Many extol killer's life

A few death penalty proponents complained the victims were being forgotten.
Knight Ridder Newspapers
SAN QUENTIN, Calif. -- As the execution hour approached, some in the crowd of nearly 2,000 at the prison gates began shouting "Long live 'Tookie' Williams."
They braved the chilly night air with lighted candles, drums and large signs.
Speakers read excerpts from his books. A minister said a prayer, then the crowd began to sing. The gathering included people of all races and ages, including young children.
"I feel like if his redemption can't be recognized, then no one's can, and I think we can do better than this," said a weeping Laura Teutschel of San Carlos, who held a white candle.
For hours, the crowd kept an emotional vigil for condemned killer Stanley "Tookie" Williams.
Though a handful of death penalty supporters showed up, most vigorously opposed Williams' death.
Some compared him to Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela or slain rapper Tupac Shakur.
The co-founder of the Crips gang deserved to live, they said, because of his peace activism behind bars, including his books encouraging young people to reject the gang lifestyle.
Nevertheless, the 51-year-old co-founder of the violent gang died by injection just after midnight Tuesday at San Quention State Prison for the murders of four people, including three in the same family, in two 1979 holdups. Williams professed his innocence to the end, even when an admission of guilt might have helped save his life.
Huge turnout
It was the biggest gathering at San Quentin since California re-instituted the death penalty with the execution of Robert Alton Harris in 1992.
Jamie Kelly of Corte Madera kept watch with her 7-year-old son.
"We've come here tonight to support Tookie," she said. "If it's not OK for my son to hit someone at school, how is it OK for the state of California to kill people?"
North Richmond resident Fred Jackson said he first met Williams in 1998. He visited with him again a few hours before his death. Jackson said he was stunned by how calm Williams seemed.
"Whatever happens, he's ready to go," Jackson said. "He's done great works and his works will never die.
"This man came from the ghetto to death row and he has lifted himself up, not by his bootstraps but by his handcuffs, to show us what a man can do with his brain."
The crowd included celebrities such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson, singer Joan Baez and actor Mike Farrell of "MASH" TV fame.
Jackson also visited with Williams a few hours before his scheduled execution. He said the convicted killer encouraged his supporters to remain calm upon his death.
"The last thing we need tonight is for people feeling pain, feeling let down, to recycle that pain as street frustration," Jackson said.
Like many others in the crowd, Jackson said he was upset by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's decision not to grant clemency.
"Clemency is not based on guilt or innocence," Jackson said. "Clemency is based upon redemption and it's based upon grace and he's earned that by the virtue of his work. He'll be martyred as a force for good."
Things grew heated when one man arrived with a sign reading "Cook Kookie" on one side and "Hang the Bastard" on the other.
"He murdered four people. Who's speaking for the people he murdered?" the man asked.
He was quickly flanked by others in the crowd who chanted "Racist, go home."