|
[Home
|
National
|
World
|
Perspectives
|
Columns
|
Money
|
Entertainment
|
Health
|
Technology
|
Letters
|
Subscribe] FinalCall.com News - Refer This Page Perspectives
[Editor’s note: The following two messages were delivered by Stanley “Tookie Williams” on June 19, 2005 while residing on death row at San Quentin Prison in California. He recorded these messages during a historic visit by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, along with a delegation think tank working to stay his execution. He wanted the messages to be played during Min. Farrakhan's address to the general prison population after meeting with him on death row, but he was not permitted to do so. The messages were specially tailored by him to address members of street organizations that would be attending the first quarterly meeting of the Southern California Gang Intervention Summit the following day, June 20 in Los Angeles, California. His taped message was played to the audience of nearly 300 gang intervention activists and gang members.] Stanley Williams co-founded the Los Angeles street organization, the Crips, in 1971 at the age of 17. Eager to get him off the streets, the Los Angeles Police Department charged Stan with four murders. Stan has always maintained his innocence. His conviction was based on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of several witnesses who were felony offenders testifying in order to lessen their sentences. In 1981, Stan was convicted and sent to San Quentin’s death row. From death row, Stan embarked on a journey of redemption. He decided to break away from the Crips and speak out against gang violence. He wrote a series of children’s books that discouraged gang activity. He also set up the Internet Project For Street Peace, which encourages gangs to end their fighting. A combination of his many efforts earned him several Nobel Peace Prize nominations. An appeal has been sent to the Supreme Court. If it is rejected an execution date can be set as early as this summer. An increasing movement continues to work to stay that order against his life and end the unjust application of the death penalty in American courts.
Embrace the science of a social agenda Greetings to all of you. Before I begin, let us pause for a brief moment of silence for those who have lost their loved ones to senseless violence. Thank you. Indeed, this is an honor for me to speak to all of you. My name is Stanley “Tookie” Williams. I have been residing on San Quentin’s death row for over 24 years. I also have the undesirable identity for being the cofounder of the Crips, which today is a genocidal legacy I regret. Across this nation, countless Black youth and adults are ending up in juvenile halls, youth authorities, prisons and/or being murdered, due to drugs, gangs, crime and violence. Clearly, we, Black folks, have become our own worst enemy. To live nowadays is the greatest challenge you will ever have to face in life. I say to all of you that we are going backwards, not forwards. Each time we initiate Black-on-Black brutallity, Black-on-Black crime, Black-on-Black drug sales and usage, and other anti-Black acts, we are going backwards and perpetuating our own extinction. It’s time to come anew. My Brothers, there’s no disguising the social problems. We can no longer allow ourselves to remain victims of the negative conditions. Just as there is a science to boxing, playing basketball, rapping skills, computer technology and parenthood, there is a scientific approach to our problem. To legitimately survive in this country, we must embrace the science of a social agenda, meaning a plan that will promote better access for all of us to an education, honest employment, health care, affordable housing and spiritual growth; a social agenda that won’t cause harm or death to another Black person. Such an agenda can be initiated by any one of you.Take a page out of my peace protocol. Learn how to establish community meetings by contacting community leaders, parents, church leaders, local businesses, youth and adult centers, local politicians and other interested parties. Get in touch with local rappers, entertainers, professional athletes and other entrepreneurs-turned-multimillionaires to discuss their participation in helping promote social change. That, my Brothers, is social power. With that in mind, I call on all of you to unite your thoughts, energy and fortitude on a new battlefield. Therefore, I, Stanley “Tookie” Williams, challenge each of you to stand up against this long war of crime, violence and drugs, to proclaim a new and visionary struggle. I challenge each of you to discard your anger for wisdom, and to shed the skin of vengeance for peace. I can’t do this alone nor can anyone else. We need all of you. In conclusion, may all of you develop a united front to address the social dilemmas within your community and across this country. I also want to thank Minister Louis Farrakhan for making this opportunity possible, and other persons. I thank you, my brother. May the Almighty bless us all. Bumani—That’s Swahili for “peace.”
|