by Marco Rosaire Rossi

Stories of true redemption are rare in our criminal justice system. For that reason alone, those stories ought to be publicly recognized and the redeemed characters ought to be celebrated. That isn't the case. The tragedy of our criminal justice system is that in the majority of cases it will follow punishment through to the end regardless of whether the punishment is rational, just, or compassionate. That is the tragedy of our criminal justice system, and it could be the tragedy of Stanley "Tookie" Williams.

Rally at San Quentin on November 19, 2005 to prevent the execution of Stan Tookie Williams