Schwarzenegger has convened a meeting on Dec. 8 -- just five days before Williams' scheduled execution -- to hear arguments from Williams' lawyers as well as from Los Angeles prosecutors, who are steadfastly opposed to clemency. Ideally, Schwarzenegger would meet with Williams face to face to get a sense of who this man is. Such a meeting might give him crucial information to help him decide Williams' fate. A spokesperson for the governor said that a meeting with Williams is not "on the governor's schedule."... Williams has set himself apart from the vast majority of Death Row inmates by his efforts to end the cycle of violence that he helped begin decades ago in Los Angeles. As an author, Williams has become a powerful spokesman, with street credibility, on the dangers of the gang life and the realities of prison.

Read the full article at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/11/29 /EDGOGFUCDI1.DTL

- EDUCATORS FOR TOOKIE -- SIGN ON NOW!

More than 200 educators have signed on to a letter urging California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to death row prisoner Stanley Tookie Williams. We took this initiative in the hopes that the collective voice of educators would send a powerful message calling for clemency.

To download a copy of the Educators for Tookie letter, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/downloads/TookieEducatorsLtr.pdf.

To sign the letter, send the following information to akim007@speakeasy.net: Name, Title, Name of institution (for identification purposes only), Home address, City, state and zip, E-mail address

- DONATE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses - so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

- NOVEMBER 30 - Nationwide NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR STAN (please send your information)

Austin, Texas - Rally and tabling on the University of Texas campus. Featuring a display with Tookie's picture alongside other peacemakers like Ghandi, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King. Starting at 10 am, with a rally at noon, on the West Mall. For information, e-mail RandiJ42@satx.rr.com or call 210-274-6369.

Baltimore - Live From Death Row, with Maryland death row prisoner Vernon Evans. At 7 pm at the First Unitarian Church, 514 N. Charles St. (north of Franklin St.). For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- Berkeley, Calif. - Tabling for Tookie. Starting At 11 am, at UC-Berkeley, Upper Sproul Plaza.

Berkeley, Calif. - Special screening of "Redemption", introduced by Elaine Brown (Green Party activist, former Black Panther Party chairperson), Aimee Allison (Oakland Green Party, Persian Gulf War Contentious Objector) and Michelle Simon (Campaign to End the Death Penalty). At 7 pm at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, 3201 Adeline Street, near Ashby BART. Tickets are $2-$20 sliding scale. Sponsored by: Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Education Not Incarceration, Ella Baker Center -- Books Not Bars, Green Party of Alameda County, International Socialist Organization, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and Solidarity Bay Area. For more information, e-mail shelly245@juno.com.

Boston - Speakers panel and discussion on the struggle to save Stan. Featuring author and activist William Keach (one of the people who nominated Stan for a Nobel prize), and an exonerated death row prisoner. At 6:30 pm at Cabral Center, 1st Floor, African American Institute, Northeastern University. Take the Orange Line to Ruggles Station, or the Green Line to the NU T- Stop.

- Burlington, Vt. - Demonstrate for Tookie. At 4:30 pm in front of the Federal Building.

Chicago - Press conference and protest at Republican National Headquarters, 32 W. Randolph, at 12 Noon.

Columbus, Ohio - Screening of "Redemption." At Ohio State U., 3 pm, MLK Lounge, Hale Black Cultural Center (153 W. 12th Ave.). Sponsored by the Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams.

Fremont, Calif. - Demonstration on the Steps of Mission San Jose. At 7:15 am at 43300 Mission Blvd. (at the intersection of Washington). For information, call Faye at 510-791-8186.

Holyoke, Mass. - Screening of "Redemption." At 11 a.m. at Holyoke Community College, Donahue 378.

Los Angeles - Rally and press conference. At 9 am at Los Angeles City Hall, 200 North Spring St. A march to the Governor's office (300 S. Spring St.) will begin at approximately 10am.

Madison, Wis. - Rock Out/Speak Out to Save Tookie. A free show featuring Si Kahn, songwriter and social activist; Darby Tillis, exonerated death row inmate; Adrian Lomax, recently released Wisconsin prisoner and prison rights activist; and local hip-hop artists. At 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater Stage Door.

Moraga, Calif - Information tabling at St. Mary's College at 11: 30 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be laptops and cell phones available for students to email and/or call the governor's office. At 8 pm, there will be a showing of the movie "Redemption" and a discussion afterwards, in Galileo 201.

- New Haven, Conn. - Candlelight Speakout for Clemency. At 6 pm at Kimberly Square, intersection of Kimberly Avenue and Lamberton Street in the Hill. Call 203-645-4907 or e-mail isonewhaven@yahoo.com for information.

- New York City - Screening of "Redemption" and Organizing Meeting. At Noon at Hunter College, Thomas Hunter building, Room 305B.

New York City - Press conference and protest for Stan at John Ashcroft's New York City appearance. Featuring Anthony Papa, activist against the Rockefeller Drug Laws, Yusef Salaam, exonerated in Central Park jogger case, and others. At 5:45 pm at 115th and Broadway. Sponsored by Save Tookie Committee NYC (Vieques Brigade, Free Mumia Coalition-NYC, Justice Committee, Campaign to End the Death Penalty, NYers Against the Death Penalty, Green Party, International Socialist Organization).

- New York City - Save Tookie NYC Committee Organizing Meeting. Following the Day of Action event, at 7:30 pm at Columbia University, Hamilton Hall, check the lobby for room number. Call 518-253-5029 for information.

Northampton, Mass. - Screening of "Redemption." At 4 p.m. at the Media Education Foundation.

- Pittsburgh - Screening of "Redemption." At 7 pm at Thomas Merton Center, 5125 Penn Ave., in Garfield.

Rochester, N.Y. - Rally and press conference. At 12 Noon in front of the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange St.

Sacramento, Calif. - Rally and press conference. At Noon at City Hall, 915 I Street.

San Diego - Community forum on "Tookie, the Death Penalty and the Movement: Continuing the Struggle for Social Justice." At 6 pm at Springfield College, 5348 University Ave. Sponsored the Serudj Institute of Effective Socialization. E-mail tkalonji@hotmail.com for information.

San Francisco - Rally and press conference, featuring Barbara Becnel , Dolores Huerta, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Assemblyman Mark Leno and many more. At Noon at San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.

San Francisco - Speakout at San Francisco State University, beginning at 10 am. Call 415-317-5063 for information, or e-mail sfstatecedp@yahoo.com.

San Jose, Calif. - Rally and Press Conference. At Noon in front of City Hall, 801 N. 1st St. Sponsored by the Black Student Union of San Jose City College

San Rafael, Calif. - Vigil and demonstration sponsored by the Marin Chapter of Death Penalty Focus. At 4:30 pm at San Rafael Plaza (adjacent to 1000 Fourth St.).

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Rally and press conference, featuring Mayor Cynthia Matthews presenting a proclamation declaring the City of Santa Cruz to be an official "World City Against the Death Penalty"; Councilmember Tim Fitzmaurice, DPF, ACLU and more will give statements. At Noon at City Hall, 809 Center St.

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Panel with Angela Davis, Paul Ortiz, Lance Lindsey (Death Penalty Focus) and a special performance by Rainbow Theater. At 7:30 pm at UC-Santa Cruz, Earth and Marine Sciences building, Room B206. For information, call 510-325-0599 or e-mail iso_santacruz@hotmail.com.

Seattle - Screening of "Redemption." At 12 Noon at Seattle Central Community College Art Gallery, 1701 E. Broadway (in the main building, accessible from the atrium). For information, e-mail vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862. Seattle - Screening of "Redemption." At 7 pm at University Heights Community Center, Room 106, 5031 University Way NE. Donation requested at the door. For information, e-mail vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862.

Washington, D.C. - Screening of "Redemption." At 4:45 pm at the University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law, Building 39, Room 204, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW. For information, e-mail benk516@yahoo.com.

Washington, D.C. - Town Hall Meeting Against the Death Penalty. Featuring Rev. Lennox Yearwood (Hip Hop Caucus), Mike Lawlor (lawyer with Wesley Baker's legal team) and Mike Stark (CEDP). At 6:30 pm at All Souls Church, 16th and Harvard Streets, NW will be speaking.

West Hollywood, Calif. - World Day Against the Death Penalty Day Program, featuring Mayor Abbe Land, Mayor Pro Tempore John Heilman, Assemblyman Paul Koretz, Mike Farrell, and more. Begins at 2 pm at West Hollywood Comprehensive Services Center, Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd.

Woodland, Calif. - Press Conference. At Noon at the Yolo County Courthouse, 725 Court St.

- DECEMBER 1 - Baltimore Prayer Service Against the Death Penalty At 6:30 pm at St. Vincent DePaul Church, Fayette and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 1 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim and Marlene Martin, of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at the University of Illinois-Chicago African American Cultural Center, Addams Hall, Second Floor. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 1 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim and Marlene Martin, of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at Harold Washington College, Room 308, 30 E. Lake Street. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 1 - Columbus, Ohio Speakout for Stan Tookie Williams Including readings from letters written to Tookie Williams and his books. At Noon at the Ohio Union, Ohio State University. Sponsored by Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams

- DECEMBER 1 - Greensboro, N.C. Screening of Redemption At the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

- DECEMBER 1 - San Diego Save Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at SDSU, Aztec Center, Calmecac Room, sponsored by the International Socialist Organization.

- DECEMBER 1 - Seattle Seattle Save Tookie Committee Weekly Meeting Every Thursday at Seattle Central Community College, in room 4130. E-mail vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862 for information.

- DECEMBER 2 - Palo Alto, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" Viewing of the film, followed by discussion and letter-writing to ask the governor to grant clemency. At 7 pm at St. Alberts' Church, 1095 Channing Ave.

- DECEMBER 3 - Baltimore Demonstrate at the Supermax prison Protesting the pending execution of Wesley Baker and in support of Stan Tookie Williams. At 2 pm at the Supermax prison, Madison and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 3 - Los Angeles RALLY FOR CLEMENCY FOR TOOKIE Leimert Park at 12 Noon. All the groups working in the Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles are asking everyone to come out. For more information, call 310-404-1739 or e-mail cenddeathpenalty@yahoo.com

- DECEMBER 3 - New Hope, Pa. Screening of "Redemption" and Informational Meeting. At 8 pm at the Saraswati River Yoga Center is located at 415 South York Road. Call 609-532-7750 or e-mail mpillischer@yahoo.com for information. Sponsored by the Lambertville Coalition for Peace and Reel Justice.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Screening of "Redemption" At the Bread Stuy Cafe, 403 Lewis Ave., Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners Speakers include Ninotchka Rosca (Philippines, Gabriela network); Andra (Basque Country, Kalera Project); Ashanti Alston (Black Liberation Movement, U.S.), Frank Velgara (Puerto Rican Independence Movement, U.S. and Puerto Rico); plus a Palestinian comrade TBA and statements from David Gilbert and Marilyn Buck, white anti-imperialist political prisoners. At 7 pm at Columbia Law School, 435 W. 116th Street, Room 103 (C or 1 train to 116th Street). $5 donation requested.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Stan Tookie Williams: Blue Rage, Black Redemption A discussion of Tookie's book sponsored by Brownstone Bookstore and the Campaign to End the Death Penalty. At 6 pm at Brownstone Bookstore, 409 Lewis Ave. (at Decatur Street). Take the A/C to Utica Ave. For more information, call Glo at 718-207-3980 or email gloriaross@gmail.com.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Francisco Movie Screening of REDEMPTION Hosted by Danny Glover, Barbara Becnel and Kevin Epps, who will present a short program before the movie to explain the status of Stan's case and let people know how to get involved in the movement to stop the execution. At 5 pm at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (next to the 16th Street and Mission BART Station). This event is a fund-raiser for the San Francisco Save Tookie Coalition. Tickets are $5 for students/youth/seniors and $10 for the general public. Co-sponsors and endorsers welcome; donations appreciated. Contact Danielle at Danielle@vanguardsf.org or 415-581-2512 for more information about endorsing or co-sponsoring the event. Tickets available at http://www.victoriatheatre.org or at the door.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Quentin, Calif. Vigil and Action by Religious Imperative to Stop State Murder Continuous vigil and action to begin at San Quentin Prison's Main Gate. Beginning Sunday, December 4th from 2 pm to 4 pm and continuing on December 5th beginning at 10am.

- DECEMBER 6 - New York City Town Hall Meeting to Save Stan Tookie Williams Featuring Ras Baraka (deputy mayor of Newark, N.J.), a representative of SOS (former gang members in Newark who negotiated a truce based on Tookie's Protocol for Peace), Anthony Papa (author and victim of the Rockefeller drug laws), and Yusef Salaam (wrongfully convicted in the Central Park jogger case and recently exonerated), the Welfare Poets (spoken word/hip hop artists), and many more. At 7 pm at the National Black Theater of Harlem, South Tower-Temple of Liberation, 2031 5th Ave. at 125th Street (take the 2,3 to 125th Street or 4,5,6 to 125th Street). $5 donation.

- DECEMBER 6 - San Rafael, Calif. Capital Punishment: Who Are We Executing? A film and discussion about death row and the death penalty. At 7 pm at the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, 1520 Grand Ave., corner of Grand and Acacia Streets.

- DECEMBER 7 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim and Marlene Martin, of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at Northeastern Illinois University, Student Union, (Room TBA), 5500 N. St. Louis. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway. For information, call 619-804-1685 or e-mail tkalonji@Hotmail.com.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

- DECEMBER 8 - Sacramento, Calif. People's Clemency Hearing for Tookie At Noon, on the steps of the State Capitol building. Called for by the Bay Area Save Tookie Committee.

- DECEMBER 9 - Los Angeles Screening of "After Innocence" A film about the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated--innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. At 7 pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd. Sponsored by the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For information, call : Project:Involve at 310-432-1280.

- DECEMBER 10 - Berkeley, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" and Discussion At 6 pm at Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck (across the street from La Pena).

DECEMBER 10 - New York City Save Stan Tookie Williams. Featuring Fred Hampton Jr., who visited Tookie along with other human rights activists; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Herman Ferguson, co-chair, National Jericho Movement; Lynne Stewart, to be sentenced in December by the U.S. government; Masai Ehehosi, Free Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Rap Brown) Campaign; and others. At 4 pm at Salem Methodist Church on 129th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A cultural program and dinner will be served. $10 donation at the door. For information, call the Free Mumia Hotline at 212-330-8029, or 914-941-6046

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

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WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

14 days. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-11-29T08:24:00.000-08:00

CONTENTS

-Reports and news about Tookie
Make December 8 a Day of Action to press for clemency
Tomorrow! - November 30 National Day of Action
Stan interviewed on the Tavis Smiley show on PBS
Phil Gasper interviews Stan
Barbara Becnel champions clemency for Stan
Arnold's opportunity
Does personal reform count?
Death penalty debate rages as 1,000th execution looms
1,000th execution expected on November 30
Educators for Tookie -- Sign on now!
Donate much needed funds for our efforts

- Upcoming events

- Where to find more information

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REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- MAKE DECEMBER 8 A DAY OF ACTION TO PRESS FOR CLEMENCY

The pressure is working. Gov. Schwarzenegger will hold a private clemency hearing for Stan on December 8. We need to let him know that all eyes are watching, our voices are speaking up, and we urge him to do the right thing and grant clemency. In conjunction with the action taken by the Bay Area Save Tookie Committee, we urge all groups, chapters, etc. to make December 8th another public push for clemency. The December 8th Day of Action should be announced at all November 30th events. Our pressure is being noticed. We need to keep it up.

>From Lichi Damelio: The Bay Area Save Tookie Committee decided to hold a people's clemency hearing for Stan Tookie Williams to coincide with the private clemency hearing that Governor Schwarzenegger will be holding on December 8. We plan on going to the steps of the State Capitol Building in Sacramento at 12 Noon, where Tookie's supporters can have their voices heard and explain why he deserves to live. If your group would like to endorse this call for a people's clemency hearing, please send an email to lichi_d@yahoo.com, with your group's name, by the evening of Tuesday, November 29. We demand clemency for Stan because we know that the efforts he has made to curb gang violence have had a tremendous effect, and because he is an inspiration to millions of young people the world over, standing as proof positive that it is possible to make positive change. There is also good reason to believe that Stan is innocent of the crimes of which he has been convicted. The Bay Area Save Tookie Committee encourages people all around the country to hold vigils, press conferences and rallies on December 8, and call, fax or email the governor demanding clemency for Tookie. Momentum is building, time is short, and we have to keep the pressure on.

