Tookie Williams: Master of manipulation?

Last night while researching a column (hint hint) I read "The Tookie Williams Protocol for Peace" and other documents on the Web site set up by the death row inmate's supporters. The protocol, you may be pleased to remember, is the gang truce blueprint that Williams' groupies have hailed as one of the reasons why he should not be executed Dec. 13, as well as the children's books he's written and his impact on youth.

Williams' words are quite revealing. First, from the introduction for the "Protocol for Peace":

"The approach to resolving an epidemic begins with understanding the origins of it, the causes and effects. To broach this issue I draw on my life and gang experience as the co-founder of the infamous Crips. I grew up in South Central Los Angeles amidst poverty, street gangs, pimps, prostitutes, police tyranny, illegal drugs, criminality, and other social injustices. Here was a social vacuum without paternal guidance, without career-oriented programs, and without a nurturing village or community to support the male rite of passage toward becoming a responsible adult. Violence, gangs and street level socioeconomic crimes (selling drugs, robbery, prostitution and theft) were -- and continue to be -- direct results of living in these conditions."

Williams mentions his "experience as the co-founder of the infamous Crips" rather gently, like a job resume, then launches into the excuses: My neighborhood sucked. It's the cops' fault. It's social injustice. Never mind that Larry Elder, born and raised in South Central, didn't "turn Tookie." Five years after Williams started the Crips, Elder was graduating from Brown University. (Not to mention, the "nurturing village" part would make Hillary Clinton proud...)

"This social vacuum has spawned urban nihilists like the Crips, the Bloods, and many other street gangs."

Note the key omission there: I started the Crips. My founding of the Crips spawned creation of the Bloods. It's like he's a third-person narrator observing the scene from above, instead of being the main character, instigator, antagonist. Not to mention, he blames social ills again. And again...

"... The absence of basic access to affordable housing, health care, quality education, secure employment and other necessities produces social instability. Any efforts to establish a peace policy will be doomed unless there is tangible social progress. Peace cannot be sustained without it! Poverty, racism and hopelessness foster an environment that supports the growth of toxic conditions."

Actually, housing is affordable in South Central because he helped turn it into such a crappy neighborhood that no one wants to live or raise kids there. And there is "access" to all the things he mentions there in the county's vast social services network (albeit an overstressed network in part due to illegal immigration). But where is the personal responsibility? "Tangible social progress" cannot exist without it. If you teach a community that peace is not possible without all provided by the nanny state, what happens the day that the state is not there (i.e. a disaster, i.e. real life) -- all mores go out the window and "Lord of the Flies" ensues?

There's more. In Williams' "Letter to Incarcerated Youth No. 2," he draws master-slave parallels to prison:

"... In the matter of the master-slave concept, there are commonalities between a guard as master and a prisoner as slave.      

Similarity between the guard’s role and the master’s role can be found in the guard’s absolute power to control the prisoner. This control is carried out by enforcing rules on the prisoner; closely watching the prisoner to ensure         compliance with those rules; punishing, abusing and, if need be, eliminating the prisoner through banishment to solitary confinement or through violence. 

On the other hand, the resemblance of the prisoner to the slave is that both are subjected to strict rules, confined like animals, controlled, often brutalized physically as well as psychologically, and deprived of basic human rights."

Note the victimization complex, which can be seen in other interviews where he claims to be a victim of the justice system, society, etc. Is this seriously what he's teaching kids -- drawing a master-slave parallel between guards and inmates that insults the legacy of early American slaves who had committed no crime? Is this what he earns plaudits for?

After reading these and other Tookie writings -- and reading between lines -- it leaves little doubt that he's used the same skills of manipulation that made him a successful gang leader to rally liberal activists to his cause.

And boy, has he roped in the left wing: On Nov. 18, Williams' spokeswoman, Barbara Becnel, rallied with Cindy Sheehan, the Green Party's Peter Camejo and Todd Chretien of the International Socialist Organization at UC Berkeley. If you're known by the company you keep...

Comments

[CrackpotPress]

I'm torn on this one. If he can be asset to society perhaps we could use that to our advantage.

For example that woman in Texas who thought she should be forgiven becaus she found Jesus.

This guy could be an asset to society. However, I do believe Murderers should be given the death penalty.

The only thing I know is that there will be no pro-lifers rallying around this guy.

[Reaps]

"If you teach a community that peace is not possible without all provided by the nanny state, what happens the day that the state is not there?"

*Looks at New Orleans*

Hmmm.

[Bill]

As I see it, "Tookie" Williams was the founder of one the most violent, murderous street gangs in the nation. He was convicted of brutally murdering 4 innocent people -- one murder of which he bragged about. He has never 'apologized' for these crimes, much less admitted them. Who's out there talking about those lives he intentionally took? Hollywood has come out in droves to defend this sadistic murderer. "He's reformed. He should be pardoned. He's a role model."
Hmmmmmm. On that note, I hereby petition Hollywood to take up my cause -- work to pardon me for my DWI (not DUI) convictions that happened decades ago -- out of state. I was never involved in an accident -- ooopppsss! -- I once hit an unoccupied parked car during a snow storm in the Northeast. But Hey! I apologize to the car for bending it's bumper and trunk lid. I have never injured -- much less killed -- anyone. I've since then "reformed". I've gone back to school, moved to the West Coast, and have a great job with a nation-wide company. I'm obviously "rehabitated".
I won't be holding my breath to hear from Hollywood's Martin Sheen, Snoop Dogg, et al.
"Tookie" is a murderer. The Three-fold Law will come to pass.

Bill

[S Baldwin]

I think that if the founder of the Cripes is given clemency it would be a disgrace to the families of the people that he killed. Also to the people that the members of his gang have killed too. He should pay for the crimes that he is responsible for, even if he has written a book about gang life. Its like saying its OK to kill as long as you have God. If he has God in his life he wouldn't have killed in the first place.

[Andy]

Stanley "Tookie" Williams was an innocent man, who was executed under false charges and now is on his way to heaven. Despite many white fascists claims of his guilt, we personally do not know whether these statements are true. We DO know, however, that the trial took place during a time when racial tensions in the Southern Californian region were high and incarcerating a leading member of the Crips was also a major boost to the credibility of the LAPD. Whether Tookie was ever guilty of this crime I will never know and neither will any of the rest of you.
Shortly before his execution, I prayed to the Lord that he embrace Tookie in Heaven and wash him of his sins, since every single one of us has sinned in our lifetime. I am puzzled at the fact that you talk about being followers of the Lord so openly, yet, at the same time, wish death on somebody. The Christian way is not one of revenge, but one of forgiveness. People change throughout time. People find Jesus along the way. Not everybody is a believer from birth. Sometimes you have to do wrong to recognize right. I firmly believe I will see Tookie in Heaven, as will you.

R.I.P. Stanley "Tookie" Williams

To the author: I urge you to publish this comment wihout editing the content. Only publishing comments that reflect your own narrow-minded opinions does not let your website shine in a very good light.