I went to the rally for Tookie Williams for a little bit tonight.
I wasn’t sure why I was going–usually I’m not much of a rally-goer–but I felt like I needed to, I was so full of rage and sadness about how this all went down that I needed to put it somewhere.
When I got there, I realized my job was to stand on the corner there outside the federal building and pray–silent prayers that nobody else could see. And I think I needed to be there to be able to give myself permisison to feel something, to let my heart tear open. Even if all I felt was helplessness and anger, at least it was better than being numb.
I cried, sort of, these shaking dry sobs that couldn’t quite get down into the place where the real wet tears happen. Maybe it was all the guys with the cameras around, it didn’t feel like the place to break down, I just couldn’t quite let myself. Or maybe the part of me that’s pain averse kicked in, I don’t know.
I didn’t stay late. I went and had dinner with friends who are pregnant and moving and changing jobs and flourishing, and let myself get nourished by that.
May God protect you, Tookie. Safe passage, and on behalf of America, I’m sorry we failed you.
Thanks for this. Baruch dayan emet.
So, how many rallies have you been to for oppressed Jews?
As you may have noticed, I said that I’m not much of a rally-goer. It’s not usually how I feel moved to do activism, or how I feel that my time is most efficiently spent on activism.
For me it’s not a contest, and I don’t think that injustice done to any human being should be exempt from our view. I’m dedicating my life to serving the Jewish community in a number of different ways. But I believe that the whole world–certainly the country of which I am a citizen–is my, is our responsibility.
For the record, I’m against the death penalty: Its administration is flawed and racist (blacks more than whites) and sexist (men more than women), and I don’t believe the State should have the right to kill people outside of war or clear and present danger. Worst of all, we hear all the time of new evidence exonerating criminals. We can unjustly or mistakenly imprison a man or woman for 20 years and then release him or her — we can never do the same for those killed.
That said, I shed no tears for the death of this particularly violent godfather of one of the most deadly street gangs in American history.
My cent and 3/4.
I stood outside San Quentin last night, as Stan was executed. Usually there is a profound silence observed at the moment of execution. Last night, they read from Stan’s books instead and I really missed that silence. I think I am most heart-broken that the State of California has now made it clear to young gangstas that teshuvah does not matter. How many of them will decide to be killed for a lion as for a lamb?
Peace/Shalom/Salaam,
Sarah
The case against Williams on the counts of murder were pretty strong. Williams never admitted his guilt.
How can one repent if they don’t admit their crimes?
The only evidence they had against Williams was the testimony of his three alleged accomplices, all of whom were granted reduced sentences for testifying–and thus had decent incentives to lie. That’s a pretty dodgy situation. At the very least–and I oppose the use of the death penalty as a rule–if one IS going to have the death penalty (we shouldn’t but) there should be rules about what kind of evidence can be admitted for such a sentence. If there’s any possibility of error, it’s even more unjust and horrifying.
Oh, give me a fucking break. Six million children will die of starvation this year, and your fretting in your cholent about the execution-instead-of-life-in-prison for the founder of the most destructive disorganized crime outfit in American history. Do you know how many young black men died horrible deaths because of what dear ol’ Tookie started? How many black mothers had to face down the death of a child because of Tookie. If you want to save a life do it now and donate 200 bucks to UNICEF…enough with the ridiculous (and conveniently cost-free!) tears for Tookie.
How many of you sick people went to Tookies victims house and held a vigil? All this fuss cause a murdering bastard got his and about time.
I hope your all so forgiving when someone comes out of the night and butchers your friends or loved one.
Actually, at San Quentin we always read the names of the victims. It’s the cycle of violence we’re standing vigil against. Unfortunately, I don’t have the power to stop individual sociopaths from killing (though I wholeheartedly support life without possibility of parole when they do). But, as a voting citizen, I can stop the State of California from killing in my name.
Peace,
Sarah