Final Thought: The Death of Stanley Tookie Williams

It's a shame that Laura Owens, the wife of Albert Owens, the widow of a murdered man had signifigantly less press coverage than her media darling of the conservative machine mother-in-law Linda Owens. I don't think this widow believes Stan Williams is the man who murdered her husband. Even if she is, she was much against his execution. But of course, you'd never hear about this through the liberal media...

Many make claims about Williams saying he's not reformed, apologized or admitted to his crime. They call him a monster, an evil man and say he deserved to die. And it's funny that about all the people I hear this from are people who never in the their lives met the man. How can you pass judgement on someone you only hear about? They say while in prison, he's conspired to attack prison guards and other inmates and the guards say he was mean, spiteful and hateful toward them to the end. Well, he's in prison. What would you expect from anyone who is caged like an animal with no freedom? You expect him to be nice? No one put in that situation, especially lived the life he has would be any parts of 'nice'. And in any event, I am quite sure, that those who make these claims of spite against him aren't exactly angels themselves. He's attacked other inmates. They are in the same situation and probably about as 'nice'. He's attacked and has been hateful toward guards. These guards are by their nature and job tough and unforgiving having to associate and police the people they have to on a daily basis. It's foolish to take these claims seriously...

The United States of America, a nation that loves to pat itself on the back for human rights treatment and freedom can now happily group themselves in league with such dandies like China, Saudia Arabia and Iran. The Fantatic Four when it comes to sanction the murder of it's own citizenry. I don't want to hear another word from a conservative who wants to complain about the U.N. and letting Sudan or Syria on whatever commission or otherwise say another word about human rights because they have no more credibility. No leg to stand on. I don't even want to hear them talk about abortion. They always want to link it to killing a human being when they are absolutely okay doing it in this case. "Oh but a baby is innocent!" WHAT BABY!!! "Tookie killed innocent people! He must die!" So that makes it better? Just becuase he killed, you have to kill too? How in the hell do you rank any better? Tookie killed innocent people? DO NOT LET ME GET STARTED ON THE NUMBER OF INNOCENT LIVES KILLED BY THIS GOVERNMENT!!! Williams was convicted sole based on the testimony of cowards and greedy souls. And you trust these people. You think it's humane to kill a human being, reguardless of evidence of his innocence or the path and inspiration he has created for the lives he's saved. We are human beings. Not God. We are supposed to be the force of goodness and compassion but we kill and seek revenge and call it justice. Where the fuck is your humanity…

I'll be the first to admit. I was on the fence. Since this case started to gain attention I was admittedly divided. On one hand he's done a lot and whether you like it or not he's has given back to society. Not only with the loss of his freedom, but at the worth of saving others from walking the path he was lead to. On the other hand I saw what he accomplished. It is in part of this man that many of my people have their lives in a cloud of fear, death and destruction. He is the co-founder of an organization so fucking deadly it puts Al-Queada to shame. The Crips are the fucking KKK's favorite foot soldier and they did their work and thought nothing of it. And Stanley Tookie Williams was to blame. And for this I wanted to see this man pay. I wanted to see him pay for what he did to my people. I wanted him to pay for destroying a generation and warping a culture and life of so many. He needed to. But at last, there was so much too this. He know what he help bring to this world and all he could have done is to right his wrong, which he started to do. He inspired thousands to not take the road he did. He tried to turn back another generation from a life of ruin and like it or not, he had his success. But none of that mattered. Now, I'm not entirely sure he was guilty of the crime he was accused of. No one cared that no one who claimed they were with him are not on death row. One has never served a day for what he claimed to be a part of. Stanley Williams gets death, while a coward who was with him who did nothing to stop death goes scott free? And he had nothing to gain from telling morally bankrupt people that Stanley Williams is a killer? You don't think the LAPD didn't know he was a founder of the Crips and have probably been after him for years, just waiting for the chance to finally get him off the streets? The one thing that many has damned Williams for, the one thing that could have actually saved his life was never given. Stanley Williams never confessed. He died, never admitting to killing these people. He had EVERYTHING to gain for this admission and ALL to lose for keeping quiet. He stayed quiet. He did not confess. It makes no sense for him not to... unless...

"Vengence is mine."

"And I will strike down upon thee with great vengence and furious rebukes, 'those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers and you will know that I am THE LORD when I lay my vengence upon thee."

It is up to us as a moral, just and humane society to decide guilt or innocence of our members. It is also upon us to levee punishment. However the final judgment is not ours to make...

Damn it... we have a separation of church and state. Conviently inapplicable when you need it the most and totally applied when it fits a purpose of yours...

It's funny isn't it?

But what the hell? Since when do we let this stop us as a society? The bible also said eye for an eye and that's one passage where the separation means nothing. We have a long history of making people suffer with torture. So why now change with Stanley Williams? Why not torture him and let him suffer to know he has to live and not have a breath of freedom. Why make his life easy and end it? And so it is now we are against torture... again…

Nothing good comes from this. Linda Owens may think she knows comfort, but take it from me, you won't Linda. There's nothing to bring your son back. Stanley William's life won't make the pain you feel any easier. Because when it comes down to it Ms. Owens, on those times where you miss your son the most, where the loss in your heart burns the deepest, Stanley Williams will not be a thought in your head. I know this is true. I've been through the same pain. My mother has been through the same pain. The generation who have been brought up in this cycle of violence and death of a gang life have one less reason to refuse that path…

In the end, there is no justice. There is only justified vengence. Only a way to appease your anger and not a way to appease your soul. Justice does not belong to the victim. Justice is to put right where it once went wrong. His punishment was justice. His punishment was right. His death was wrong…

"Terrorist Threat"

There is a terrorist threat in America and we can barely detect that our country's been wrecked by barbarians. Derelict clerics with exotic names like Trent Lott and Katherine Harris. I’m going to Paris because they killed democracy in Florida, quick call the coroner. There’s been a hostile takeover of the red, white and blue. They finance corporate mergers so when Enron and congress fuck everybody gets screwed. They’re holding hostages in hot factories overseas. They torture their victims with long hours and slave wages. They crave little girls, mostly Southeast Asians and Haitians. I’ve seen the videotapes so R. Kelly isn’t the only one that should be charged with child molestation.

There is a terrorist threat in the land and it’s not just the boy bands. They have a plan; it’s inherited through history. They destroyed the native tribes now each July they celebrate their victory. Instead of making things more equal, they build prisons for poor people, pass out petty bids and life sentences to kids for selling weed and other sedatives, but they disregard the evidence when they select a rich white boy from Texas and declare a crackhead president. A draft-dodging merchant of menace with a feeble mind and before he bombs Saddam on my dime he better send weapon inspectors into Columbine.

There is a terrorist threat in the nation. They give tax breaks to big banks but they deny black people reparations. They maintain training ranches and congregate in clans. They want to steal Alaska’s oil and blame it on Iran. They tally bands and censor art for sport. They snuck into our law schools and hijacked the Supreme Court. Their money makes missiles. Their labs created Anthrax. Osama was their pawn. Evil is their axis. They’re skilled at killing innocent civilians because they had lots of practice. From Hanoi to Nicaragua, from Vieques to Damascus, for aqua and oil, gold zinc and soil. They spread their views on Cable news. They call each other George and Dick and Rudy. So next time you see a terrorist, kick him in his booty. It’s not only your right as an American, it’s your patriotic duty.

-Def Poet