Santa Cruz Rally Against the Death Penalty and to Save Stanley “Tookie” Williams

On November 30, 2005, Santa Cruz was declared as a “World City Against the Death Penalty” by Santa Cruz Mayor, Mike Rotkin. Santa Cruz is one of more than 300 cities worldwide calling for an end to the death penalty.

About thirty people came to Santa Cruz City Hall to protest the planned execution of Stanley “Tookie” Williams and speak out against the death penalty. David Sweet introduced local activists including Ray Glock-Gruenich, Darrell Darling, Betsy Fairbanks, Emily Malony, Wanda Conaway-Knight, Sandino Gomez and Kenny Swain.

Sandino Gomez of the Watsonville Brown Berets, the Resource Center for Nonviolence’s Youth Empowerment Coordinator and ‘The Global Local’ host on Freak Radio Santa Cruz did not have any prepared statements and speaks his heart when it comes to matters like this. Sandino was born and raised in Santa Cruz. He discusses some of his experiences of racism growing up and going to school in Santa Cruz as well as the racial and class prejudice within the entire judicial system, dysfunctional democracy in the US and failed imperialist attempts to “bring democracy” to Iraq and other parts of the world.

Ray Glock-Gruenich

Darrell Darling

Betsy Fairbanks

Emily Malony

Wanda Conaway-Knight

Sandino Gomez

Kenny Swain

See Also:

Save Tookie Williams – Nov. 30th

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Crossposted at Santa Cruz Indymedia.

Santa Cruzans Against the Death Penalty
Ray Glock-Gruenich
Darrell Darling
Betsy Fairbanks
Wanda Conaway-Knight
Sandino Gomez
Kenny Swain
David Sweet
People signed postcards in an attempt to save Tookie’s life
The City of Santa Cruz was declared a “World City Against the Death Penalty” by Santa Cruz Mayor, Mike Rotkin. * This is the same mayor and the same city that has laws against sleeping and using a blanket to keep warm outdoors.
According to a note posted on a pillar, if you have $25 to spend, then Santa Cruz County Community Television will make you a video copy of the November 30, 2005, Santa Cruz protest and rally against the death penalty and to save Stanley “Tookie” Williams.

Author: Bradley Allen

Bradley Allen is a reporter and photographer in the Monterey Bay Area, and a collective member of the San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center (Indybay). Follow him on social media: @BradleySA.