- TOMORROW! -- NOVEMBER 30 NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

In conjunction with World Cities Day Against the Death Penalty, the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, working with the California Save Tookie Committee, is organizing for a National Day of Action to Save Tookie on November 30. Dozens of events have been organized, across California and the country, to urge Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency. Below, you can find a listing of November 30 events we know about. There is also a calendar listing and contact information for Tookie supporters around the country at: http://www.savetookie.org/events.html Among the events are a rally at City Hall in San Francisco with Stan's long-time advocate Barbara Becnel; a picket at Republican National Headquarters in Chicago; a musical "Speak Out" for Tookie at the University of Wisconsin's Madison campus, featuring exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis playing "Death Row Blues" on the harmonica; and a town hall meeting in Boston, featuring Professor William Keach of Brown University, who previously nominated Williams for the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature Everyone who can should get involved in building for the largest possible turnout for these events. At all the November 30th events, be sure to announce that December 8th has been named as the next Day of Action. The Campaign has produced model press releases for the day of action, to help activists publicize their events. E-mail Noreen@nodeathpenalty.org to get a copy. The press releases will also be posted at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org. November 30th is also likely to be the day that the 1,000th person is executed since reinstatement of the death penalty in the U.S. Robin Lovitt is the prisoner on Virgina's death row who could be the 1,000th victim. Virgiania has the disgusting distinction of executing the second-highest number of people in the country, following only Texas. Activist should speak out and hold signs against this outrage at all of our Tookie events.

- STAN INTERVIEWED ON THE TAVIS SMILEY SHOW ON PBS

>From Eurweb.com: California Death Row inmate Stanley Tookie Williams will have the whole half hour on "Tavis Smiley" on PBS TONIGHT, Tuesday, November 29. The in-depth half hour interview was videotaped from Tavis' radio studio with Williams via telephone since video cameras were not permitted at San Quentin. Smiley had also visited Williams at the prison last Saturday but their talk was not recorded. When Tavis asked Williams why he has not apologized to the victims, Williams replied, "Being convicted does not connote guilt. I cannot apologize for crimes that I did not commit. I do have sympathy for victims' families and others who have lost loved ones to senseless violence."

Read more on the Tavis Smiley Show Web site at: http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/

- PHIL GASPER INTERVIEWS STAN

On the day after Thanksgiving, Phil Gasper, a professor of philosophy at Notre Dame de Namur University in California, member of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, and co-initiator of Educators for Tookie, interviewed Stan by phone from San Quentin.

Read excerpts of the interview at: http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/gasper281105.html

- BARBARA BECNEL CHAMPIONS CLEMENCY FOR STAN

>From the Los Angeles Times: So obscure that his conviction for four murders barely made headlines, death row inmate Stanley Tookie Williams owes his notoriety as much to a determined woman who stood by him and to committed death penalty opponents as to his shift from gangster to anti-gang activist. During a jailhouse visit in 1993 to research a book on gangs, writer Barbara Becnel discovered that Williams, who is scheduled to be executed Dec. 13, had renounced his gang past. Over the next two years, Becnel shed her doubts about the co-founder of the Crips and helped him work to persuade youths to avoid gangs... Now Becnel is spearheading a campaign to persuade Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to commute Williams' death sentence to life in prison without parole.

Read the full article at: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tookie29nov29,0,2935308.story?coll=l a-home-headlines

- ARNOLD'S OPPORTUNITY

>From Bell Gale Chevigny, AlterNet: "Education is my passion," Arnold Schwarzenegger has often proclaimed. "Corrections should correct," he has repeated, apparently endorsing the belief that people can change. Is this mere lip service? Is it a glib performance similar to what some parole boards assume they are getting from a prisoner who promises he'll make good? Or is it the speech of a man whose word is his bond? Tookie Wlliams' plea to have his sentence commuted offers Arnold Schwarzenegger a chance to answer these questions. Education has truly been Williams' passion; his learning curve is about as steep as it gets. When the prison chaplain gave him a dictionary, as Tookie tells it, he fell in love with words. He'd write 50 words on one side of a paper towel, put the definitions on the other side and then test himself. Self-education gave birth to his conscience.

Read the full article at: http://www.alternet.org/story/28775/

- DOES PERSONAL REFORM COUNT?

>From the Christian Science Monitor: Exactly 229 death-row inmates have been granted clemency since the United States reinstated capital punishment in 1976, and the list of reasons is short. The 16 governors who have given such pardons cited just three reasons: lingering doubt about guilt, a governor's own philosophical opposition to the death penalty, and mental disability of the accused. Starkly absent from the list - notable because of a high-profile clemency request now pending in California - is character reform of the guilty. As in the 2000 Texas case of convicted murderer Karla Faye Tucker, who experienced a death-row religious conversion and became a model inmate, the case of Stanley "Tookie" Williams is reviving the debate over rehabilitation and its role in the US penal system.

Read the full article at: http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1129/p01s01-ussc.html

- DEATH PENALTY DEBATE RAGES AS 1,000th EXECUTION LOOMS

>From The Scotsman: ROBIN LOVITT earned notoriety by stabbing a man to death with a pair of scissors seven years ago. Tomorrow, he is due to win a place in criminal history as the 1,000th prisoner to be executed since the United States reinstated the death penalty. His appointment with the death chamber heaps controversy on an already bitter debate. Campaigners against death penalties say that Lovitt's case epitomises all that is wrong with the system and have called on the governor of Virginia to grant clemency... Analysis by the Death Penalty Information Centre (DPIC) in Washington shows that the number of death sentences passed annually has halved since the late 1990s and there has been a 40 per cent decline in executions since 1999. The number of convicts being sent to Death Row has dropped every year since 2001.

Read the full article at: http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=2319942005

- 1,000th EXECUTION EXPECTED ON NOVEMBER 30

The 1000th person to be executed since the death penalty was reinstated in the 1970s may take place on November 30th. Virginia death row prisoner Robin Lovitt is scheduled to be put to death on November 30. Anti-death penalty activists have various actions, vigils and speakouts planned to take place across the country. For more information, go to: http://www.1000executions.org/ For a listing of events nationwide, go to http://www.1000executions.org/events.php The November 30 Day of Action events planned for Stan Tookie Williams can help draw attention to the fight overall for abolition and the need to stop once and for all this senseless barbarity. People organizing activities for November 30 for Stan should come up with creative ways to tie in the question of the 1,000th execution.

- EDUCATORS FOR TOOKIE -- SIGN ON NOW!

More than 120 educators have signed on to a letter urging California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to death row prisoner Stanley Tookie Williams. We took this initiative in the hopes that the collective voice of educators would send a powerful message calling for clemency.

To download a copy of the Educators for Tookie letter, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/downloads/TookieEducatorsLtr.pdf.

To sign the letter, send the following information to akim007@speakeasy.net: Name, Title, Name of institution (for identification purposes only), Home address, City, state and zip, E-mail address

- DONATE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses - so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

- EVERY WEEKDAY - Hawthorne, Calif. John 8:7, No Death Penalty candlelight vigils for Stan "Tookie" Williams Every weekday at 6 pm, 14501 Hindry Ave., at the corner of Hindry and the 405 Fwy (between McDonalds and Costco).

- NOVEMBER 30 - Nationwide NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR STAN (please send your information)

Austin, Texas - Rally and tabling on the University of Texas campus. Featuring a display with Tookie's picture alongside other peacemakers like Ghandi, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King. Starting at 10 am, with a rally at noon, on the West Mall. For information, e-mail RandiJ42@satx.rr.com or call 210-274-6369.

Baltimore - Live From Death Row, with Maryland death row prisoner Vernon Evans. At 7 pm at the First Unitarian Church, 514 N. Charles St. (north of Franklin St.). For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

Berkeley, Calif. - Special screening of "Remdeption", introduced by Elaine Brown (Green Party activist, former Black Panther Party chairperson), Aimee Allison (Oakland Green Party, Persian Gulf War Contentious Objector) and Michelle Simon (Campaign to End the Death Penalty). At 7 pm at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, 3201 Adeline Street, near Ashby BART. Tickets are $2-$20 sliding scale. Sponsored by: Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Education Not Incarceration, Ella Baker Center -- Books Not Bars, Green Party of Alameda County, International Socialist Organization, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and Solidarity Bay Area. For more information, e-mail shelly245@juno.com.

Boston - Speakers panel and discussion on the struggle to save Stan. Featuring author and activist William Keach (one of the people who nominated Stan for a Nobel prize), and an exonerated death row prisoner. At 6:30 pm at Cabral Center, 1st Floor, African American Institute, Northeastern University. Take the Orange Line to Ruggles Station, or the Green Line to the NU T- Stop.

Chicago - Press conference and protest at Republican National Headquarters, 32 W. Randolph, at 12 Noon.

Columbus, Ohio - Screening of "Redemption." At Ohio State U., 3 pm, MLK Lounge, Hale Black Cultural Center (153 W. 12th Ave.). Sponsored by the Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams.

Fremont, Calif. - Demonstration on the Steps of Mission San Jose. At 7:15 am at 43300 Mission Blvd. (at the intersection of Washington). For information, call Faye at 510-791-8186.

Holyoke, Mass. - Screening of "Redemption." At 11 a.m. at Holyoke Community College, Donahue 378.

Los Angeles - Rally and press conference. At 9 am at Los Angeles City Hall, 200 North Spring St. A march to the Governor's office (300 S. Spring St.) will begin at approximately 10am.

Madison, Wis. - Rock Out/Speak Out to Save Tookie. A free show featuring Si Kahn, songwriter and social activist; Darby Tillis, exonerated death row inmate; Adrian Lomax, recently released Wisconsin prisoner and prison rights activist; and local hip-hop artists. At 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater Stage Door.

Moraga, Calif - Information tabling at St. Mary's College at 11: 30 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be laptops and cell phones available for students to email and/or call the governor's office. At 8 pm, there will be a showing of the movie "Redemption" and a discussion afterwards, in Galileo 201.

- New Haven, Conn. - Candlelight Speakout for Clemency. At 6 pm at Kimberly Square, intersection of Kimberly Avenue and Lamberton Street in the Hill. Call 203-645-4907 or e-mail isonewhaven@yahoo.com for information.

- New Hope, Pa. - Screening of "Redemption" and Informational Meeting. At 8 pm at the Saraswati River Yoga Center is located at 415 South York Road. Call 609-532-7750 or e-mail mpillischer@yahoo.com for information. Sponsored by the Lambertville Coalition for Peace and Reel Justice.

New York City - Press conference and protest for Stan at John Ashcroft's New York City appearance. Featuring Anthony Papa, activist against the Rockefeller Drug Laws, Yusef Salaam, exonerated in Central Park jogger case, and others. At 5:45 pm at 115th and Broadway. Sponsored by Save Tookie Committee NYC (Vieques Brigade, Free Mumia Coalition-NYC, Justice Committee, Campaign to End the Death Penalty, NYers Against the Death Penalty, Green Party, International Socialist Organization).

- New York City - Save Tookie NYC Committee Organizing Meeting. Following the Day of Action event, at 7:30 pm at Columbia University, Hamilton Hall, check the lobby for room number. Call 518-253-5029 for information.

New York City - Candlelight vigil, protesting the 1,000th scheduled execution since death penalty reinstatement. At 5:30 pm at Washington Square Park, near the arch at 5th Avenue and Washington Street.

Northampton, Mass. - Screening of "Redemption." At 4 p.m. at the Media Education Foundation.

- Pittsburgh - Screening of "Redemption." At 7 pm at Thomas Merton Center, 5125 Penn Ave., in Garfield.

Rochester, N.Y. - Rally and press conference. At 12 Noon in front of the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange St.

Sacramento, Calif. - Rally and press conference. At Noon at City Hall, 915 I Street.

San Diego - Community forum on "Tookie, the Death Penalty and the Movement: Continuing the Struggle for Social Justice." At 6 pm at Springfield College, 5348 University Ave. Sponsored the Serudj Institute of Effective Socialization. E-mail tkalonji@hotmail.com for information.

San Francisco - Rally and press conference, featuring Barbara Becnel , Dolores Huerta, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Assemblyman Mark Leno and many more. At Noon at San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.

San Francisco - Speakout at San Francisco State University, beginning at 10 am. Call 415-317-5063 for information, or e-mail sfstatecedp@yahoo.com.

San Jose, Calif. - Rally and Press Conference. At Noon in front of City Hall, 801 N. 1st St. Sponsored by the Black Student Union of San Jose City College

San Rafael, Calif. - Vigil and demonstration sponsored by the Marin Chapter of Death Penalty Focus. At 4:30 pm at San Rafael Plaza (adjacent to 1000 Fourth St.).

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Rally and press conference, featuring Mayor Cynthia Matthews presenting a proclamation declaring the City of Santa Cruz to be an official "World City Against the Death Penalty"; Councilmember Tim Fitzmaurice, DPF, ACLU and more will give statements. At Noon at City Hall, 809 Center St.

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Panel with Angela Davis, Paul Ortiz, Lance Lindsey (Death Penalty Focus) and a special performance by Rainbow Theater. At 7:30 pm at UC-Santa Cruz, Earth and Marine Sciences building, Room B206. For information, call 510-325-0599 or e-mail iso_santacruz@hotmail.com.

Seattle - Screening of "Redemption." At 12 Noon at Seattle Central Community College Art Gallery, 1701 E. Broadway (in the main building, accessible from the atrium). For information, e-mail vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862.

Seattle - Screening of "Redemption." At 7 pm at University Heights Community Center, Room 106, 5031 University Way NE. Donation requested at the door. For information, e-mail vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862.

Washington, D.C. - Screening of "Redemption." At 4:45 pm at the University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law, Building 39, Room 204, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW. For information, e-mail benk516@yahoo.com.

Washington, D.C. - Town Hall Meeting Against the Death Penalty. Featuring Rev. Lennox Yearwood (Hip Hop Caucus), Mike Lawlor (lawyer with Wesley Baker's legal team) and Mike Stark (CEDP). At 6:30 pm at All Souls Church, 16th and Harvard Streets, NW will be speaking.

West Hollywood, Calif. - World Day Against the Death Penalty Day Program, featuring Mayor Abbe Land, Mayor Pro Tempore John Heilman, Assemblyman Paul Koretz, Mike Farrell, and more. Begins at 2 pm at West Hollywood Comprehensive Services Center, Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd.

Woodland, Calif. - Press Conference. At Noon at the Yolo County Courthouse, 725 Court St.

- DECEMBER 1 - Baltimore Prayer Service Against the Death Penalty At 6:30 pm at St. Vincent DePaul Church, Fayette and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 1 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim and Marlene Martin, of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at the University of Illinois-Chicago African American Cultural Center, Addams Hall, Second Floor. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 1 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim and Marlene Martin, of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at Harold Washington College, Room 308, 30 E. Lake Street. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 1 - Columbus, Ohio Speakout for Stan Tookie Williams Including readings from letters written to Tookie Williams and his books. At Noon at the Ohio Union, Ohio State University. Sponsored by Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams

- DECEMBER 1 - Greensboro, N.C. Screening of Redemption At the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

- DECEMBER 1 - San Diego Save Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at SDSU, Aztec Center, Calmecac Room, sponsored by the International Socialist Organization.

- DECEMBER 1 - Seattle Seattle Save Tookie Committee Weekly Meeting Every Thursday at Seattle Central Community College, in room 4130. E-mail vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862 for information.

- DECEMBER 2 - Palo Alto, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" Viewing of the film, followed by discussion and letter-writing to ask the governor to grant clemency. At 7 pm at St. Alberts' Church, 1095 Channing Ave.

