"Still can't find it?"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Talk about ironic last words.

SAN QUENTIN, California (Reuters) - California prison officials executed Stanley Tookie Williams, 51, the ex-leader of the Crips gang who brutally killed four people in 1979, early on Tuesday after top courts and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger rejected final appeals to spare his life. The time of death was 12:35 a.m. PST on Tuesday.

The execution by lethal injection at San Quentin State Prison north of San Francisco followed a frenzied but failed effort to reopen the case by supporters of Williams, who repudiated gang life during his 24 years on Death Row. The case has generated widespread interest and fierce debate over the death penalty in the United States because Williams has written a series of books warning young people against gangs.

Witnesses said guards struggled for about 12 minutes to place the needle in a vein in his left arm, frustrating Williams who occasionally spoke with the guards preparing his death, asking at one point: "Still can't find it?"

After he was strapped down, he raised his head often, especially to look at Barbara Becnel, the editor of his books and foremost supporter who helped bring broad publicity to his case. After his death, Becnel and two other supporters broke the silence in the witness room, saying: "The state of California just killed an innocent man."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&u=/nm/20051213/pl_nm/crime_execution_tookie_dc_32

[Kagemusha]

1. I don't know if he's innocent or reformed.

I sort of doubt he can be both, but a lot argued that he was indeed both.

Arnold seemed confused by it all too.

[stillrockin]

2. I'm ashamed

of our brutal ways. More violence is not the answer. A couple of phrases come to mind: "Vengence is mine" and "We must become the change we want to see". :cry:

[Ready4Change]

3. A moment of silence.

I've thoughts on the matter, but this isn't the moment to voice them.

May he find peace.