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TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: JOHN SWEETEN, County Administrator f T Costa
DATE: NOVEMBER 21, 2005 dP Co nty
SUBJECT: HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION REQUEST FOR CLEMENCY
FOR STANLEY "TOOKIE" WILLIAMS
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)8 BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
RECEIVE memorandum from the Human Relations Commission on the petition before the Governor of
California to grant clemency to Stanley"Tookie°Williams.
BACKGROUND:
On November 15, 2005, the attached correspondence from the Human Relations Commission was
received by the County Administrator's Office and is, herewith, transmitted to the Board of Supervisors for
its information.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
ile
DoRECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ❑ RECOMM D TION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
[APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S): '
ACTION OF BO ioN a (P o�
APPROVED AS RECOMMENDEDOTF�R ❑
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT J 1 ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
AYES: NOES:
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED: DECEMBER 6,2005
Contact: JULIE ENEA(925) 335-1077 JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
cc: HARLAN AVERITT,HRC CHAIR
By: �l�G/�-�C �- Deputy
[Passed by Contra Costa County Human Relations Commission 2005]
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTY URGING THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA
TO GRANT CLEMENCY TO STANLEY'"TOOKIE"WILLIAMS
WHEREAS,there is a growing concern throughout the nation about justice, fairness,
effectiveness and the humaneness of the death penalty with respect to Stanley "Tookie"
Williams; and
WHEREAS,there has been concerns raised by elected officials about the constitutionality
and the humanness of execution in the State of California. That the death penalty is applied
in an often racist and class-biased manner; and
WHEREAS, there is racial disparity in the numbers of minorities on death row, in the
number state trial courts and in the number of prosecutors; and
?f
WHEREAS,the prosecutor in Williams'case made racist remarks during the trial likening
Williams to a wild animal; and
WHEREAS, Williams made a significant contribution to gang prevention from his cell on
death row by writing nine children's books and acting as a mentor for the at-risk youth in
California and around the world; and
WHEREAS, Williams has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times for his
gang prevention and violence reduction activities and is credited for saving the lives of
thousands of youths by redirecting them away from gang activities; and
WHEREAS, school districts in California Bay Area use Williams' books and teaching as
part of an anti-gang curriculum; and
THEREFORE,be it resolved that the Contra Costa.County Human Relations Commission
requests clemency for Stanley "Tookie" Williams.