- DECEMBER 3 - Baltimore Demonstrate at the Supermax prison Protesting the pending execution of Wesley Baker and in support of Stan Tookie Williams. At 2 pm at the Supermax prison, Madison and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 3 - Los Angeles RALLY FOR CLEMENCY FOR TOOKIE Leimert Park at 12 Noon. All the groups working in the Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles are asking everyone to come out. For more information, call 310-404-1739 or e-mail cenddeathpenalty@yahoo.com

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Screening of "Redemption" At the Bread Stuy Cafe, 403 Lewis Ave., Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY with Political Prisoners Speakers include Ninotchka Rosca (Philippines, Gabriela network); Andra (Basque Country, Kalera Project); Ashanti Alston (Black Liberation Movement, U.S.), Frank Velgara (Puerto Rican Independence Movement, U.S. and Puerto Rico); plus a Palestinian comrade TBA and statements from David Gilbert and Marilyn Buck, white anti-imperialist political prisoners. At 7 pm at Columbia Law School, 435 W. 116th Street, Room 103 (C or 1 train to 116th Street). $5 donation requested.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Stan Tookie Williams: Blue Rage, Black Redemption A discussion of Tookie's book sponsored by Brownstone Bookstore and the Campaign to End the Death Penalty. At 6 pm at Brownstone Bookstore, 409 Lewis Ave. (at Decatur Street). Take the A/C to Utica Ave. For more information, call Glo at 718-207-3980 or email gloriaross@gmail.com.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Francisco Movie Screening of REDEMPTION Hosted by Danny Glover, Barbara Becnel and Kevin Epps, who will present a short program before the movie to explain the status of Stan's case and let people know how to get involved in the movement to stop the execution. At 5 pm at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (next to the 16th Street and Mission BART Station). This event is a fund-raiser for the San Francisco Save Tookie Coalition. Tickets are $5 for students/youth/seniors and $10 for the general public. Co-sponsors and endorsers welcome; donations appreciated. Contact Danielle at Danielle@vanguardsf.org or 415-581-2512 for more information about endorsing or co-sponsoring the event. Tickets available at http://www.victoriatheatre.org or at the door.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Quentin, Calif. Vigil and Action by Religious Imperative to Stop State Murder Continuous vigil and action to begin at San Quentin Prison's Main Gate. Beginning Sunday, December 4th from 2 pm to 4 pm and continuing on December 5th beginning at 10am.

- DECEMBER 6 - New York City Town Hall Meeting to Save Stan Tookie Williams Featuring Ras Baraka (deputy mayor of Newark, N.J.), a representative of SOS (former gang members in Newark who negotiated a truce based on Tookie's Protocol for Peace), Anthony Papa (author and victim of the Rockefeller drug laws), and Yusef Salaam (wrongfully convicted in the Central Park jogger case and recently exonerated), the Welfare Poets (spoken word/hip hop artists), and many more. At 7 pm at the National Black Theater of Harlem, South Tower-Temple of Liberation, 2031 5th Ave. at 125th Street (take the 2,3 to 125th Street or 4,5,6 to 125th Street). $5 donation.

- DECEMBER 6 - San Rafael, Calif. Capital Punishment: Who Are We Executing? A film and discussion about death row and the death penalty. At 7 pm at the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, 1520 Grand Ave., corner of Grand and Acacia Streets.

- DECEMBER 7 - Chicago Stop the Execution of Stan Tookie Williams Featuring pardoned Illinois death row prisoner Madison Hobley; exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis; Gloria Johnson, mother of Illinois prisoner Montell Johnson; Alice Kim and Marlene Martin, of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty; and more. At 7 pm at Northeastern Illinois University, Student Union, (Room TBA), 5500 N. St. Louis. Call 773-955-4841 for information.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway. For information, call 619-804-1685 or e-mail tkalonji@Hotmail.com.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

- DECEMBER 8 - Sacramento, Calif. People's Clemency Hearing for Tookie At Noon, on the steps of the State Capitol building. Called for by the Bay Area Save Tookie Committee.

- DECEMBER 9 - Los Angeles Screening of "After Innocence" A film about the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated--innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. At 7 pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd. Sponsored by the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For information, call : Project:Involve at 310-432-1280.

DECEMBER 10 - New York City Save Stan Tookie Williams. Featuring Fred Hampton Jr., who visited Tookie along with other human rights activists; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Herman Ferguson, co-chair, National Jericho Movement; Lynne Stewart, to be sentenced in December by the U.S. government; Masai Ehehosi, Free Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Rap Brown) Campaign; and others. At 4 pm at Salem Methodist Church on 129th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A cultural program and dinner will be served. $10 donation at the door. For information, call the Free Mumia Hotline at 212-330-8029, or 914-941-6046

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

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WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

15 days. The clock is ticking. Stop the execution!

2005-11-28T09:48:00.000-08:00

CONTENTS -
Reports and news about Tookie

Build for the National Day of Action
NAACP steps up efforts to save Stan
Activists rally at San Quentin to save Tookie
Why a Tookie Williams?
122nd death row prisoner exonerated
Abolitionists protest pending execution in Maryland
New song for Stan
1,000th execution expected on November 30

Educators for Tookie -- Sign on now!

Donate much needed funds for our efforts -

Upcoming events -

Where to find more information

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- BUILD FOR THE NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

In conjunction with World Cities Day Against the Death Penalty, the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, working with the California Save Tookie Committee, is organizing for a National Day of Action to Save Tookie on November 30. Dozens of events have been organized, across California and the country, to urge Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to Stanley Tookie Williams.

Among the events are a rally at City Hall in San Francisco with Stan's long-time advocate Barbara Becnel; a picket at Republican National Headquarters in Chicago; a musical "Speak Out" for Tookie at the University of Wisconsin's Madison campus, featuring exonerated Illinois death row prisoner Darby Tillis playing "Death Row Blues" on the harmonica; and a town hall meeting in Boston, featuring Professor William Keach of Brown University, who previously nominated Williams for the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature

Everyone who can should get involved in building for the largest possible turnout for these events.

The Campaign has produced model press releases for the day of action, to help activists publicize their events. E-mail Noreen@nodeathpenalty.org to get a copy. The press releases will also be posted at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org.

November 30th is also likely to be the day that the 1,000th person is executed since reinstatement of the death penalty in the U.S. Robin Lovitt is the prisoner on Virgina's death row who could be the 1,000th victim. Virgiania has the disgusting distinction of executing the second-highest number of people in the country, following only Texas. Activist should speak out and hold signs against this outrage at all of our Tookie events. Below, you can find a listing of November 30 events we know about. There is also a calendar listing and contact information for Tookie supporters around the country at: http://www.savetookie.org/events.html

This is the next step in the fight to save Tookie, so let's make sure the Day of Action is a success!

- NAACP STEPS UP EFFORTS TO SAVE STAN

>From the NAACP press release: " Bruce Gordon, president & CEO, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), said today that California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should spare the life of Stanley Tookie Williams, who is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Dec. 13. Williams, who maintains his innocence, has been nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize and four times for the Nobel Prize for Literature for his series of acclaimed children's books... "Gordon said the NAACP will lead a multi-city two-week crusade to convince Schwarzenegger that Williams should live to continue his work in helping young people make positive choices and avoid the gang life that he once lived."

Read the full article: http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=57169

- ACTIVISTS RALLY AT SAN QUENTIN TO SAVE TOOKIE

>From the Final Call: "Under maximum police surveillance, approximately 2,000 people saturated Point San Quentin Village for a Nov. 19 rally to save five-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and death row icon Stanley Tookie Williams from execution Dec. 13. During the three-hour 'Save The Peacemaker' rally, cries of 'Clemency for Tookie' and 'End the Death Penalty!' could be heard. "Situated just outside San Quentin State Prison's Eastgate, the rally-goers, who hailed from various racial, gender, age, religious and organizational lines, presented their demands for clemency, despite consistent technical difficulties and under the constant buzzing of helicopter blades."

Read the full article: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_2293.shtml

- WHY A TOOKIE WILLIAMS?

>From columnist Earl Ofari Hutchinson: "In a candid, and revealing moment, Stanley "Tookie" Williams told a visitor at San Quentin prison that he helped found the notorious Crips street gang because he wanted to smash everyone, make a rep, get respect and dignity, and that he wanted his name to be known everywhere. He got his wish in more ways than he ever dreamed of. The demons that drove Williams in his reckless push for identity and prominence also drove him to become the nation's best known condemned prisoner. He faces execution December 13 for multiple murders."

Read the full article: http://www.blacknews.com/pr/tookie401.html

- 122ND DEATH ROW PRISONER EXONERATED

>From the Philadelphia Inquirer: "A 47-year-old South Philadelphia man who spent 16 years on death row in a triple slaying has been released from prison after a jury acquitted him in a new trial, becoming the 122nd death row prisoner to be exonerated since reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. Harold C. Wilson had always denied that he killed two women and a man with an ax inside a drug house in 1988. He wept when Common Pleas Court jurors announced their decision Tuesday."

Read the full article: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/counties/p hiladelphia_county/philadelphia/13207500.htm

- ABOLITIONISTS PROTEST PENDING EXECUTION IN MARYLAND

>From the Baltimore Sun: "Just nine days before convicted killer Wesley Eugene Baker could be executed for the 1991 shooting of a Baltimore County woman, death penalty opponents gathered outside the governor's mansion in Annapolis yesterday to protest the scheduled execution and call for an end to capital punishment in Maryland. "'We're here to tell the governor that there are no throwaway people, that cold-blooded killing by the state is no better than cold-blooded killing by a professional murderer, by a thug in an alley or by a resident of Iraq,' Terry Fitzgerald, an organizer with the Baltimore Campaign to End the Death Penalty, shouted to the nearly 30 protesters outside Government House." "The demonstration was the first in a series of events that death penalty opponents have organized leading up to the week of Dec. 5, when Baker is scheduled to die by lethal injection."

Read the full article: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.baker27nov27,1,5509663.story?c track=1&cset=true

- NEW SONG FOR STAN

Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg and Jamie Foxx have recorded "Real Soon," a song about Stan, his anti-gang efforts and his struggle against execution. Listen to it and use it at meetings and demonstrations. You can also here Snoop Dogg's speech at the November 19 protest at San Quentin.

Listen to the song at the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org

- 1,000th EXECUTION EXPECTED ON NOVEMBER 30

The 1000th person to be executed since the death penalty was reinstated in the 1970s may take place on November 30th. Virginia death row prisoner Robin Lovitt is scheduled to be put to death on November 30. Anti-death penalty activists have various actions, vigils and speakouts planned to take place across the country. For more information, go to: http://www.1000executions.org/ For a listing of events nationwide, go to http://www.1000executions.org/events.php The November 30 Day of Action events planned for Stan Tookie Williams can help draw attention to the fight overall for abolition and the need to stop once and for all this senseless barbarity. People organizing activities for November 30 for Stan should come up with creative ways to tie in the question of the 1,000th execution.

- EDUCATORS FOR TOOKIE -- SIGN ON NOW!

More than 120 educators have signed on to a letter urging California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to death row prisoner Stanley Tookie Williams. We took this initiative in the hopes that the collective voice of educators would send a powerful message calling for clemency.

To download a copy of the Educators for Tookie letter, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/downloads/TookieEducatorsLtr.pdf.

To sign the letter, send the following information to akim007@speakeasy.net: Name, Title, Name of institution (for identification purposes only), Home address, City, state and zip, E-mail address

- DONATE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses - so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

- EVERY WEEKDAY - Hawthorne, Calif. John 8:7, No Death Penalty candlelight vigils for Stan "Tookie" Williams Every weekday at 6 pm, 14501 Hindry Ave., at the corner of Hindry and the 405 Fwy (between McDonalds and Costco).

- NOVEMBER 28 - Chicago Film screening of "Redemption" At 5 pm, University of Chicago, School of Social Services, Room W1, 60th and Ellis.

- NOVEMBER 28 - Moraga, Calif. Learn More about Stan "Tookie" Williams General CEDP meeting about Stan, and to help plan for the November 30 National Day of Action. At 6 pm in Dante 114. For information, call 510-295-3290 or e-mail cedp@stmarys-ca.edu

- NOVEMBER 28 - New York City Emergency Planning Meeting to Save Tookie At 9 pm at Columbia University, in 212, on the first floor in Lerner Hall (the student center at 115th and Broadway). Call 617-917-1966 for information.

- NOVEMBER 30 - Nationwide NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR STAN (please send your information)

Austin, Texas - Rally and tabling on the University of Texas campus. Featuring a display with Tookie's picture alongside other peacemakers like Ghandi, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King. Starting at 10 am, with a rally at noon, on the West Mall. For information, e-mail RandiJ42@satx.rr.com or call 210-274-6369.

Baltimore - Live From Death Row, with Maryland death row prisoner Vernon Evans. At 7 pm at the First Unitarian Church, 514 N. Charles St. (north of Franklin St.). For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

Berkeley, Calif. - Special screening of "Remdeption", introduced by Elaine Brown (Green Party activist, former Black Panther Party chairperson), Aimee Allison (Oakland Green Party, Persian Gulf War Contentious Objector) and Michelle Simon (Campaign to End the Death Penalty). At 7 pm at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, 3201 Adeline Street, near Ashby BART. Tickets are $2-$20 sliding scale. Sponsored by: Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Education Not Incarceration, Ella Baker Center -- Books Not Bars, Green Party of Alameda County, International Socialist Organization, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and Solidarity Bay Area. For more information, e-mail shelly245@juno.com.

Boston - Speakers panel and discussion on the struggle to save Stan. Featuring author and activist William Keach (one of the people who nominated Stan for a Nobel prize), and an exonerated death row prisoner. At 6:30 pm at Cabral Center, 1st Floor, African American Institute, Northeastern University. Take the Orange Line to Ruggles Station, or the Green Line to the NU T- Stop.

Chicago - Press conference and protest at Republican National Headquarters, 32 W. Randolph, at 12 Noon.

Columbus, Ohio - Screening of "Redemption." At Ohio State U., 3 pm, MLK Lounge, Hale Black Cultural Center (153 W. 12th Ave.). Sponsored by the Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams.

Fremont, Calif. - Demonstration on the Steps of Mission San Jose. At 7:15 am at 43300 Mission Blvd. (at the intersection of Washington). For information, call Faye at 510-791-8186.

Holyoke, Mass. - Screening of "Redemption." At 11 a.m. at Holyoke Community College, Donahue 378.

Los Angeles - Rally and press conference. At 9 am at Los Angeles City Hall, 200 North Spring St. A march to the Governor's office (300 S. Spring St.) will begin at approximately 10am.

Madison, Wis. - Rock Out/Speak Out to Save Tookie. A free show featuring Si Kahn, songwriter and social activist; Darby Tillis, exonerated death row inmate; Adrian Lomax, recently released Wisconsin prisoner and prison rights activist; and local hip-hop artists. At 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater Stage Door.

Moraga, Calif - Information tabling at St. Mary's College at 11: 30 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be laptops and cell phones available for students to email and/or call the governor's office. At 8 pm, there will be a showing of the movie "Redemption" and a discussion afterwards, in Galileo 201.

New York City - Press conference and protest for Stan at John Ashcroft's New York City appearance. Featuring Anthony Papa, activist against the Rockefeller Drug Laws, Yusef Salaam, exonerated in Central Park jogger case, and others. At 5:45 pm at 115th and Broadway. Sponsored by Save Tookie Committee NYC (Vieques Brigade, Free Mumia Coalition-NYC, Justice Committee, Campaign to End the Death Penalty, NYers Against the Death Penalty, Green Party, International Socialist Organization).

New York City - Candlelight vigil, protesting the 1,000th scheduled execution since death penalty reinstatement. At 5:30 pm at Washington Square Park, near the arch at 5th Avenue and Washington Street.

Northampton, Mass. - Screening of "Redemption." At 4 p.m. at the Media Education Foundation.

Rochester, N.Y. - Rally and press conference. At 12 Noon in front of the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange St.

Sacramento, Calif. - Rally and press conference. At Noon at City Hall, 915 I Street.

San Diego - Community forum on "Tookie, the Death Penalty and the Movement: Continuing the Struggle for Social Justice." At 6 pm at Springfield College, 5348 University Ave. Sponsored the Serudj Institute of Effective Socialization. E-mail tkalonji@hotmail.com for information.

San Francisco - Rally and press conference, featuring Barbara Becnel , Dolores Huerta, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Assemblyman Mark Leno and many more. At Noon at San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.

San Francisco - Speakout at San Francisco State University, beginning at 10 am. Call 415-317-5063 for information, or e-mail sfstatecedp@yahoo.com.

San Jose, Calif. - Rally and Press Conference. At Noon in front of City Hall, 801 N. 1st St. Sponsored by the Black Student Union of San Jose City College

San Rafael, Calif. - Vigil and demonstration sponsored by the Marin Chapter of Death Penalty Focus. At 4:30 pm at San Rafael Plaza (adjacent to 1000 Fourth St.).

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Rally and press conference, featuring Mayor Cynthia Matthews presenting a proclamation declaring the City of Santa Cruz to be an official "World City Against the Death Penalty"; Councilmember Tim Fitzmaurice, DPF, ACLU and more will give statements. At Noon at City Hall, 809 Center St.

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Panel with Angela Davis, Paul Ortiz, Lance Lindsey (Death Penalty Focus) and a special performance by Rainbow Theater. At 7:30 pm at UC-Santa Cruz, Earth and Marine Sciences building, Room B206. For information, call 510-325-0599 or e-mail iso_santacruz@hotmail.com.

