I had many things on my mind earlier today - I wish now that I had started to write then; but here it is 11:55 pm and it's moments before the pending fate of Tookie Williams and I, like some others are tuning in to the news while wrestling with our own internal view about the death penalty... redemption... criminals... victims. The channel 2 news just flashed "Williams Execution San Quentin" - the governor has rejected any last minute appeal. 2000+ people stand and wait.. mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children and the elderly, praying, candles, somber, some on cell phones, many against the death penalty. 3 injections - was some mother's child, perhaps some child's father, found guilty of taking lives during a robbery and promoting ganglife - killing - a horrible thing - a light within each one of us - with choices - which path will we choose - the light or the dark - good or evil - and if we choose evil; can we be redeemed? well God can redeem; but there is no guarantee that man will offer us redemption for our sins - he chose 5 to witness who may self identify - 50 people in all including the families of those who lost their lives. He will be the 12th person since the reinstatement of the dealth penalty in 1977. He claimed innocence, yet could not get a court to listen; wrote books for kids; nominated for the peace prize; yet now he waits... death soon come. His words "I'll go through it with dignity, with integrity, with love and bliss in my heart. I smile at everything, I'm quite sure I'll smile then, too. I smile to myself, and I don't worry about it" (NY Times). He was on death row for over 20 years - no witness came forth to disclaim his verdict until now. Search lights, musicians, Joan Baez, people signing petitions, some praying...strapped on a gurney, Lord Have Mercy - 1st induces unconsciousness 2nd stops breathing 3rd stops the heart - The Heart - proposed to be done with dignity - is that an oxymoron? - killing with dignity - Newsreporter Rita Williams watched a prior execution - said - it was very difficult. 12: 36 a.m. - It is over. The press is reporting now - they saw no resistance; some trouble with the 2nd IV - 20 minutes - execution began 12:22 - he lifted his head to look around - to his people - to the press - breathing heavily - diaphragm rising, slowed... several minutes, supporters were there; when he was conscious - one man, two women (one of which was Barbara Becknell) gave black power sign - they yelled "The state of California just killed an innocent man" as they left the witness area - the folks on behalf of victims were stony - one victim's relative cried. He seemed to be talking to his supporters - they were mouthing I love you, God Bless you. Each reporter speaks about the fact that it took a long time; trouble with the needle; Tookie appeared frustrated - there was an air of defiance,of power, of strength - he was a large site; intimidating to several reports; yet the warden said prisoners can often intimidate those that aren't used to them. It's now 1:36 a.m. - one hour has passed - still on the news, local, CNN... Time to go to sleep... Peace.
