Stanley Tookie Williams and the problem of redemption

So many times death row becomes a subject of controversy. Especially in the black community as in the case of Stanley "Tookie" Williams. For many cases there are two opposing sides. One side there lies the prosecutors, victims' advocates and death penalty supporters and on the other side there are the defendant, black community, and the disenfranchised. We will call the former Group Right and the latter Group Left.

The first difference between the two groups is on punishment. Group Right feels that Williams should be punished severely for his heinous crimes. He is an animal and should be shown no mercy. Whereas Group Left feels that there is a high probability that Williams is a victim of false conviction. From my experience in Prince Georges county and friends that serve on the PG police force is that many times to close a case any victim who has a bad police record can be chosen to fit the bill. Many blacks on death row have been freed after evidence arose many years later. This happens enough times where many in Group Left do not trust the data, they believe the more than likely any black man will do just as long as someone pays by execution. According to NY times black people convicted of murder or sexual assault are significantly more likely than their white counterparts to be later found innocent of the crimes. This track record is what fuels Group Left’s point of view and Group Right will use the evidence available whether fabricated or not to fuel their point of view. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said. "The facts do not justify overturning the jury's verdict or the decisions of the courts in this case." There is rarely a case where the two sides can see eye to eye.

What if the death row convict like Williams turn his life around and become a contributing member of the community? Should there be any lenience in their predicament? Group Right argues that if you release Williams back into society he is most likely going to repeat similar crimes. Therefore, there is no reason to give any lenience whatsoever. Group Left feels that Williams should be given a second chance, that is the Christian thing to do. Over the 25 years of his case Williams has demonstrated that he can be a productive member of society.. Apparently after committing a felony it is very difficult to impossible to regain your place in society. A felon loses their right to vote and find adequate employment. Recently I found that certain student aid is not available to felons. Education is the only way to remove oneself from their dire circumstance. It seems that the intent is not to educate felons. This has been a disconnect for many years between the two groups

What happens if Williams pleads guilty and show remorse for his heinous crime. Group Right says that because he maintained his innocence that he will be shown no lenience. Williams should have shown some sort of remorse. Williams claimed he was innocence all the way up to the day of his execution. Group Left believe that no matter if Williams pleaded guilty or not there would be no change in his conviction. Unfortunately growing up in the black community I have witnessed firsthand many cases where a person was in the wrong place at the wrong time and have been pulled into a crime committed by another individual. They do not have the money to defend themselves properly and are assigned public defendant who is on the same team as the prosecutor. They are given a plea bargain deal. The defendant out of pressure and lack of understanding of the law signs the plea bargain. They are now convicted of a crime that they may not have committed and lock into the prison industrial complex for many years. Group Right says that all of the evidence line up and they received the sentence they deserved and the plea bargain was a fair deal. This conflict will continue for the foreseeable future.

Church and state do not intermingle in death row cases. Group Right see no point where redemption mostly used in religious context can be used when making any decisions in court. Church and state are completely separate unless a political campaign is underway seeking votes. In this scenario the church is used to convince potential voters of the political candidate’s high moral standards. The Group Left will state that Karla Faye Tucker push for clemency was supported from religious leaders as high as Pope John Paul II. Clemency is the Christian thing to do. Each side used church and state in two opposing ways and rarely can Group Right and Group Left come to a common understanding about church and state in death row cases.

Williams was executed as planned and this sparked much controversy. Even The Rev. Jesse Jackson got involved. He met twice with Williams, and delivered the news that the governor had denied clemency. Williams acted as though he is not surprised according to LA Times. This execution further divides the two groups. Group Right and Group Left protested on several occasions demonstrating their opposing views. Group Left stated that Williams enhanced his credulity by preaching to youths about staying out of gangs even though he founded one of the most notorious gangs the Crypts. Group right still see Williams as a gangster and a fraud not worthy of any pity.

Many times black Americans are wrongly accused of a crime and there is no lenience for them. This type of scenario is so common in the black community that Group Left totally expects the results. Many in the Group Left do not trust the American legal system. They expect no mercy, no lenience, no justice, no honesty, no fairness, etc. Many are convinced that no matter what facts statements are made the outcome will be play out exactly the same. Stanley “Tookie” Williams is no different. Stanley "Tookie" Williams life would not have been saved even if he had not maintained his innocence.

The two groups, Group Right and Group Left, see the death row cases from the opposite end of the spectrum. Group Right believe they are just and fair and Group Left feels that they will never get a fair deal. This type of scenario plays out over and over in our society. That is why we saw such opposing views from the O.J. Simpson case. Even though O. J. ‘s verdict was deemed innocence, Group Right still believe that O. J. was guilty of the murders. All in all, these opposing point of views will not change anytime in the near future.
 
References
Brown, Matthew Hay. “Death Penalty Debate Focuses on Redemption.” Baltimoresun.com, 13 July 2008, www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-te.md.redemption13dec13-story.html.
Chokshi, Niraj. “Black People More Likely to Be Wrongfully Convicted of Murder, Study Shows.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Mar. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/03/07/us/wrongful-convictions-race-exoneration.html.
Dolan, Jenifer Warren and Maura. “Tookie Williams Is Executed.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2005, www.latimes.com/local/la-me-execution13dec13-story.html.
“US Death Penalty Wrongful Convictions Executions.” Time, Time, time.com/79572/more-innocent-people-on-death-row-than-estimated-study/.