Seattle - Screening of "Redemption." At 12 Noon at Seattle Central Community College Art Gallery, 1701 E. Broadway (in the main building, accessible from the atrium). For information, e-mail vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862. Seattle - Screening of "Redemption." At 7 pm at University Heights Community Center, Room 106, 5031 University Way NE. Donation requested at the door. For information, e-mail vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862.

Washington, D.C. - Screening of "Redemption." At 4:45 pm at the University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law, Building 39, Room 204, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW. For information, e-mail benk516@yahoo.com.

Washington, D.C. - Town Hall Meeting Against the Death Penalty. Featuring Rev. Lennox Yearwood (Hip Hop Caucus), Mike Lawlor (lawyer with Wesley Baker's legal team) and Mike Stark (CEDP). At 6:30 pm at All Souls Church, 16th and Harvard Streets, NW will be speaking.

West Hollywood, Calif. - World Day Against the Death Penalty Day Program, featuring Mayor Abbe Land, Mayor Pro Tempore John Heilman, Assemblyman Paul Koretz, Mike Farrell, and more. Begins at 2 pm at West Hollywood Comprehensive Services Center, Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd.

Woodland, Calif. - Press Conference. At Noon at the Yolo County Courthouse, 725 Court St.

- DECEMBER 1 - Baltimore Prayer Service Against the Death Penalty At 6:30 pm at St. Vincent DePaul Church, Fayette and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 1 - Columbus, Ohio Speakout for Stan Tookie Williams Including readings from letters written to Tookie Williams and his books. At Noon at the Ohio Union, Ohio State University. Sponsored by Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams

- DECEMBER 1 - Greensboro, N.C. Screening of Redemption At the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

- DECEMBER 1 - San Diego Save Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at SDSU, Aztec Center, Calmecac Room, sponsored by the International Socialist Organization.

- DECEMBER 1 - Seattle Seattle Save Tookie Committee Weekly Meeting Every Thursday at Seattle Central Community College, in room 4130. E-mail vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862 for information.

- DECEMBER 2 - Palo Alto, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" Viewing of the film, followed by discussion and letter-writing to ask the governor to grant clemency. At 7 pm at St. Alberts' Church, 1095 Channing Ave.

- DECEMBER 3 - Baltimore Demonstrate at the Supermax prison Protesting the pending execution of Wesley Baker and in support of Stan Tookie Williams. At 2 pm at the Supermax prison, Madison and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 3 - Los Angeles RALLY FOR CLEMENCY FOR TOOKIE Leimert Park at 12 Noon. All the groups working in the Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles are asking everyone to come out. For more information, call 310-404-1739 or e-mail cenddeathpenalty@yahoo.com

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Screening of "Redemption" At the Bread Stuy Cafe, 403 Lewis Ave., Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY with Political Prisoners Speakers include Ninotchka Rosca (Philippines, Gabriela network); Andra (Basque Country, Kalera Project); Ashanti Alston (Black Liberation Movement, U.S.), Frank Velgara (Puerto Rican Independence Movement, U.S. and Puerto Rico); plus a Palestinian comrade TBA and statements from David Gilbert and Marilyn Buck, white anti-imperialist political prisoners. At 7 pm at Columbia Law School, 435 W. 116th Street, Room 103 (C or 1 train to 116th Street). $5 donation requested.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Stan Tookie Williams: Blue Rage, Black Redemption A discussion of Tookie's book sponsored by Brownstone Bookstore and the Campaign to End the Death Penalty. At 6 pm at Brownstone Bookstore, 409 Lewis Ave. (at Decatur Street). Take the A/C to Utica Ave. For more information, call Glo at 718-207-3980 or email gloriaross@gmail.com.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Francisco Movie Screening of REDEMPTION Hosted by Danny Glover, Barbara Becnel and Kevin Epps, who will present a short program before the movie to explain the status of Stan's case and let people know how to get involved in the movement to stop the execution. At 5 pm at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (next to the 16th Street and Mission BART Station). This event is a fund-raiser for the San Francisco Save Tookie Coalition. Tickets are $5 for students/youth/seniors and $10 for the general public. Co-sponsors and endorsers welcome; donations appreciated. Contact Danielle at Danielle@vanguardsf.org or 415-581-2512 for more information about endorsing or co-sponsoring the event. Tickets available at http://www.victoriatheatre.org or at the door.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Quentin, Calif. Vigil and Action by Religious Imperative to Stop State Murder Continuous vigil and action to begin at San Quentin Prison's Main Gate. Beginning Sunday, December 4th from 2 pm to 4 pm and continuing on December 5th beginning at 10am.

- DECEMBER 6 - New York City Town Hall Meeting to Save Stan Tookie Williams Featuring Manning Marable (director, Institute for Research on African-American Studies, Columbia University), Ras Baraka (deputy mayor of Newark, N.J.), Anthony Papa (author and former victim of the Rockefeller drug laws), and Yusef Salaam (exonerated in the Central Park jogger case).

- DECEMBER 6 - San Rafael, Calif. Capital Punishment: Who Are We Executing? A film and discussion about death row and the death penalty. At 7 pm at the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, 1520 Grand Ave., corner of Grand and Acacia Streets.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway. For information, call 619-804-1685 or e-mail tkalonji@Hotmail.com.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

- DECEMBER 9 - Los Angeles Screening of "After Innocence" A film about the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated--innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. At 7 pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd. Sponsored by the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For information, call : Project:Involve at 310-432-1280.

DECEMBER 10 - New York City Save Stan Tookie Williams. Featuring Fred Hampton Jr., who visited Tookie along with other human rights activists; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Herman Ferguson, co-chair, National Jericho Movement; Lynne Stewart, to be sentenced in December by the U.S. government; Masai Ehehosi, Free Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Rap Brown) Campaign; and others. At 4 pm at Salem Methodist Church on 129th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A cultural program and dinner will be served. $10 donation at the door. For information, call the Free Mumia Hotline at 212-330-8029, or 914-941-6046

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

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WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

16 days left. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-11-27T11:34:00.000-08:00

CONTENTS - Reports and news about Tookie - Upcoming events - Where to find more information

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REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- SCHWARZENEGGER ANNOUNCES CLEMENCY HEARING

>From the San Francisco Chronicle: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has decided to hold a clemency hearing Dec. 8 for Stanley Tookie Williams, the condemned killer who has attracted a number of high-profile backers calling for his life to be spared.It is believed to be the first time a California governor has held such a hearing since 1992, when Gov. Pete Wilson considered the appeal of condemned killer Robert Alton Harris, Schwarzenegger's office said Friday. Wilson denied the appeal... "Several famous people have rallied in Williams' support, including Nobel laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Irene Kahn, who is secretary general of Amnesty International. Civil rights activists Jesse Jackson and Bianca Jagger visited Williams at San Quentin State Prison on Monday."

Read the full article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/11/26/WILLIAMS.TMP& type=printable

- NEW SONG FOR STAN

Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg and Jamie Foxx have recorded "Real Soon," a song about Stan, his anti-gang efforts and his struggle against execution. Listen to it and use it at meetings and demonstrations. You can also here Snoop Dogg's speech at the November 19 protest at San Quentin.

Listen to the song and the speech at the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org

- NEW SAVE TOOKIE WEB SITE

The Web site of the Save Tookie committee has been overhauled, with lots of great new features and resources for activists. Be sure to take a look at: http://www.savetookie.org

- SUPPORT BUILDS BEHIND STAN'S CLEMENCY APPEAL

>From MSNBC: "Jamie Foxx stepped into the spotlight at his latest movie premiere with more than the usual publicity drill in mind. Don't let it happen, the actor urged -- don't let the state of California execute Stanley Tookie Williams, the convicted murderer and Crips gang co-founder who's been recast behind bars in the role of peacemaker."

Read the full article: http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/ap11-23-173015.asp?t=APENT

- SUPPORT FOR STAN IN FRANCE

>From a supporter in France: I have translated into French the Open Letter to the Governor, and am sending it to organizations (antiracist and anti death-penalty organizations, left parties) that may send you signatures. I'm also sending a summary of the case to the media, asking them to contact one of you if they want to write an article about the case. I'm going to show the movie Redemption to my students, and suggest colleagues do so before December 13. If kids are interested, we will ask them to write a letter to Schwarzenegger.

- 1,000th EXECUTION EXPECTED ON NOVEMBER 30

The 1000th person to be executed since the death penalty was reinstated in the 1970s may take place on November 30th. Virginia death row prisoner Robin Lovitt is scheduled to be put to death on November 30. Anti-death penalty activists have various actions, vigils and speakouts planned to take place across the country. For more information, go to: http://www.1000executions.org/ For a listing of events nationwide, go to http://www.1000executions.org/events.php The November 30 Day of Action events planned for Stan Tookie Williams can help draw attention to the fight overall for abolition and the need to stop once and for all this senseless barbarity. People organizing activities for November 30 for Stan should come up with creative ways to tie in the question of the 1,000th execution.

- SIGNATURE AD FOR STAN TOOKIE WILLIAMS

>From Cameron Sturdevant: The Save Tookie Coalition needs your help to stop the execution of Stanley Tookie Williams, scheduled to take place in California's San Quentin prison on December 13. Specifically, we need your generous financial contribution--any amount you can give--to fund three full-page advertisements that we hope to run in the Sacramento Bee (to inform state politicians), Daily Variety (to inform the Hollywood entertainment industry), and the San Francisco Bay View (to reach the African American community across California).The text of the ad is at the end of this message. You can "sign" the ad by sending a message to savetookie@nodeathpenalty.org. Space permitting, your name will appear in the print ad. All others will be listed on the website savetookie.org. Time is of the essence--checks should be sent to: Vanguard Public Foundation -- Save Tookie, 383 Rhode Island St., Suite 301, San Francisco, CA 94103.

Text of ad:

Saving Stanley Tookie Williams will save lives: Don't silence a voice for peace

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger, Stanley Tookie Williams reaches out to the world with a message of peace. Unless you intervene, this powerful voice will be lost: This Nobel Peace Prize nominee will be executed by the state of California on December 13th. At just 17 years old, in 1971, Stan co-founded the Crips street gang. In 1981, he was convicted of four murders and sentenced to death, though he has always maintained his innocence of these crimes. While in prison, Stan underwent a spiritual transformation. He renounced gang life and issued a public apology for his role in promoting gang violence. He decided that he would dedicate the rest of his life to helping children make better decisions than he had made. To this end, he:

-- Wrote nine children's books about the dangers of gang life that have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people all over the world.

-- Developed a Protocol for Street Peace which has been used by rival gangs around the country and the world to broker gang truces.

-- Speaks to school children of all ages, teachers, juvenile offenders, gang members, school principals and many others, whenever possible, about ending gang violence and the importance of staying in school.

-- Has saved the lives of an estimated 150,000 youth across the state of California, the nation and the world. In recognition of his work, Stanley Williams has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times and has been nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature four times.

An execution will silence this peacemaker, but it will not change the nature of the illegitimate evidence against Stanley Tookie Williams, who has always asserted his innocence, or the impact of race on the trial. The case relied on circumstantial evidence, built on testimony from individuals who, according to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had "less-than-clean backgrounds and incentives to lie in order to obtain leniency from the state in either charging or sentencing." Fingerprints and shoe prints were found at the crime scene, but none belonged to Stan and they have never been identified. With very little in their case against Stan, the prosecutor used racism to secure a conviction – eliminating all African-Americans from the jury, shackling Williams and then using jungle-animal language in the closing argument. These injustices are cause for great concern for Californians who believe in preserving civil rights.

- EDUCATORS FOR TOOKIE -- SIGN ON NOW!

More than 60 educators have signed on to a letter urging California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to death row prisoner Stanley Tookie Williams. We took this initiative in the hopes that the collective voice of educators would send a powerful message calling for clemency.

To download a copy of the Educators for Tookie letter, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/downloads/TookieEducatorsLtr.pdf.

To sign the letter, send the following information to akim007@speakeasy.net: Name, Title, Name of institution (for identification purposes only), Home address, City, state and zip, E-mail address

- DONATE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses - so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

- EVERY WEEKDAY - Hawthorne, Calif. John 8:7, No Death Penalty candlelight vigils for Stan "Tookie" Williams Every weekday at 6 pm, 14501 Hindry Ave., at the corner of Hindry and the 405 Fwy (between McDonalds and Costco).

- NOVEMBER 27 - Rochester, N.Y. Planning Meeting for November 30 Day of Action At 4 pm at Java's on Gibbs St. Downtown

- NOVEMBER 28 - CHICAGO Film screening of "Redemption" At 5 pm, University of Chicago, School of Social Services, Room W1, 60th and Ellis.

- NOVEMBER 28 - Moraga, Calif. Learn More about Stan "Tookie" Williams General CEDP meeting about Stan, and to help plan for the November 30 National Day of Action. At 6 pm in Dante 114. For information, call 510-295-3290 or e-mail cedp@stmarys-ca.edu

- NOVEMBER 30 - Nationwide NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR STAN (please send your information)

Austin, Texas - Rally and tabling on the University of Texas campus. Featuring a display with Tookie's picture alongside other peacemakers like Ghandi, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King. Starting at 10 am, with a rally at noon, on the West Mall. For information, e-mail RandiJ42@satx.rr.com or call 210-274-6369.

Baltimore - Live From Death Row, with Maryland death row prisoner Vernon Evans. At 7 pm at the First Unitarian Church, 514 N. Charles St. (north of Franklin St.). For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

Berkeley, Calif. - Special screening of "Remdeption", introduced by Elaine Brown (Green Party activist, former Black Panther Party chairperson), Aimee Allison (Oakland Green Party, Persian Gulf War Contentious Objector) and Michelle Simon (Campaign to End the Death Penalty). At 7 pm at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, 3201 Adeline Street, near Ashby BART. Tickets are $2-$20 sliding scale. Sponsored by: Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Education Not Incarceration, Ella Baker Center -- Books Not Bars, Green Party of Alameda County, International Socialist Organization, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and Solidarity Bay Area. For more information, e-mail shelly245@juno.com.

Boston - Speakers panel and discussion on the struggle to save Stan. Featuring author and activist William Keach (one of the people who nominated Stan for a Nobel prize), and an exonerated death row prisoner. At 6:30 pm at Cabral Center, 1st Floor, African American Institute, Northeastern University. Take the Orange Line to Ruggles Station, or the Green Line to the NU T- Stop.

Chicago - Press conference and protest at Republican National Headquarters, 32 W. Randolph, at 12 Noon.

Columbus, Ohio - Screening of "Redemption." At Ohio State U., 3 pm, MLK Lounge, Hale Black Cultural Center (153 W. 12th Ave.). Sponsored by the Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams.

Fremont, Calif. - Demonstration on the Steps of Mission San Jose. At 7:15 am at 43300 Mission Blvd. (at the intersection of Washington). For information, call Faye at 510-791-8186.

Holyoke, Mass. - Screening of "Redemption." At 11 a.m. at Holyoke Community College, Donahue 378.

Los Angeles - Rally and press conference. At 9 am at Los Angeles City Hall, 200 North Spring St. A march to the Governor's office (300 S. Spring St.) will begin at approximately 10am.

Madison, Wis. - Rock Out/Speak Out to Save Tookie. A free show featuring Si Kahn, songwriter and social activist; Darby Tillis, exonerated death row inmate; Adrian Lomax, recently released Wisconsin prisoner and prison rights activist; and local hip-hop artists. At 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater Stage Door.

Moraga, Calif - Information tabling at St. Mary's College at 11: 30 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be laptops and cell phones available for students to email and/or call the governor's office. At 8 pm, there will be a showing of the movie "Redemption" and a discussion afterwards, in Galileo 201.

New York City - Press conference and protest for Stan at John Ashcroft's New York City appearance. Featuring Anthony Papa, activist against the Rockefeller Drug Laws, Yusef Salaam, exonerated in Central Park jogger case, and others. At 5:45 pm at 115th and Broadway. Sponsored by Save Tookie Committee NYC (Vieques Brigade, Free Mumia Coalition-NYC, Justice Committee, Campaign to End the Death Penalty, NYers Against the Death Penalty, Green Party, International Socialist Organization).

New York City - Candlelight vigil, protesting the 1,000th scheduled execution since death penalty reinstatement. At 5:30 pm at Washington Square Park, near the arch at 5th Avenue and Washington Street.

Northampton, Mass. - Screening of "Redemption." At 4 p.m. at the Media Education Foundation.

Rochester, N.Y. - Rally and press conference. At 12 Noon in front of the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange St.

Sacramento, Calif. - Rally and press conference. At Noon at City Hall, 915 I Street.

