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12/11/2005
Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Appeals to Governor Schwarzenegger to Spare the Life of Stanley ''Tookie'' Williams
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2005--The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, the nation's largest coalition of hip-hop artists and recording industry executives, today released the text of an appeal written to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger by Russell Simmons dated December 1, 2005, to spare the life of Stanley "Tookie" Williams.
"It's only three days before the scheduled execution of Tookie Williams and we add our voices to the millions of people throughout the world who believe that clemency is not only appropriate, but also the most moral, humane and spiritual decision Governor Schwarzenegger could make," emphasized HSAN Chairman Russell Simmons.
"Governor Schwarzenegger has the weight of life and death in his hands in regards to the pending execution of Tookie Williams," stated Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President/CEO of HSAN. "We believe that the Governor should act to spare Williams' life because capital punishment is a final and irreversible act, while sparing Williams' life is an act of mercy in the interest of redemption."
December 1, 2005
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, California 95814
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
May this letter find you and your family in the best of health and
spirit. I am writing to appeal urgently to you for your fair
consideration to grant clemency to Stanley Williams, who is scheduled
to be executed in California on December 13, 2005. I know that you are
facing a very difficult decision in this matter given the fact that
the victims' family members and many in law enforcement are in support
of Williams' execution.
Our special friendship is important to me and I am only reaching out
to you directly about this issue because I believe that you are
struggling to do the right thing both in terms of the law and in the
sight of God. Thank you for agreeing to hold a private hearing on the
Williams case with lawyers from both the Los Angeles County Prosecutor
and Williams' defense team.
My appeal is not limited to the legal issues that have been submitted
to you as outlined in the Petition for Clemency. I am confident that
you have received numerous legal opinions as to the merits of this
case for your timely and responsive intervention. I am, however,
appealing on moral, humane and spiritual grounds for you to use your
good office to spare the life of a man who has taken redemptive steps
in his life while incarcerated in the interests of making our society
and world a safer and better place.
It is by God's grace and love that individuals like Stanley Williams
not only turn their own lives around, but also are able to contribute
significantly to a deeper understanding of the oneness of humanity and
to give love and meaningful life-lessons back to his community, and in
this case to a community that desperately needs to overcome the
decades-long miseries of poverty and ignorance.
Notably, President Bush's Council on Service and Civic Participation
awarded Mr. Williams the President's Volunteer Service Award for his
leadership and worthwhile actions to encourage youth to avoid
self-destruction. As an award-winning author, Williams has been
nominated for the Nobel Peace and Literature prizes. In short,
Williams' life should be spared so that he can continue from prison to
help youth in impoverished communities develop constructively. The
demands of justice and mercy should be served in this case with your
act of clemency.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Russell Simmons
Contacts
JLM PR, Inc.
Jody L. Miller or Ellen Zoe Golden
212-431-5227
jody@jlmpr.com
ellenzoe@aol.com
"It's only three days before the scheduled execution of Tookie Williams and we add our voices to the millions of people throughout the world who believe that clemency is not only appropriate, but also the most moral, humane and spiritual decision Governor Schwarzenegger could make," emphasized HSAN Chairman Russell Simmons.
"Governor Schwarzenegger has the weight of life and death in his hands in regards to the pending execution of Tookie Williams," stated Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President/CEO of HSAN. "We believe that the Governor should act to spare Williams' life because capital punishment is a final and irreversible act, while sparing Williams' life is an act of mercy in the interest of redemption."
December 1, 2005
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, California 95814
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
May this letter find you and your family in the best of health and
spirit. I am writing to appeal urgently to you for your fair
consideration to grant clemency to Stanley Williams, who is scheduled
to be executed in California on December 13, 2005. I know that you are
facing a very difficult decision in this matter given the fact that
the victims' family members and many in law enforcement are in support
of Williams' execution.
Our special friendship is important to me and I am only reaching out
to you directly about this issue because I believe that you are
struggling to do the right thing both in terms of the law and in the
sight of God. Thank you for agreeing to hold a private hearing on the
Williams case with lawyers from both the Los Angeles County Prosecutor
and Williams' defense team.
My appeal is not limited to the legal issues that have been submitted
to you as outlined in the Petition for Clemency. I am confident that
you have received numerous legal opinions as to the merits of this
case for your timely and responsive intervention. I am, however,
appealing on moral, humane and spiritual grounds for you to use your
good office to spare the life of a man who has taken redemptive steps
in his life while incarcerated in the interests of making our society
and world a safer and better place.
It is by God's grace and love that individuals like Stanley Williams
not only turn their own lives around, but also are able to contribute
significantly to a deeper understanding of the oneness of humanity and
to give love and meaningful life-lessons back to his community, and in
this case to a community that desperately needs to overcome the
decades-long miseries of poverty and ignorance.
Notably, President Bush's Council on Service and Civic Participation
awarded Mr. Williams the President's Volunteer Service Award for his
leadership and worthwhile actions to encourage youth to avoid
self-destruction. As an award-winning author, Williams has been
nominated for the Nobel Peace and Literature prizes. In short,
Williams' life should be spared so that he can continue from prison to
help youth in impoverished communities develop constructively. The
demands of justice and mercy should be served in this case with your
act of clemency.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Russell Simmons
Contacts
JLM PR, Inc.
Jody L. Miller or Ellen Zoe Golden
212-431-5227
jody@jlmpr.com
ellenzoe@aol.com
# posted by Clyde @ 12:14 AM 
