Tookie’s Hometown Sendoff

About 150 people, mostly African-American, gathered Monday night in
Leimert Park to pray and remember the life of Stanley “Tookie” Williams. Unlike
the scene outside San Quentin, no TV anchors used the setting as a backdrop;
there were just a few spot-news crews. Still, a couple of people chanted and
held signs that read “Save Tookie,” until a highly agitated man told them to
put down their signs and “Shut the fuck up!” This gathering wasn’t about “that,”
he told them, it’s about “this,” referring to the blue rag he held in his hand.
He placed the blue rag on the protester’s signs and again told them to put
them down. The protestors ignored him so he ripped the signs from their
hands and threw them to the ground. The signs didn’t come up again.

Right after the 11 p.m. news window, with Tookie still alive, the camera crews
hightailed it out of there. One radio reporter later said from the perceived
safety of his car that he was intimidated and “unwelcomed” out of the area.
The crowd ranged in age from teens to people in their 60s.

At 10 minutes to midnight, community leader Naja Ali called for everyone to
gather in a circle and join hands in the middle of the Christmas-lit Leimert
Park. Blue candles, the color of the Crips, burned bright. At midnight, a lone
man began a respectful and passionate prayer and speech in tribute to Tookie.
The circle held together as Tookie was executed in San Quentin. A few people
openly sobbed.

One man, wearing a “No GANGS” button in his hat, held a candle as it burned
down low, spilling hot wax onto his bare hand. He remained still and deep in
prayer.

The only interruption was from a low-flying LAPD chopper that quickly buzzed
over.

All photos by Ted Soqui