San Diego - Community forum on "Tookie, the Death Penalty and the Movement: Continuing the Struggle for Social Justice." At 6 pm at Springfield College, 5348 University Ave. Sponsored the Serudj Institute of Effective Socialization. E-mail tkalonji@hotmail.com for information.

San Francisco - Rally and press conference, featuring Barbara Becnel , Dolores Huerta, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Assemblyman Mark Leno and many more. At Noon at San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.

San Francisco - Speakout at San Francisco State University, beginning at 10 am. Call 415-317-5063 for information, or e-mail sfstatecedp@yahoo.com.

San Jose, Calif. - Rally and Press Conference. At Noon in front of City Hall, 801 N. 1st St. Sponsored by the Black Student Union of San Jose City College

San Rafael, Calif. - Vigil and demonstration sponsored by the Marin Chapter of Death Penalty Focus. At 4:30 pm at San Rafael Plaza (adjacent to 1000 Fourth St.).

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Rally and press conference, featuring Mayor Cynthia Matthews presenting a proclamation declaring the City of Santa Cruz to be an official "World City Against the Death Penalty"; Councilmember Tim Fitzmaurice, DPF, ACLU and more will give statements. At Noon at City Hall, 809 Center St.

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Panel with Angela Davis, Paul Ortiz, Lance Lindsey (Death Penalty Focus) and a special performance by Rainbow Theater. At 7:30 pm at UC-Santa Cruz, Earth and Marine Sciences building, Room B206. For information, call 510-325-0599 or e-mail iso_santacruz@hotmail.com.

Seattle - Screening of "Redemption." At 12 Noon at Seattle Central Community College Art Gallery, 1701 E. Broadway (in the main building, accessible from the atrium). For information, e-mail vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862.

Seattle - Screening of "Redemption." At 7 pm at University Heights Community Center, Room 106, 5031 University Way NE. Donation requested at the door. For information, e-mail vjambor@msn.com or call 206-851-4862.

Washington, D.C. - Screening of "Redemption." At 4:45 pm at the University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law, Building 39, Room 204, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW. For information, e-mail benk516@yahoo.com.

West Hollywood, Calif. - World Day Against the Death Penalty Day Program, featuring Mayor Abbe Land, Mayor Pro Tempore John Heilman, Assemblyman Paul Koretz, Mike Farrell, and more. Begins at 2 pm at West Hollywood Comprehensive Services Center, Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd.

Woodland, Calif. - Press Conference. At Noon at the Yolo County Courthouse, 725 Court St.

- DECEMBER 1 - Baltimore Prayer Service Against the Death Penalty At 6:30 pm at St. Vincent DePaul Church, Fayette and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 1 - Columbus, Ohio Speakout for Stan Tookie Williams Including readings from letters written to Tookie Williams and his books. At Noon at the Ohio Union, Ohio State University. Sponsored by Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams

- DECEMBER 1 - Greensboro, N.C. Screening of Redemption At the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

- DECEMBER 1 - San Diego Save Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at SDSU, Aztec Center, Calmecac Room, sponsored by the International Socialist Organization.

- DECEMBER 2 - Palo Alto, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" Viewing of the film, followed by discussion and letter-writing to ask the governor to grant clemency. At 7 pm at St. Alberts' Church, 1095 Channing Ave.

- DECEMBER 3 - Baltimore Demonstrate at the Supermax prison Protesting the pending execution of Wesley Baker and in support of Stan Tookie Williams. At 2 pm at the Supermax prison, Madison and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 3 - Los Angeles RALLY FOR CLEMENCY FOR TOOKIE Leimert Park at 12 Noon. All the groups working in the Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles are asking everyone to come out. For more information, call 310-404-1739 or e-mail cenddeathpenalty@yahoo.com

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Screening of "Redemption" At the Bread Stuy Cafe, 403 Lewis Ave., Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY with Political Prisoners Speakers include Ninotchka Rosca (Philippines, Gabriela network); Andra (Basque Country, Kalera Project); Ashanti Alston (Black Liberation Movement, U.S.), Frank Velgara (Puerto Rican Independence Movement, U.S. and Puerto Rico); plus a Palestinian comrade TBA and statements from David Gilbert and Marilyn Buck, white anti-imperialist political prisoners. At 7 pm at Columbia Law School, 435 W. 116th Street, Room 103 (C or 1 train to 116th Street). $5 donation requested.

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Stan Tookie Williams: Blue Rage, Black Redemption A discussion of Tookie's book sponsored by Brownstone Bookstore and the Campaign to End the Death Penalty. At 6 pm at Brownstone Bookstore, 409 Lewis Ave. (at Decatur Street). Take the A/C to Utica Ave. For more information, call Glo at 718-207-3980 or email gloriaross@gmail.com.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Francisco Movie Screening of REDEMPTION Hosted by Danny Glover, Barbara Becnel and Kevin Epps, who will present a short program before the movie to explain the status of Stan's case and let people know how to get involved in the movement to stop the execution. At 5 pm at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (next to the 16th Street and Mission BART Station). This event is a fund-raiser for the San Francisco Save Tookie Coalition. Tickets are $5 for students/youth/seniors and $10 for the general public. Co-sponsors and endorsers welcome; donations appreciated. Contact Danielle at Danielle@vanguardsf.org or 415-581-2512 for more information about endorsing or co-sponsoring the event. Tickets available at http://www.victoriatheatre.org or at the door.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Quentin, Calif. Vigil and Action by Religious Imperative to Stop State Murder Continuous vigil and action to begin at San Quentin Prison's Main Gate. Beginning Sunday, December 4th from 2 pm to 4 pm and continuing on December 5th beginning at 10am.

- DECEMBER 6 - New York City Town Hall Meeting to Save Stan Tookie Williams Featuring Manning Marable (director, Institute for Research on African-American Studies, Columbia University), Ras Baraka (deputy mayor of Newark, N.J.), Anthony Papa (author and former victim of the Rockefeller drug laws), and Yusef Salaam (exonerated in the Central Park jogger case).

- DECEMBER 6 - San Rafael, Calif. Capital Punishment: Who Are We Executing? A film and discussion about death row and the death penalty. At 7 pm at the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, 1520 Grand Ave., corner of Grand and Acacia Streets.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway. For information, call 619-804-1685 or e-mail tkalonji@Hotmail.com.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

- DECEMBER 9 - Los Angeles Screening of "After Innocence" A film about the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated--innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. At 7 pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd. Sponsored by the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For information, call : Project:Involve at 310-432-1280.

DECEMBER 10 - New York City Save Stan Tookie Williams. Featuring Fred Hampton Jr., who visited Tookie along with other human rights activists; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Herman Ferguson, co-chair, National Jericho Movement; Lynne Stewart, to be sentenced in December by the U.S. government; Masai Ehehosi, Free Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Rap Brown) Campaign; and others. At 4 pm at Salem Methodist Church on 129th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A cultural program and dinner will be served. $10 donation at the door. For information, call the Free Mumia Hotline at 212-330-8029, or 914-941-6046

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

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WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 955-4841 to order, or send an email to: marlene@nodeathpenalty.org

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778, or send an email to: noreen@nodeathpenalty.org Yearly subscriptions are also available.

18 days to save Tookie. Stop the execution!

2005-11-25T20:43:00.000-08:00

CONTENTS - Reports and news about Tookie - Upcoming events - Where to find more information

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REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- NOBEL LAUREATES URGE CLEMENCY FOR STAN

From NBC News in Southern California: "In a letter released Wednesday, a group of Nobel laureates joined activists in urging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to Stanley Tookie Williams, who is set to be executed Dec. 13. "In the letter, Nobel laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Betty Williams and Jody Williams and nearly 120 other people call on the governor to commute Williams' 'sentence of death to life in prison.'... "'Through his work, gang truces have been mediated and long-standing wounds have been healed. Lives have been saved,' the letter to the governor says. '...That an inmate on San Quentin's death row has earned five nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize and four for the Nobel Prize for Literature requires consideration.'"

Read the full article: http://www.nbc4.tv/news/5394294/detail.html

- INTERVIEW WITH STAN IN THE TIMES OF LONDON

From the Times: "'I am coping exceptionally well,' he says. Williams is dressed in blue denim trousers and shirt buttoned tight against his thick neck. "His beard is greying and his gaze, through large, round, rimless spectacles, is firm and relaxed. Only one of us feels uncomfortable. "'The experience is not so different from the moribund life I lived on the outside,' he says. 'I was shot up, shot at by police and in constant expectation of attack from my enemies. I have always lived a precarious life, so this is not so different. I used to enjoy fearlessness based on the machismo code of the streets, the ignorance, the bravado. "'Now my fearlessness is based on a sense of redemption, transformation, faith in God and optimism. I have a great sense of serenity - a halcyon sense - in my heart. My peace reflects what I have achieved from a once-wretched condition.'"

Read the full article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7-1885637,00.html

- STAN'S APPEAL TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE SUPREME COURT

From the Los Angeles Times: "Attorneys for Stanley Tookie Williams, co-founder of the Crips gang, implored the California Supreme Court on Wednesday to grant them access to a broad array of trial evidence as part of an effort to show that his 1979 conviction for four Southern California murders was unconstitutional. "'Discovery must be granted to avoid an egregious miscarriage of justice,' Pasadena attorney Verna Wefald wrote in a last-ditch legal effort to prevent 51-year-old Williams' execution, scheduled for Dec. 13 at San Quentin State Prison. "Williams' attorneys also have formally asked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant him clemency for his work as an anti-gang activist on death row.

Read the full article: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/state/la-me-williams24nov24,1,947679.story ?coll=la-news-state

- 1,000th EXECUTION EXPECTED ON NOVEMBER 30

The 1000th person to be executed since the death penalty was reinstated in the 1970s may take place on November 30th. Virginia death row prisoner Robin Lovitt is scheduled to be put to death on November 30. Anti-death penalty activists have various actions, vigils and speakouts planned to take place across the country. For more information, go to: http://www.1000executions.org/ For a listing of events nationwide, go to http://www.1000executions.org/events.php The November 30 Day of Action events planned for Stan Tookie Williams can help draw attention to the fight overall for abolition and the need to stop once and for all this senseless barbarity. People organizing activities for November 30 for Stan should come up with creative ways to tie in the question of the 1,000th execution.

- SIGNATURE AD FOR STAN TOOKIE WILLIAMS

From Cameron Sturdevant: The Save Tookie Coalition needs your help to stop the execution of Stanley Tookie Williams, scheduled to take place in California's San Quentin prison on December 13. Specifically, we need your generous financial contribution--any amount you can give--to fund three full-page advertisements that we hope to run in the Sacramento Bee (to inform state politicians), Daily Variety (to inform the Hollywood entertainment industry), and the San Francisco Bay View (to reach the African American community across California).The text of the ad is at the end of this message. You can "sign" the ad by sending a message to savetookie@nodeathpenalty.org. Space permitting, your name will appear in the print ad. All others will be listed on the website savetookie.org. Time is of the essence--checks should be sent to: Vanguard Public Foundation -- Save Tookie, 383 Rhode Island St., Suite 301, San Francisco, CA 94103.

Text of ad:

Saving Stanley Tookie Williams will save lives: Don't silence a voice for peace

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger, Stanley Tookie Williams reaches out to the world with a message of peace. Unless you intervene, this powerful voice will be lost: This Nobel Peace Prize nominee will be executed by the state of California on December 13th. At just 17 years old, in 1971, Stan co-founded the Crips street gang. In 1981, he was convicted of four murders and sentenced to death, though he has always maintained his innocence of these crimes. While in prison, Stan underwent a spiritual transformation. He renounced gang life and issued a public apology for his role in promoting gang violence. He decided that he would dedicate the rest of his life to helping children make better decisions than he had made. To this end, he:

-- Wrote nine children's books about the dangers of gang life that have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people all over the world.

-- Developed a Protocol for Street Peace which has been used by rival gangs around the country and the world to broker gang truces.

-- Speaks to school children of all ages, teachers, juvenile offenders, gang members, school principals and many others, whenever possible, about ending gang violence and the importance of staying in school.

-- Has saved the lives of an estimated 150,000 youth across the state of California, the nation and the world. In recognition of his work, Stanley Williams has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times and has been nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature four times.

An execution will silence this peacemaker, but it will not change the nature of the illegitimate evidence against Stanley Tookie Williams, who has always asserted his innocence, or the impact of race on the trial. The case relied on circumstantial evidence, built on testimony from individuals who, according to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had "less-than-clean backgrounds and incentives to lie in order to obtain leniency from the state in either charging or sentencing." Fingerprints and shoe prints were found at the crime scene, but none belonged to Stan and they have never been identified. With very little in their case against Stan, the prosecutor used racism to secure a conviction ˆ eliminating all African-Americans from the jury, shackling Williams and then using jungle-animal language in the closing argument. These injustices are cause for great concern for Californians who believe in preserving civil rights.

- EDUCATORS FOR TOOKIE -- SIGN ON NOW!

More than 60 educators have signed on to a letter urging California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to death row prisoner Stanley Tookie Williams. We took this initiative in the hopes that the collective voice of educators would send a powerful message calling for clemency.

To download a copy of the Educators for Tookie letter, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/downloads/TookieEducatorsLtr.pdf.

To sign the letter, send the following information to akim007@speakeasy.net: Name, Title, Name of institution (for identification purposes only), Home address, City, state and zip, E-mail address

- DONATE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses - so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

- EVERY WEEKDAY - Hawthorne, Calif. John 8:7, No Death Penalty candlelight vigils for Stan "Tookie" Williams Every weekday at 6 pm, 14501 Hindry Ave., at the corner of Hindry and the 405 Fwy (between McDonalds and Costco).

- NOVEMBER 26 - Annapolis, Md. Demonstrate at the Governor's Mansion Against the Execution of Wesley Baker. At 1 pm at the governor's mansion (College Avenue at Church Circle. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- NOVEMBER 27 - Rochester, N.Y. Planning Meeting for November 30 Day of Action At 4 pm at Java's on Gibbs St. Downtown

- NOVEMBER 28 - CHICAGO Film screening of "Redemption" At 5 pm, University of Chicago, School of Social Services, Room W1, 60th and Ellis.

- NOVEMBER 28 - Moraga, Calif. Learn More about Stan "Tookie" Williams General CEDP meeting about Stan, and to help plan for the November 30 National Day of Action. At 6 pm in Dante 114. For information, call 510-295-3290 or e-mail cedp@stmarys-ca.edu

- NOVEMBER 30 - Nationwide NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR STAN (please send your information)

Austin, Texas - Rally and tabling on the University of Texas campus. Featuring a display with Tookie's picture alongside other peacemakers like Ghandi, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King. Starting at 10 am, with a rally at noon, on the West Mall. For information, e-mail RandiJ42@satx.rr.com or call 210-274-6369.

Baltimore - Live From Death Row, with Maryland death row prisoner Vernon Evans. At 7 pm at the First Unitarian Church, 514 N. Charles St. (north of Franklin St.). For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

Berkeley, Calif. - Special screening of "Remdeption", introduced by Elaine Brown (Green Party activist, former Black Panther Party chairperson), Aimee Allison (Oakland Green Party, Persian Gulf War Contentious Objector) and Michelle Simon (Campaign to End the Death Penalty). At 7 pm at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, 3201 Adeline Street, near Ashby BART. Tickets are $2-$20 sliding scale. Sponsored by: Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Education Not Incarceration, Ella Baker Center -- Books Not Bars, Green Party of Alameda County, International Socialist Organization, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and Solidarity Bay Area. For more information, e-mail shelly245@juno.com.

Boston - Speakers panel and discussion on the struggle to save Stan. Featuring author and activist William Keach (one of the people who nominated Stan for a Nobel prize), and an exonerated death row prisoner. At 6:30 pm at Cabral Center, 1st Floor, African American Institute, Northeastern University. Take the Orange Line to Ruggles Station, or the Green Line to the NU T- Stop.

Chicago - Press conference and protest at Republican National Headquarters, 32 W. Randolph, at 12 Noon.

Columbus, Ohio - Screening of "Redemption." At Ohio State U., 3 pm, MLK Lounge, Hale Black Cultural Center (153 W. 12th Ave.). Sponsored by the Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams.

Fremont, Calif. - Demonstration on the Steps of Mission San Jose. At 7:15 am at 43300 Mission Blvd. (at the intersection of Washington). For information, call Faye at 510-791-8186.

Holyoke, Mass. - Screening of "Redemption." At 11 a.m. at Holyoke Community College, Donahue 378.

