Arnold Schwarzenegger,  California,  Criminals,  Election 2006,  Politics

Stanley “Tookie” Williams Executed: Views from the Memorial Service/Funeral Part III

Williams’ son, Travon, raises his arms in front of his father’s casket as rapper Snoop Dogg reads a poem about “Tookie” during the memorial service.

The Los Angeles Times has Funeral Service Celebrates Williams’ Conversion From Violence to Peace

About 2,000 mourners hear celebrities and friends call the Crips’ co-founder’s execution a waste and praise his advocacy for children.

Stanley Tookie Williams was remembered Tuesday as a man who transformed himself after an early life of violence into a redeemed peacemaker and advocate for children.

More than 2,000 people waited in line outside the Bethel AME Church in South Los Angeles to attend his funeral service, which included tributes from friends and dignitaries, messages from Williams recorded shortly before his execution and a passionate call for peace from his son. Those who could not fit in the 1,500-seat sanctuary, including dozens of Crips gang members in blue bandanas, watched the service on a large screen set up in the parking lot.

Williams, 51, who was convicted in 1979 of killing four people, was executed Dec. 13 after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger rejected his plea for clemency.

Inside the sunny church in the neighborhood where the 17-year-old Williams helped found the Crips, his white casket lay with a spray of roses and carnations on top and a row of poinsettias behind it.

Bianca Jagger speaks at Williams’ funeral.

The Video of the 4 hour long Memorial Service will be posted here.

During the four-hour ceremony, Williams was lauded by those who were certain of his redemption and considered his death a waste.

“Tookie is dead,” said the Rev. Jesse Jackson. “We’re not safer; we’re not more secure. We’re not more humane. We must kill the idea of killing to stop killing.”

How about stopping the idea of indiscriminate murder of innocent victims, Reverend?

Barbara Becnel

Barbara Becnel, Williams’ friend and editor of 13 years who worked with him on his children’s books decrying gang violence, said he expressed his last wishes as a hope that he provided a legacy of unity and that he “died a man of peace.”

Oh Please!

Tookie died an unrepentant murderer. He showed NO remorse for killing his innocent victims.

Celebrities who knew Williams, including hip-hop star Snoop Dogg and motivational speaker Tony Robbins, spoke of his impact on their lives.

Speakers who choked up were encouraged with shouts of “Take your time,” and “It’s all right now.”

“I wanted to start some ruckus when the governor made his decision,” Snoop Dogg said. “If you’re black like me you’re guilty until you’re innocent and furthermore, I don’t believe Stan did it.”

Snoop Dog has been smoking the CRACK again if he does not believe what the trial jury, countless judges and 24 years of legal appeals have said – GUILTY!

Rev. Jesse Jackson, left, and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan hug during Williams’ memorial service.

Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam, who delivered the eulogy, pointed to Williams’ casket and told his mother not to grieve for a “warrior” who had been freed first by redemption and then by death.

“That man was touched by a special power and any of us who were ever in his presence, we know it,” Farrakhan said. “Stan was a sincere and committed and a redeemed soul.”

Redeemed – hardly.

Tookie Williams never showed REMORSE for his victims nor accepted responsibility for their deaths.

Tookie was NOT redeemed.

Travon Williams, Williams’ son, brought the church to its feet when he promised to teach Schwarzenegger the meaning of redemption since he could not see it alive in his father.

“I feel it’s my duty to go on a worldwide campaign to show that redemption is real,” he said.

Williams asked that his remains be cremated and scattered in South Africa.

Onto South Africa and the scattering of Tookie’s ashes. He will be right at home with his friend, the murderer, Winnie Mandela.

Previous:

Stanley “Tookie” Williams Executed: Views from the Memorial Service/Funeral Part II


Stanley “Tookie” Williams Executed: Views from the Memorial Service/Funeral

Stanley “Tookie” Williams Executed: The Austrian Retribution – The Response

Stanley “Tookie” Williams Executed: Goodbye to a “Homeboy”

Stanley “Tookie” Williams Executed: The Austrian Retribution

Stanley “Tookie” Williams Executed: The Funeral


The Execution of Stanley Tookie Williams: Tookie Saves Lives?


The Tookie Files Collection

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3 Comments

  • Anika Tisdale

    No matter what side you are on….NO ONE BUT GOD HAS THE RIGHT TO JUDGE! Whether he commited these acts or not, none of us are worthy to judge him or the intentions of his heart. The sad thing is that through all of this chaos and emotional telling, no one has thought about his family…Tookie’s mother, son and mother of his son! Face it, the death penalty really isn’t a punishment for the criminal, its a punishment for the family who is left behind. Just be mindful when you are making such harsh statments about this man, that what he’s being punished for doesn’t change the fact that he is someone’s son, someone’s father, someone’s friend….

  • Landile Masiza

    Hey I am a South African and I was reading this article and what really offended me about this article what the fact that and I quote you “He will be right at home with his friend, the murderer, Winnie Mandela”. What do you plan to achieve by saying this. H practically saved many American lives by his peace treaty and your life to and you write this garbage about an American hero. Holla back