Quote of note:

...opposition to Williams' clemency bid has been fierce. A statewide prosecutors' group that favors execution is particularly influential, Hayden said.

"If you want to be a statewide politician, you want them on your side," Hayden said, "and they want photos of an executed Williams on their walls saying, 'We got the founder of the Crips.' "

Let me start by saying anyone that uses the life of a human being as a political chit is an abominable bastard that I will oppose reflexively.

That quote comes from Telling His Story to Save His Life, and there's a couple other things you should know.

It was Becnel who suggested that Williams go public with his change of heart by making a videotaped speech that she showed at a gang peace summit in 1993.

He himself was not the one to push his personal conversion into the public view.

When Williams told her that he wanted to write children's books, a publisher said he first had to write a book about the allure of gangs. Williams turned the publisher down. "We are not that desperate," she quoted Williams as saying.

Why would he have to write a book about the allure of gangs before explaining why you shouldn't get involved? This is the same mindset that pushes "Tip Drill" instead of "The Revolution WIll Not Be Between These Thighs" as the definition of hip-hop.

Key thing that should convince all you Americans out there is: he turned down money.

And the question I have for YOU is: after you examined the officials, who, after all, only want to complete the ritual, after you examined his actions (you have examined his actions before passing judgement, haven't you? His individual actions, not the actions of the prototypical gangbanger you can't seperate him from)...have you examined yourself?

When did you first get upset over Tookie?

What are you afraid will happen if he isn't killed? 

And with all he's done, aren't you saying change isn't even possible?

Judge not, lest ye shall be judged. 'N shit. DOesn't your God tell you any sin can be forgiven if the repentance is real?

And there's one more thing you should consider.

Opponents of clemency, including law enforcement and prison officials across the state, say Williams, by helping establish the Crips, is responsible for thousands of deaths. And, they add, he has shown no remorse for the brutal South Los Angeles murders of Albert Owens, a 7-Eleven store clerk, and motel owners Yen-I Yang, 65; Tsai-Shai Chen Yang, 62; and their daughter Yu-Chin Yang Lin, 42.

Saying Tookie Williams founded the Crips is like saying Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. It's true as far as it goes, but does anyone think that had Thomas Edison been dropped on his head at birth there would be no light bulb today? Of course not.

Had Stan Williams died at birth, something indistinguishable from the Crips and Bloods would have arisen. Make no mistake. 

And this showing remorse ritual is an absurdity. Nevermind he's shown remorse for all the actions the Crips took in his name..how do you show remorse for something you deny?

None of this is a compelling argument, because it's past the argument point. It's decision time, and that decision will show your values...the hard stuff is always where your true values are exposed.