Los Angeles - Rally and press conference. At 9 am at Los Angeles City Hall, 200 North Spring St. A march to the Governor's office (300 S. Spring St.) will begin at approximately 10am.

Madison, Wis. - Rock Out/Speak Out to Save Tookie. A free show featuring Si Kahn, songwriter and social activist; Darby Tillis, exonerated death row inmate; Adrian Lomax, recently released Wisconsin prisoner and prison rights activist; and local hip-hop artists. At 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater Stage Door.

Moraga, Calif. - Information tabling at St. Mary's College at 11: 30 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be laptops and cell phones available for students to email and/or call the governor's office. At 8 pm, there will be a showing of the movie "Redemption" and a discussion afterwards, in Galileo 201.

New York - Press conference and protest for Stan at John Ashcroft's New York City appearance. At 5:45 pm at 115th and Broadway.

Northampton, Mass. - Screening of "Redemption." At 4 p.m. at the Media Education Foundation.

Rochester, N.Y. - Rally and press conference. At 12 Noon in front of the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange St.

Sacramento, Calif. - Rally and press conference. At Noon at City Hall, 915 I Street.

San Diego - Community forum on "Tookie, the Death Penalty and the Movement: Continuing the Struggle for Social Justice." At 6 pm at Springfield College, 5348 University Ave. Sponsored the Serudj Institute of Effective Socialization. E-mail tkalonji@hotmail.com for information.

San Francisco - Rally and press conference, featuring Barbara Becnel , Dolores Huerta, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Assemblyman Mark Leno and many more. At Noon at San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.

San Francisco - Speakout at San Francisco State University, beginning at 10 am. Call 415-317-5063 for information, or e-mail sfstatecedp@yahoo.com.

San Jose, Calif. - Rally and Press Conference. At Noon in front of City Hall, 801 N. 1st St. Sponsored by the Black Student Union of San Jose City College

San Rafael, Calif. - Vigil and demonstration sponsored by the Marin Chapter of Death Penalty Focus. At 4:30 pm at San Rafael Plaza (adjacent to 1000 Fourth St.).

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Rally and press conference, featuring Mayor Cynthia Matthews presenting a proclamation declaring the City of Santa Cruz to be an official "World City Against the Death Penalty"; Councilmember Tim Fitzmaurice, DPF, ACLU and more will give statements. At Noon at City Hall, 809 Center St.

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Panel with Angela Davis, Paul Ortiz, Lance Lindsey (Death Penalty Focus) and a special performance by Rainbow Theater. At 7:30 pm at UC-Santa Cruz, Earth and Marine Sciences building, Room B206. For information, call 510-325-0599 or e-mail iso_santacruz@hotmail.com.

Washington, D.C. - Screening of "Redemption." At 4:45 pm at the University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law, Building 39, Room 204, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW. For information, e-mail benk516@yahoo.com.

West Hollywood, Calif. - World Day Against the Death Penalty Day Program, featuring Mayor Abbe Land, Mayor Pro Tempore John Heilman, Assemblyman Paul Koretz, Mike Farrell, and more. Begins at 2 pm at West Hollywood Comprehensive Services Center, Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd.

Woodland, Calif. - Press Conference. At Noon at the Yolo County Courthouse, 725 Court St.

- DECEMBER 1 - Baltimore Prayer Service Against the Death Penalty At 6:30 pm at St. Vincent DePaul Church, Fayette and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 1 - Columbus, Ohio Speakout for Stan Tookie Williams Including readings from letters written to Tookie Williams and his books. At Noon at the Ohio Union, Ohio State University. Sponsored by Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams

- DECEMBER 1 - Greensboro, N.C. Screening of Redemption At the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

- DECEMBER 1 - San Diego Save Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at SDSU, Aztec Center, Calmecac Room, sponsored by the International Socialist Organization.

- DECEMBER 2 - Palo Alto, Calif. Screening of "Redemption" Viewing of the film, followed by discussion and letter-writing to ask the governor to grant clemency. At 7 pm at St. Alberts' Church, 1095 Channing Ave.

- DECEMBER 3 - Baltimore Demonstrate at the Supermax prison Protesting the pending execution of Wesley Baker and in support of Stan Tookie Williams. At 2 pm at the Supermax prison, Madison and Fallsway. For information, call 410-271-1099 or e-mail SaveVernon@excite.com.

- DECEMBER 3 - Los Angeles RALLY FOR CLEMENCY FOR TOOKIE Leimert Park at 12 Noon. All the groups working in the Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles are asking everyone to come out. For more information, call 310-404-1739 or e-mail cenddeathpenalty@yahoo.com

- DECEMBER 3 - New York City Screening of "Redemption" At the Bread Stuy Cafe, 403 Lewis Ave., Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Francisco Movie Screening of REDEMPTION Hosted by Danny Glover, Barbara Becnel and Kevin Epps, who will present a short program before the movie to explain the status of Stan's case and let people know how to get involved in the movement to stop the execution. At 5 pm at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (next to the 16th Street and Mission BART Station). This event is a fund-raiser for the San Francisco Save Tookie Coalition. Tickets are $5 for students/youth/seniors and $10 for the general public. Co-sponsors and endorsers welcome; donations appreciated. Contact Danielle at Danielle@vanguardsf.org or 415-581-2512 for more information about endorsing or co-sponsoring the event. Tickets available at http://www.victoriatheatre.org or at the door.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Quentin, Calif. Vigil and Action by Religious Imperative to Stop State Murder Continuous vigil and action to begin at San Quentin Prison's Main Gate. Beginning Sunday, December 4th from 2 pm to 4 pm and continuing on December 5th beginning at 10am.

- DECEMBER 6 - New York City Town Hall Meeting to Save Stan Tookie Williams Featuring Manning Marable (author and activist), Ras Baraka (deputy mayor of Newark, N.J.), Anthony Papa (author and former victim of the Rockefeller drug laws), and Yusef Salaam (exonerated in the Central Park jogger case).

- DECEMBER 6 - San Rafael, Calif. Capital Punishment: Who Are We Executing? A film and discussion about death row and the death penalty. At 7 pm at the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, 1520 Grand Ave., corner of Grand and Acacia Streets.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway. For information, call 619-804-1685 or e-mail tkalonji@Hotmail.com.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

- DECEMBER 9 - Los Angeles Screening of "After Innocence" A film about the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated--innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. At 7 pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd. Sponsored by the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty. For information, call : Project:Involve at 310-432-1280.

- DECEMBER 11 - San Francisco Sister Helen Prejean Speaks One of the world's best-known opponents of the death penalty speaks out at an ACLU event. At 2 pm at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth Street at Mission. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students and low income, $250 table sponsor.

- DECEMBER 12 - San Francisco to San Quentin Walk for Abolition The Walk For Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7 am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6 pm. For information, contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean at 510-895-8203 or email l.grosjean@sbcglobal.net.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case: http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

20 days. The clock is ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-11-23T11:19:00.000-08:00

CONTENTS
- Reports and news about Tookie
- Upcoming events
- Where to find more information

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REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- STAN'S ATTORNEYS ASK FOR CLEMENCY AND RESPOND TO THE SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST HIM

Press release: "On Monday, November 21, 2005, attorneys for Stanley Tookie Williams submitted their reply petition to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in support of clemency. The petition for Williams, a five-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, highlights his powerful story of redemption and the contribution he has made to steer inner-city youth away from crime and gangs. Recognizing his positive contribution to society, more than 47,000 people have signed a citizens' petition in support of clemency at www.savetookie.org and thousands more without computer access have signed a paper petition.

"In the reply petition, attorneys for Williams, led by Peter Fleming Jr., from Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt and Mosle, write that the District Attorney is dismissive of the needs of the countless disadvantaged youth that Williams has helped. To make their case, attorneys ask the governor to look no further than his words to guide his decision.

"'The American dream? In the inner cities, children don't even dare to dream,' Schwarzenegger wrote on August 16, 2000 in the Los Angeles Times. 'Instead, they're told that they're trapped...We can help these children bridge the gaps created by hardship and hopelessness. We can help them get the drive, focus, attention, skills and pride that lead to hope.'...

"The reply petition also disproves and calls into question the tactics of law enforcement and prison officials to smear Williams and efforts to win clemency. On Tuesday, November 15, 2005, a representative from the Fontana Police Department told print and television media that a warrant had been issued for Lafayette Jones, a known sex offender, for raping a 13-year old child. The police incorrectly, and without evidence, identified Mr. Jones as the son of Stanley Tookie Williams. Janice Anderson, the mother of Mr. Jones, stated in a sworn affidavit that her son is not the son of Stanley Tookie Williams, 52, but is the son of a 59-year old man named Stanley Williams.

"In a sworn declaration, Mrs. Anderson writes, 'The man known in the news media as Lafayette Jones, who is a fugitive from a rape charge is not the son of Stanley Tookie Williams. I am Jones' mother.' "Mrs. Anderson, after hearing the false report that her son's father was Stanley Tookie Williams, called Fontana Police immediately. She was told by a police sergeant that 'it did not matter.' The sergeant excused the lie as a police tactic.

"This was followed two days later, on Thursday, November 17, 2005, in a statement from Vernell Crittendon, the spokesperson for San Quentin State Prison, that he suspected 'Stanley Williams of orchestrating gangland crimes from his cell.' The inflammatory allegation, which was repeated in print and television media, is false and contradicts official San Quentin documents. An official San Quentin Institutional Classification Committee (ICC) Summary dated August 5, 2004, states: 'Lt. G. Fuller stated that during his assignment in East Block he has not observed Williams in any gang involvement. ICC commended Williams on his positive program over the last 10 years. Williams thanked ICC for their respectful treatment.'

"The San Quentin report is supported by statements from the Los Angeles Police Department whose spokeswoman, April Harding, recently stated there is no evidence of any illegal gang activity on the part of Stanley Tookie Williams.

"Daniel Vasquez, warden at San Quentin from 1983 to 1993, was recently quoted as saying, in reference to Crittendon's statements, that he had never seen such an inflammatory statement in a news release from the prison, and that it was 'like they're trying to drum up business for death row.'

"The petition goes on to state that, 'This type of conduct from law enforcement is incompatible with justice. To the contrary, it is official misconduct.' "In their petition, attorneys for Williams conclude, 'the District Attorney ignores the needs of California's youth and the sense of hope and future that Stanley Williams brings to so many who are disadvantaged. In the end, we ask what makes sense. We ask what is practical reality. Giving Stanley Williams life is the right decision because it does the most good.' "A full copy of the "Reply Petition for Executive Clemency on Behalf of Stanley Tookie Williams" can be found at http://www.cm-p.com."

- 1,000th EXECUTION EXPECTED ON NOVEMBER 30

The 1000th person to be executed since the death penalty was reinstated in the 1970s may take place on November 30th. Virginia death row prisoner Robin Lovitt is scheduled to be put to death on November 30. Anti-death penalty activists have various actions, vigils and speakouts planned to take place across the country. For more information, go to: http://www.1000executions.org/ For a listing of events nationwide, go to http://www.1000executions.org/events.php The November 30 Day of Action events planned for Stan Tookie Williams can help draw attention to the fight overall for abolition and the need to stop once and for all this senseless barbarity. People organizing activities for November 30 for Stan should come up with creative ways to tie in the question of the 1,000th execution.

- SIGNATURE AD FOR STAN TOOKIE WILLIAMS

From Cameron Sturdevant: The Save Tookie Coalition needs your help to stop the execution of Stanley Tookie Williams, scheduled to take place in California's San Quentin prison on December 13. Specifically, we need your generous financial contribution--any amount you can give--to fund three full-page advertisements that we hope to run in the Sacramento Bee (to inform state politicians), Daily Variety (to inform the Hollywood entertainment industry), and the San Francisco Bay View (to reach the African American community across California).The text of the ad is at the end of this message. You can "sign" the ad by sending a message to savetookie@nodeathpenalty.org. Space permitting, your name will appear in the print ad. All others will be listed on the website savetookie.org. Time is of the essence--checks should be sent to: Vanguard Public Foundation -- Save Tookie, 383 Rhode Island St., Suite 301, San Francisco, CA 94103.

Text of ad:

Saving Stanley Tookie Williams will save lives: Don't silence a voice for peace

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger, Stanley Tookie Williams reaches out to the world with a message of peace. Unless you intervene, this powerful voice will be lost: This Nobel Peace Prize nominee will be executed by the state of California on December 13th. At just 17 years old, in 1971, Stan co-founded the Crips street gang. In 1981, he was convicted of four murders and sentenced to death, though he has always maintained his innocence of these crimes. While in prison, Stan underwent a spiritual transformation. He renounced gang life and issued a public apology for his role in promoting gang violence. He decided that he would dedicate the rest of his life to helping children make better decisions than he had made. To this end, he:

-- Wrote nine children's books about the dangers of gang life that have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people all over the world.

-- Developed a Protocol for Street Peace which has been used by rival gangs around the country and the world to broker gang truces.

-- Speaks to school children of all ages, teachers, juvenile offenders, gang members, school principals and many others, whenever possible, about ending gang violence and the importance of staying in school.

-- Has saved the lives of an estimated 150,000 youth across the state of California, the nation and the world. In recognition of his work, Stanley Williams has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times and has been nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature four times.

An execution will silence this peacemaker, but it will not change the nature of the illegitimate evidence against Stanley Tookie Williams, who has always asserted his innocence, or the impact of race on the trial. The case relied on circumstantial evidence, built on testimony from individuals who, according to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had "less-than-clean
backgrounds and incentives to lie in order to obtain leniency from the state in either charging or sentencing." Fingerprints and shoe prints were found at the crime scene, but none belonged to Stan and they have never been identified. With verylittle in their case against Stan, the prosecutor used racism to secure a conviction ˆ eliminating all African-Americans from the jury, shackling Williams and then using jungle-animal language in the closing argument. These injustices are cause for great concern for Californians who believe in preserving civil rights.

- EDUCATORS FOR TOOKIE -- SIGN ON NOW!

More than 60 educators have signed on to a letter urging California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to death row prisoner Stanley Tookie Williams. We took this initiative in the hopes that the collective voice of educators would send a powerful message calling for clemency.

To download a copy of the Educators for Tookie letter, visit
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/downloads/TookieEducatorsLtr.pdf.

To sign the letter, send the following information to akim007@speakeasy.net: Name, Title, Name of institution (for identification purposes only), Home address, City, state and zip, E-mail address

- JESSE JACKSON SPEAKS OUT FOR STAN

From KXTV: "Anti-death penalty activists demonstrated at the State Capitol Monday in support of clemency for convicted murderer and Crips gang co-founder Stanley "Tookie" Williams. "Rev. Jesse Jackson was among those urging the governor to spare the life of 51-year-old Williams. The San Quentin death row inmate is scheduled to die by lethal injection on December 13. He has exhausted all legal appeals, and at this point his only hope is a grant of clemency from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Read the full article: http://www.kxtv.com/storyfull2.aspx?storyid=14405

- TOM HAYDEN: THE FUNDAMENTALISTS WHO WANT TOOKIE DEAD

Published at HuffingtonPost.com: "Dear Governor: As the execution date is drawing near, once again I suggest that you convene a discussion between the contending parties to help you reach a decision. As your legal affairs secretary has written, 'clemency decisions are never easy,' and 'only after serious consideration and careful deliberation of this matter will the Governor make his decision.'"

Read the full article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-hayden/the-fundamentalists-who-w_b_11040.html

- DONATE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses - so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

UPCOMING EVENTS

- NOVEMBER 23 - Moraga, Calif. Information Tabling at Saint Mary's College At 11:30 a.m.

- EVERY WEEKDAY - Hawthorne, Calif. John 8:7, No Death Penalty candlelight vigils for Stan "Tookie" Williams Every weekday at 6 pm, 14501 Hindry Ave., at the corner of Hindry and the 405 Fwy (between McDonalds and Costco).

- NOVEMBER 27 - Rochester, N.Y. Planning Meeting for November 30 Day of Action At 4 pm at Java's on Gibbs St. Downtown

- NOVEMBER 28 - CHICAGO Film screening of "Redemption" At 5 pm, University of Chicago, School of Social Services, Room W1, 60th and Ellis.

- NOVEMBER 28 - Moraga, Calif. Learn More about Stan "Tookie" Williams General CEDP meeting about Stan, and to help plan for the November 30 National Day of Action. At 6 pm in Dante 114. For information, call 510-295-3290 or e-mail cedp@stmarys-ca.edu

- NOVEMBER 30 - Nationwide NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR STAN (please send your information)

Austin, Texas - Rally and tabling on the University of Texas campus. Featuring a display with Tookie's picture alongside other peacemakers like Ghandi, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King. Starting at 10 am, with a rally at noon, on the West Mall. For information, e-mail RandiJ42@satx.rr.com or call 210-274-6369.

