Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mike Farrell, Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo
Among Activists Lending Voice to Message of Redemption, Peace and Hope
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In a letter released today, a
group of Nobel laureates, celebrity activists, faith leaders and policy-makers
urged Gov. Schwarzenegger to grant clemency for Stanley Tookie Williams,
recognizing the five-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee's valuable contributions
to steer inner-city youth away from crime and gangs. "Each year at the
holiday season, voices the world over cry out for peace," the letter reads.
"This year, one of them, a voice of great power, will be lost unless you act."
The letter cites William's work, including a remarkable collection of
children's books which landed him four Nobel Literature Prize nominations, as
well as his tireless efforts to answer each and every request from schools,
ministers, and community leaders asking him to help them teach messages of
redemption, peace and hope to inner city children.
"Through his work, gang truces have been mediated and long-standing wounds
have been healed. Lives have been saved," the letter states. It concludes
with a plea for the governor to use his executive power to "affirm the human
capacity for personal transformation and reinforce the meaning of hope for
young people everywhere."
"We have far more to gain from granting clemency to Stanley Williams than
from killing him, an act of violence that serves no purpose," said Mike
Farrell. "Growing up where violence is a too-readily-accepted way of life,
Stanley made that choice and knows what it costs. Today, uniquely qualified
to reach our children, Stanley encourages thousands with his message of
change, of possibility, of hope. We urge the governor to lead us away from
the politics of vengeance, to let the children see that change matters and
there is reason to hope."
A shortlist of the letter's signatories include:
* Nobel laureates: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mairead Corrigan Maguire,
Betty Williams, Jody Williams;
* Celebrities: Jason Alexander, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Glover,
Anjelica Huston, Bonnie Raitt, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Noah Wyle;
* Mario Cuomo, Julian Bond, Reps. Jim McDermott, Jim McGovern,
George Miller, and Sen. Tom Harkin, Rev. Jesse Jackson.
They are joined by thousands of citizens who have signed an online
petition (http://www.savetookie.org) in support of clemency, as well as
ministers, teachers and community leaders across the nation who have written
to the governor asking that he weigh the value of Williams' efforts, his
message and his example against a death sentence following a trial marred by
disturbing racial bias and dishonorable conduct.
A copy of the letter, along with a full list of its signatories is posted
online at http://www.cm-p.com/clemency.htm
SOURCE Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP
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Related links:
http://www.cm-p.com
http://www.savetookie.org
http://www.cm-p.com/clemency.htm
CONTACT:
Jenny Park, +1-415-901-0111, for Curtis,
Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP
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