To Kill or Not to Kill Stanley "Tookie" Williams

I think there is a place in civilized society for the death penalty.

I also think Stanley "Tookie" Williams' death sentence should be commuted to life in prison.

I don't think the death penalty is a deterrent for murder, but it's a sure way to protect society from sociopaths who will prey on the innocent. Some lives are cancerous tumors on society and should be excised.

But once carried out, a death sentence is irreversible, so there can be no doubt that a person is guilty. I’m talking about a level of confidence that goes far beyond what it takes to convince a dozen white people that a big, ornery, unrepentant black man is a killer.

Circumstantial evidence and “witnesses” who cut deals to avoid lengthy prison sentences don’t do it for me. There’s no doubt that Williams was a bad man, and there may be enough evidence to convict him in a court of law. But I want more before I sanction a man’s death.

In the Williams case, friends of the prosecution say Williams has displayed no contrition, as though that is the criteria for clemency. Williams maintains his innocence. Expecting contrition is stupid.

Friends of the defense argue that Williams has been a positive influence since his conviction. He’s written several children’s books denouncing violence and gangs. He’s given phone conferences and spoken out against a life of gang crime.

Good for him, but if he brutally murdered four people in cold blood, I’m not inclined to feel any pity for him.

In fact, I don’t think this is about Williams at all. I don’t think compassion makes you weak, but I don’t think that’s the point. This issue is about us. Will killing this man best serve the community, the state and the nation?

I think not.

A state sanctioned execution may be just, but it isn’t necessarily right. Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should. Do we really need to dump more fuel on our nation’s racial fire? Do we really need years of international dialogue about whether Williams was actually guilty? Do we really want to bury Williams’ message of redemption and anti-violence along with him?

Protecting our tough-on-crime turf at the expense of social and civil evolution is no better than the credo of the Crips. The question of Williams’ clemency is what will make us a better, stronger society. If that means keeping a murderer alive, then we should do it.

Not for him, but for us.

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