Berkeley, Calif. - Special screening of Redeption, introduced by Elaine Brown (Green Party activist, former Black Panther Party chairperson), Aimee Allison (Oakland Green Party, Persian Gulf War Contentious Objector) and Michelle Simon (Campaign to End the Death Penalty). At 7 pm at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, 3201 Adeline Street, near Ashby BART. Tickets
are $2-$20 sliding scale. Sponsored by: Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Education Not Incarceration, Ella Baker Center -- Books Not Bars, Green Party of Alameda County, International Socialist Organization, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and Solidarity Bay Area. For more information, e-mail shelly245@juno.com.

Boston - Speakers panel and discussion on the struggle to save Stan. Featuring author and activist William Keach (one of the people who nominated Stan for a Nobel prize), and an exonerated death row prisoner. At 6:30 pm at Cabral Center, 1st Floor, African American Institute, Northeastern University. Take the Orange Line to Ruggles Station, or the Green Line to the NU T- Stop.

Chicago - Press conference and protest at Republican National Headquarters, 32 W. Randolph, at 12 Noon.

Columbus, Ohio - Screening of "Redemption." At Ohio State U., 3 pm, MLK Lounge, Hale Black Cultural Center (153 W. 12th Ave.). Sponsored by the Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams.

Holyoke, Mass. - Screening of "Redemption." At 11 a.m. at Holyoke Community College, Donahue 378.

Madison, Wis. - Rock Out/Speak Out to Save Tookie. A free show featuring Si Kahn, songwriter and social activist; Darby Tillis, exonerated death row inmate; Adrian Lomax, recently released Wisconsin prisoner and prison rights activist; and local hip-hop artists. At 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater Stage Door.

Moraga, Calif - Information tabling at St. Mary's College at 11: 30 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be laptops and cell phones available for students to email and/or call the governor's office. At 8 pm, there will be a showing of the movie "Redemption" and a discussion afterwards, in Galileo 201.

New York - Press conference and protest for Stan at John Ashcroft's New York City appearance. At 5:45 pm at 115th and Broadway.

Northampton, Mass. - Screening of "Redemption." At 4 p.m. at the Media Education Foundation.

Rochester, N.Y. - Rally and press conference. At 12 Noon in front of the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange St.

San Diego - Community forum on "Tookie, the Death Penalty and the Movement: Continuing the Struggle for Social Justice," sponsored the Serudj Institute of Effective Socialization. E-mail tkalonji@hotmail.com for information.

San Francisco - Speakout at San Francisco State University, beginning at 10 am. Call 415-317-5063 for information, or e-mail sfstatecedp@yahoo.com.

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Panel with Angela Davis, Paul Ortiz and a special performance by Rainbow Theater. At 7:30 pm at UC-Santa Cruz, Earth and Marine Sciences building, Room B206. For information, e-mail iso_santacruz@hotmail.com.

- DECEMBER 1 - Greensboro, N.C. Screening of Redemption At the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

- DECEMBER 1 - San Diego Save Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at SDSU, Aztec Center, Calmecac Room, sponsored by the International Socialist Organization.

- DECEMBER 3 - Los Angeles RALLY FOR CLEMENCY FOR TOOKIE Leimert Park at 12 Noon. All the groups working in the Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles are asking everyone to come out. For more information, call 310-404-1739 or e-mail cenddeathpenalty@yahoo.com

- DECEMBER 4 - San Francisco Movie Screening of REDEMPTION Hosted by Danny Glover. At 5 pm at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (next to the 16th Street and Mission BART Station).

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

- DECEMBER 12 - Columbus, Ohio Speakout for Stan Tookie Williams Including readings from letters written to Tookie Williams and his books. At Noon at the Ohio Union, Ohio State University. Sponsored by Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case:
http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site: http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

21 Days. The Clock Is Ticking. Save Tookie!

2005-11-22T09:03:00.000-08:00

There's only 21 days left to save Stan Tookie Williams.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

CONTENTS - Reports and news about Tookie - Upcoming events - Where to find
more information

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- EDUCATORS FOR TOOKIE FORMED

The Campaign to End the Death Penalty is calling on educators nationwide to sign on to a letter urging California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to death row prisoner Stanley Tookie Williams. The collective voice of educators can send a powerful message calling for clemency. Please sign on to this letter today, since Governor Schwarzenegger can make his decision any day. This effort is being led by Professors Philip Gasper and William Keach who have previously nominated Stan for the Nobel Peace Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature, respectively. Please see their call to
action below. We've already gotten more than 20 signers, including Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn.

To download a copy of the Educators for Tookie letter, visit
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/downloads/TookieEducatorsLtr.pdf.

To sign the letter, send the following information to akim007@speakeasy.net:
Name
Title
Name of institution (for identification purposes only)
Home address
City, state and zip
E-mail address

- THE FINAL CALL ON THE STRUGGLE TO SAVE STAN

From The Final Call: "After the U.S. Supreme Court denied peacemaker and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Stanley "Tookie" Williams' appeal October 11, and the State of California set an execution date for December 13, approximately 50 gang interventionists and anti-death penalty activists took to the streets Nov. 5 in front of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Schiatzi restaurant and cigar bar to protest the ruling and the death penalty... "'We're hoping that the governor will do the right thing and spare Stan's life, so that he can continue to do the outstanding work that saves humanity, work that he's been doing for the past decade,' Ms. Becnel stated. 'Other than being a little sleepy, he gets up very early, he is in very good spirits and it's because, he says, he has absolute faith in God. He knows that he is innocent of the crimes for which he was convicted and has faith that God will not allow him to be executed for crimes that he did not do, and a criminal justice system that demonstrated the worse in America's history, both in racism and the administration of justice, as well as prosecutorial and police misconduct...' "Alison McKenna, a community activist and social work clinician who utilizes Mr. Williams' books, opined on how that could be: "A Black person is 19 times more likely to get the death penalty for killing a White person than a White person is for killing a Black person. Stanley 'Tookie' Williams redeemed himself, the system did not do anything for him," she stated.

Read the full article:
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_2278.shtml

- STAN INTERVIEWED ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO

From NPR's Morning Edition: Crips co-founder Tookie Williams faces execution in California on Dec. 13 unless the governor grants him clemency. Williams, convicted of four murders, has become a noted anti-gang crusader, writer of children's books, and a Nobel Prize nominee while in prison at San Quentin.

Hear the interview at:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5021167

- PHIL GASPER SPEAKS OUT FOR STAN ON FOX NEWS -- TAKE TWO

Phil Gasper, who has nominated Stan for several Nobel prizes, is scheduled to appear on the Fox News program DaySide to talk about Stan Tookie Williams on Tuesday for about 5 minutes between 10 and 11 am Pacific Time. His scheduled interview yesterday was delayed.

- ONLINE POLL FOR STAN

CNN is running an online poll on whether Gov. Schwarzenegger should grant clemency for Stan. Right now, our side is losing. Please take a moment to vote, and let's try to change that:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/11/17/crips.execution.ap/index.html

- DONATE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR EFFORTS

The Campaign would very much appreciate any donations to help offset the costs of organizing to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams. The Campaign is sending Shujaa Graham, a former San Quentin death row prisoner, and Alice Kim, a national organizer with the CEDP, to California to help the on-the-ground efforts to stop the execution. We are asking for your help to cover these expenses - so please send what you can today. Checks can be sent directly to our P.O. box: CEDP, PO Box 25730, Chicago, IL 60625. If you would prefer to donate online, you can go to our Web site at
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org and click on the donation button for instructions on how to do it. Thank you all!!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

UPCOMING EVENTS

- NOVEMBER 22 - Los Angeles Save Tookie Committee Regular Weekly Meeting Every Tuesday at 7 pm at Bethel AME Church at 7900 S. Western Avenue.

- NOVEMBER 22 - Columbus, Ohio Screening of "Redemption" At 7 pm, Ohio State U., Hagerty Hall Room 050 (1775 College Road). Sponsored by the Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams

- NOVEMBER 22 - New York City Save Tookie Williams meeting At 7:30 pm at Columbia University, Hamilton Hall, Room 602. For information, e-mail stephschwartz@gmail.com.

- NOVEMBER 22 - San Francisco CEDP Chapter at SFSU Weekly Meeting Every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the SFSU Student Center, Rosa Parks lounge.

- NOVEMBER 23 - Moraga, Calif. Information Tabling at Saint Mary's College At 11:30 a.m.

- NOVEMBER 28 - Moraga, Calif. Learn More about Stan "Tookie" Williams General CEDP meeting about Stan, and to help plan for the November 30 National Day of Action. At 6 pm in Dante 114. For information, call 510-295-3290 or e-mail cedp@stmarys-ca.edu

- NOVEMBER 30 - Nationwide NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR STAN (please send your information)

Berkeley, Calif. - Special screening of Redeption, introduced by Elaine Brown (Green Party activist, former Black Panther Party chairperson), Aimee Allison (Oakland Green Party, Persian Gulf War Contentious Objector) and Michelle Simon (Campaign to End the Death Penalty). At 7 pm at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, 3201 Adeline Street, near Ashby BART. Tickets are $2-$20 sliding scale. Sponsored by: Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Education Not Incarceration, Ella Baker Center -- Books Not Bars, Green Party of Alameda County, International Socialist Organization, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and Solidarity Bay Area. For more information, e-mail shelly245@juno.com.

Chicago - Press conference and protest at Republican National Headquarters, 32 W. Randolph, at 12 Noon.

Columbus, Ohio - Screening of "Redemption." At Ohio State U., 3 pm, MLK Lounge, Hale Black Cultural Center (153 W. 12th Ave.). Sponsored by the Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams.

Moraga, Calif - Information tabling at St. Mary's College at 11: 30 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be laptops and cell phones available for students to email and/or call the governor's office. At 8 pm, there will be a showing of the movie "Redemption" and a discussion afterwards, in Galileo 201.

New York - Press conference and protest for Stan at John Ashcroft's New York City appearance. At 5:45 pm at 115th and Broadway.

San Diego - Community forum on "Tookie, the Death Penalty and the Movement: Continuing the Struggle for Social Justice," sponsored the Serudj Institute of Effective Socialization. E-mail tkalonji@hotmail.com for information.

San Francisco - Speakout at San Francisco State University, beginning at 10 am. Call 415-317-5063 for information, or e-mail sfstatecedp@yahoo.com.

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Panel with Angela Davis, Paul Ortiz and a special performance by Rainbow Theater. At 7:30 pm at UC-Santa Cruz, Earth and Marine Sciences building, Room B206. For information, e-mail iso_santacruz@hotmail.com.

- DECEMBER 1 - Greensboro, N.C. Screening of Redemption At the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

- DECEMBER 1 - San Diego Save Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at SDSU, Aztec Center, Calmecac Room, sponsored by the International Socialist Organization.

- DECEMBER 3 - Los Angeles RALLY FOR CLEMENCY FOR TOOKIE Leimert Park at 12 Noon. All the groups working in the Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles are asking everyone to come out. For more information, call 310-404-1739 or
e-mail cenddeathpenalty@yahoo.com

- DECEMBER 4 - San Francisco Movie Screening of REDEMPTION Hosted by Danny Glover. At 5 pm at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (next to the 16th Street and Mission BART Station).

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case:
http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site:
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

23 days...The clock is ticking... Save Tookie!

2005-11-20T21:36:00.000-08:00

There's only 23 days left to save Stan Tookie Williams. People around the country are taking action to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams, the California death row prisoner who is scheduled to be executed on December
13. From now until that date, we will send out a regular action alert to report on events held in support of Stan, let people know about efforts currently underway, and how you can get involved today. If you or your group have an event to report about, or activities planned, please e-mail us at marlene@nodeathpenalty.org.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

CONTENTS - Reports and news about Tookie - Upcoming events - Where to find more information
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- RALLY FOR STAN AT SAN QUENTIN DRAWS 1,000 PEOPLE

On Saturday, some 1,000 people rallied outside the gates of San Quentin to call on Gov. Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to Stan Tookie Williams. Rapper Snoop Dogg was the featured speaker among several dozen religious leaders, anti-death penalty activists and other supporters of Stan. Barbara Becnel, Stan's advocate, introduced the rally and was one of several MCs.

The multiracial crowd consisted of activists from various anti-death penalty organizations, religious groups, the Nation of Islam, political and social justice organizations, community action groups and gang intervention organizations. The message from all was clear: don't kill a peacemaker. Project Cry No More, a group made up of family members who have lost loved ones to gang violence, was represented by a speaker at the rally, and is part of the growing number of voices calling for clemency for Stan. The rally made front-page news in many California newspapers. Below are three stories.

Read the San Francisco Chronicle story:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=Stan+Tookie+Williams&btnG=Search+News

Read the Los Angeles Times story:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-williams20nov20,0,2781315.story?coll=la-tot-promo

Read the San Jose Mercury News story:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/13212548.htm

- PHIL GASPER SPEAKS OUT FOR STAN ON FOX NEWS

Phil Gasper, who has nominated Stan for several Nobel prizes, is scheduled to appear on the Fox News program DaySide to talk about Stan Tookie Williams on Monday for about 5 minutes between 10 and 11 am Pacific Time.

- FAX THE GOVERNOR

This Web site allows you to send free faxes to Schwarzenegger about Stan's case. Go to http://local-impact.org/current.html#tookie

- OPEN LETTER TO GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER

From Tom Kerr, published on CounterPunch: "I write this letter on faith that you are not, at core, the Terminator, for we know that the Terminator would not hesitate to execute people in cold blood, and my appeal to grant clemency to Stanley "Tookie" Williams would fall on deaf ears. As you know, Crips co-founder, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and writer, Tookie Williams is
scheduled for execution on December 13, 2005. I write with the conviction, rather, that you identify with Kindergarten Cop hard when necessary, soft when humanity requires it."

Read the full article: http://www.counterpunch.org/kerr11182005.html

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

UPCOMING EVENTS

- NOVEMBER 21 - Moraga, Calif. Petition Drive at Saint Mary's College
Housing Members of the CEDP will go to every dorm and ask students to sign a
petition calling on Gov. Schwarzenegger to grant clemency. At 8:45 pm.

- NOVEMBER 21 - San Francisco Bay Area Anti-Death Penalty Coalition Weekly
Meeting Every Monday At 6:30 pm, 1663 Mission St., ACLU office, 4th floor

- NOVEMBER 22 - Los Angeles Save Tookie Committee Regular Weekly Meeting
Every Tuesday at 7 pm at Bethel AME Church at 7900 S. Western Avenue.

- NOVEMBER 22 - Columbus, Ohio Screening of "Redemption" At 7 pm, Ohio State
U., Hagerty Hall Room 050 (1775 College Road). Sponsored by the Campus
Committee to Save Tookie Williams

- NOVEMBER 22 - San Francisco CEDP Chapter at SFSU Weekly Meeting Every
Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the SFSU Student Center, Rosa Parks lounge.

- NOVEMBER 23 - Moraga, Calif. Information Tabling at Saint Mary's College
At 11:30 a.m.

- NOVEMBER 28 - Moraga, Calif. Learn More about Stan "Tookie" Williams
General CEDP meeting about Stan, and to help plan for the November 30
National Day of Action. At 6 pm in Dante 114. For information, call
510-295-3290 or e-mail cedp@stmarys-ca.edu

- NOVEMBER 30 - Nationwide NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR STAN (please send your
information)

Chicago - Press conference and protest at Republican National Headquarters,
32 W. Randolph, at 12 Noon.

Columbus, Ohio - Screening of "Redemption." At Ohio State U., 3 pm, MLK
Lounge, Hale Black Cultural Center (153 W. 12th Ave.). Sponsored by the
Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams.

Moraga, Calif - Information tabling at St. Mary's College at 11: 30 a.m.-2
p.m. There will be laptops and cell phones available for students to email
and/or call the governor's office. At 8 pm, there will be a showing of the
movie "Redemption" and a discussion afterwards, in Galileo 201.

San Diego - Community forum on "Tookie, the Death Penalty and the Movement:
Continuing the Struggle for Social Justice," sponsored the Serudj Institute
of Effective Socialization. E-mail tkalonji@hotmail.com for information.

San Francisco - Speakout at San Francisco State University, beginning at 10
am. Call 415-317-5063 for information, or e-mail sfstatecedp@yahoo.com.

- DECEMBER 1 - Greensboro, N.C. Screening of Redemption At the University of
North Carolina-Greensboro.

- DECEMBER 1 - San Diego Save Stan Tookie Williams At 7:30 pm at SDSU, Aztec
Center, Calmecac Room, sponsored by the International Socialist
Organization.

- DECEMBER 3 - Los Angeles RALLY FOR CLEMENCY FOR TOOKIE Leimert Park at 12
Noon. All the groups working in the Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles are
asking everyone to come out. For more information, call 310-404-1739 or
e-mail cenddeathpenalty@yahoo.com

- DECEMBER 4 - San Francisco Movie Screening of REDEMPTION Hosted by Danny
Glover. At 5 pm at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (next to the 16th
Street and Mission BART Station).

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Vigil, Press Conference, Rally and Demonstration At
Noon at the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway.

- DECEMBER 7 - San Diego Screening of Redemption Followed by a discussion of
death penalty work and the campaign to save Tookie Williams. At 6:30 pm in
City College Room B103, sponsored by Resistencia Estudiantil.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case:
http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site:
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

25 DAYS TO SAVE STAN TOOKIE WILLIAMS

2005-11-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

Campaign to End the Death Penalty Action Alert

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

CONTENTS - Reports and news about Tookie - Upcoming events - Where to find more information

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

REPORTS AND NEWS ABOUT TOOKIE

- SPEAKING OUT ON KPFA

Yesterday, Stan supporters Cameron Sturdevant and Phil Gasper were interviewed on the Bay Area radio station KPFA about Stan's case, and they did a great job in publicizing the struggle. The interview has lots of information about the case, and also about the upcoming "Save the Peacemaker" rally at San Quentin. This is only the most recent radio show about Stan's case--Barbara Becnel and others have been interviewed numerous times. This is a great idea for activists to follow up. Try to get your local community or campus radio station to report on Stan's case and the struggle to save him.

Listen to Phil and Cameron:
http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=11199

- MEETING FOR STAN IN GERMANY!

From Michael Schiffmann of the Freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal group in Heidelberg: Tonight in the English Department of the University of Heidelberg, Germany, we had a successful screening of the film on Tookie "Redemption." Despite the late hour, about 30 students took part and were interested enough to stay for close to 3 hours, listening to the intro,
watching the film and discussing it afterwards. My best greetings to all abolitionists.

- SPECIAL BUTTON OFFER

The Campaign is producing new button for the Save Tookie struggle-it's white and black and says "SAVE TOOKIE" in big letters. They'll be ready to ship by early next week. Right now, we've got a special offer: Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. To order, call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA ON STAN

From Amnesty International: "California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger should recognize the extraordinary facts in Stanley Williams' case and commute his death sentence. The alternative would be to send the message to gang members around the world that "there are no second chances in the eyes of justice...that in some cases, killing is right."

Read the full article:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGUSA20051117001

- SCHWARZENEGGER QUESTIONED ABOUT STAN IN CHINA!

From Bakersfield Online: "On the decision whether to grant clemency to Stanley Tookie Williams, the founder of the Crips street gang who is scheduled to be executed Dec. 13 in California, Schwarzenegger said he was "dreading" the decision."

Read the full story: http://www.bakersfieldonline.us/news/read/3/54524

- LA OFFICERS AND PROSECUTORS OUT FOR BLOOD

From the Los Angeles Times: "Los Angeles' top law enforcement officers today urged Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to have no mercy for Stanley Tookie Williams, the gang co-founder convicted of four murders who is to be executed Dec. 13... "James Garrett, his wife, Esther, and a man named Samuel Coleman testified that Williams told them he had committed the murders. Years later, Coleman filed a sworn declaration saying that he was severely beaten by police and that he was offered immunity in exchange for testifying against Williams. The Garretts were facing criminal charges at the time and later received probation on those charges... "No physical evidence linked Williams to Owens' murder. The key witness against Williams was Alfred
Coward, who testified that he, Williams and two other men went to the store to rob it and that Williams shot Owens. Coward testified under a grant of immunity from prosecution. He is now in prison in Canada for killing a man during a robbery."

Read the full article:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-111705tookie_lat,0,7854003.story?coll=la-home-headlines

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

UPCOMING EVENTS

- NOVEMBER 19 - San Quentin Prison DON'T KILL TOOKIE: SAVE THE PEACEMAKER
RALLY Featuring Snoop Dogg, starting at 10 a.m. For more information, contact Crystal Bybee at 510-333-7966, or e-mail crystal@nodeathpenalty.org.

- NOVEMBER 19 - New York City Protest to Save Stan Tookie Williams Meet at 12:30 pm at 125th and Lenox Ave.

- NOVEMBER 19 - New York City Call to Action Meeting: Save Tookie Williams A meeting for all New York area anti-prison and anti-death penalty organizations and individuals to come together and strategize avenues for action to save Tookie Williams. At 3 pm at St. Mary's Church of Harlem, 521 W. 125th St., between Broadway and Amsterdam.

- NOVEMBER 21 - Moraga, Calif. Petition Drive at Saint Mary's College
Housing Members of the CEDP will go to every dorm and ask students to sign a petition calling on Gov. Schwarzenegger to grant clemency. At 8:45 pm.

- NOVEMBER 21 - San Francisco Bay Area Anti-Death Penalty Coalition Weekly
Meeting Every Monday At 6:30 pm, 1663 Mission St., ACLU office, 4th floor

- NOVEMBER 22 - Los Angeles Save Tookie Committee Regular Weekly Meeting
Every Tuesday at 7 pm at Bethel AME Church at 7900 S. Western Avenue.

- NOVEMBER 22 - Columbus, Ohio Screening of "Redemption" At 7 pm, Ohio State
U., Hagerty Hall Room 050 (1775 College Road). Sponsored by the Campus
Committee to Save Tookie Williams

- NOVEMBER 22 - San Francisco CEDP Chapter at SFSU Weekly Meeting Every
Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the SFSU Student Center, Rosa Parks lounge.

- NOVEMBER 23 - Moraga, Calif. Information Tabling at Saint Mary's College
At 11:30 a.m.

- NOVEMBER 28 - Moraga, Calif. Learn More about Stan "Tookie" Williams General CEDP meeting about Stan, and to help plan for the November 30 National Day of Action. At 6 pm in Dante 114. For information, call 510-295-3290 or e-mail cedp@stmarys-ca.edu

- NOVEMBER 30 - Nationwide NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR STAN (please send your information)

Chicago - Press conference and protest at Republican National Headquarters, 32 W. Randolph, at 12 Noon.

Columbus, Ohio - Screening of "Redemption." At Ohio State U., 3 pm, MLK Lounge, Hale Black Cultural Center (153 W. 12th Ave.). Sponsored by the Campus Committee to Save Tookie Williams.

Moraga, Calif - Information tabling at St. Mary's College at 11: 30 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be laptops and cell phones available for students to email and/or call the governor's office. At 8 pm, there will be a showing of the movie "Redemption" and a discussion afterwards, in Galileo 201.

San Francisco - Speakout at San Francisco State University, beginning at 10 am. Call 415-317-5063 for information, or e-mail sfstatecedp@yahoo.com.

- DECEMBER 3 - Los Angeles RALLY FOR CLEMENCY FOR TOOKIE Leimert Park at 12 Noon. All the groups working in the Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles are asking everyone to come out. For more information, call 310-404-1739 or e-mail cenddeathpenalty@yahoo.com

- DECEMBER 4 - San Francisco Movie Screening of REDEMPTION Hosted by Danny Glover. At 5 pm at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (next to the 16th Street and Mission BART Station).

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case:
http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, visit http://www.nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available at Blockbuster.

Get "Save Tookie" buttons from the Campaign to sell to supporters. Get 25 buttons for $20, and shipping is free. Call the CEDP national office at 773-955-4841 to order.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site: http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site:
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.

26 DAYS TO SAVE STAN TOOKIE WILLIAMS

2005-11-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

Stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams!

There's only 26 days left to save Stan Tookie Williams.

People around the country are taking action to stop the execution of Stan Tookie Williams, the California death row prisoner who is scheduled to be executed on December 13.

From now until that date, we will send out a regular action alert to report on events held in support of Stan, let people know about efforts currently underway, and how you can get involved today.

If you or your group have an event to report about, or activities planned, please e-mail us at marlene@nodeathpenalty.org.

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION NOV. 30

2005-11-17T20:42:00.000-08:00

The Campaign to End the Death Penalty, along with the California Save Tookie Campaign, is calling for a NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION to SAVE TOOKIE on Wednesday, November 30.

The clock is ticking for California death row prisoner, Stanley Tookie Williams. He is scheduled to be executed on December 13, 2005. That is exactly 33 days from today (Thursday, November 10). That means we have exactly 33 days to do everything we can to STOP Tookie's scheduled execution.

We are calling on California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to grant Tookie clemency. Tookie, who co-founded the Los Angeles Crips gang when he was 17 years old, turned his life around while on death row. He wrote nine children's books from his cell on San Quentin's death row about the harsh realities of gang life. He dedicated his life on death row to helping kids stay out of gangs. For his efforts, he was awarded a Presidential Call to Service Award earlier this year and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times.

We cannot allow the state of California to silence Tookie's powerful voice for peace. Start planning now to show your support for Tookie on Nov 30.

* SET UP AN INFORMATIONAL TABLE about Tookie's case.
--Hand out fact sheets about Tookie and collect signatures on petitions to be sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
--Make cell phones available for people to call the governor's office on the spot.
--If you're on a campus, set up laptops so that students can e-mail the governor right there and then.

* HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE with social justice leaders calling for clemency for Tookie.

* ORGANIZE A RALLY or a picket in your city. Call a speak out for Tookie on your campus.

* HOST A SCREENING of the movie "Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story"

* ORGANIZE A TEACH-IN on "The Power of Redemption: The Case of Stanley Tookie Williams." Host a former death row prisoner to speak in your city or on your campus.

* WRITE A LETTER or story about Tookie's case in local or school newspapers, and contact local radio stations to do a segment on Tookie.

* RUN YOUR OWN SIGNATURE AD in your school or community paper. Visit
http://www.savetookie.org for sample letters.

* ORGANIZE A SPOKEN WORD event for Tookie, a "Rock for Tookie" concert
with local bands to fundraise for Tookie, or a mock execution or trial.

* BE CREATIVE. Come up with your own ideas to get the word out and build support to save Tookie.

We are posting all Day of Action activities on the Save Tookie website.

Make sure to send the details of your event to crystal@nodeathpenalty.org.
Event details should include the title of event, time, place and a phone number or e-mail address for contact information.

LA TOWN HALL MEETING FOR STAN DRAWS 300 PEOPLE

2005-11-17T20:41:00.000-08:00

From Dana Blanchard: The Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles organized a fantastic town hall meeting on November 15, at the Bethal AME Church in South Central LA, which was attended by about 300 people. The meeting was cosponsored by a lot of different groups, including the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, the Nation of Islam, Death Penalty Focus and a variety of groups working on gang intervention, including Venus 2000 and Community Call to Action.

With only a week to build the Town Hall meeting we really tried to get the word out. Barbara Becnel was scheduled to come down from the Bay Area to speak, but she missed her flight, and we had her call in instead.

All the speakers talked about racism and the criminal injustice system, not just Tookie's case. Minister Tony Mohammed spoke about how our country was founded on slavery and racism. He said we have given clemency to our country by working to change America for the better, and Tookie is part of that redemptive process.

Vicki Lindsey from Project Cry No More, whose son was killed by gang violence, spoke at the meeting and said she supported clemency for Tookie. This is an important development, since many people still see Stan as the leader of the Crips--we need to make sure people know that organizations opposed to gang violence are speaking out to save him.

Other people spoke about the struggles of the 1960s and 70s, including the Black Panthers and the government's attempts to silence them. All of the speakers got thunderous ovations.

At least four people in the audience are key people in Tookie's autobiography, and his ex-wife Bonnie has been coming to the planning meetings, and spoke from the floor in the discussion. Overall, it was a huge success.

We had our first Save Tookie committee meetings a week earlier, on November 7 and November 8 in South LA. There were planning meetings, and we divided into working groups. Both had about 40-50 people in attendance. Out of the planning meetings, we scheduled a series of planned actions, press conferences and the town hall meeting.

MADISON, WIS., VIGIL FOR STAN

2005-11-17T20:40:00.000-08:00

From the Daily Cardinal: "Death penalty opponents gathered on Library Mall Monday night for a candlelit vigil in support of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, a co-founder of the Crips gang in California.

"While on death row, Williams published nine children's books about the evils of gang life. He received the President's Call to Service Award and has been nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize. Williams' execution date is set for Dec. 13, 2005. Coalition Against Legal Lynching, a UW-Madison student organization, hosted the vigil to support his cause.

Read the full story:
http://www.dailycardinal.com/article.php?storyid=1027694

SUPPORT FOR TOOKIE

2005-11-17T20:32:00.001-08:00

- LETTER IN SUPPORT OF CLEMENCY FROM THE NATIONAL WRITERS UNION

From Phil Gasper: At my suggestion, my chapter of the National Writers Union sent a letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger calling for clemency for Stan. Other union members should consider proposing resolutions in support of Stan.

- UNITED TEACHERS LOS ANGELES PASSES RESOLUTION FOR CLEMENCY

The United Teachers Los Angeles' House of Delegates passed a resolution calling on Gov. Schwarzenegger to grant clemency to Tookie.

STATE ASSEMBLYMAN CALLS FOR CALIFORNIA MORATORIUM

2005-11-17T20:32:00.000-08:00

California State Assemblyman Mark Leno wrote an op-ed article in the San Francisco Chronicle calling for a moratorium on executions: "San Quentin's execution chamber is gearing up for primetime. Barring any gubernatorial pardons or last-minute reprieves, lethal injections could begin as early as Dec. 13. That's the date chosen for the execution of 51-year-old Stanley "Tookie" Williams, founder of the Crips street gang and Nobel Peace Prize nominee for his redemptive efforts to steer kids away from violence. He maintains his innocence in four 1979 gun deaths...

"It's fair to ask whether the death penalty helps at all, given the growing evidence that it is applied unfairly and fails to deter crime. In fact, states without the death penalty have a lower rate of homicide than states with capital punishment, according to a New York Times survey from 2002. Additionally, capital cases cost millions more than keeping a killer in prison for life without the possibility of parole. So for now, let's hold off on executions and let the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice do its work. If we don't, California could be the next state apologizing for making the ultimate mistake. Assemblyman Mark Leno represents the eastern half of San Francisco in the California Legislature.

Read the full story:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/14/EDGQIF5H771.DTL&hw=t
ookie&sn=012&sc=229

UPCOMING EVENTS

2005-11-17T20:30:00.000-08:00

- NOVEMBER 19 - San Quentin Prison
DON'T KILL TOOKIE: SAVE THE PEACEMAKER RALLY
Featuring Snoop Dogg, starting at 10 a.m. For more information, contact Crystal Bybee at 510-333-7966, or e-mail crystal@nodeathpenalty.org.

- NOVEMBER 21 - San Fransico
Bay Area Anti-Death Penalty Coalition Weekly Meeting
Every Monday At 6:30 pm, 1663 Mission St., ACLU office, 4th floor

- NOVEMBER 22 - Los Angeles
Save Tookie Committee Regular Weekly Meeting
Every Tuesday at 7 pm at Bethel AME Church at 7900 S. Western Avenue.

- NOVEMBER 30 - Nationwide
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR STAN (please send your information)

Chicago - Press conference and protest at Republican National Headquarters, 32 W. Randolph

- DECEMBER 3 - Los Angeles
RALLY FOR CLEMENCY FOR TOOKIE
Leimert Park at noon. All the groups working in the Save Tookie committee in Los Angeles are asking everyone to come out. For more information, call Dana at 310-242-3813.

- DECEMBER 4 - San Francisco
Movie Screening of REDEMPTION
Hosted by Danny Glover. At 5 pm at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (next to the 16th Street and Mission BART Station).

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

2005-11-17T20:28:00.000-08:00

Download a fact sheet about Stan's case:
http://www.savetookie.org/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Read the story of Stan's life in his book, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, available for $22. To order, call the CEDP at 773-955-4841.

Do a showing of the movie Redemption, the TV movie about Stan's life, starring Jamie Foxx. The movie is available a Blockbuster.

Check out the Save Tookie Web site:
http://www.savetookie.org/

And the Campaign to End the Death Penalty Web site:
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/

Order copies of the New Abolitionist. This issue has stories by and about Stan, as well as other information about fighting the death penalty. You can get a bundle of 25 New Abs, shipped free of charge at a cost of $12.50. To order, call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778. Yearly subscriptions are also available.