Jackson's Rally Hides Personal Motives

It is mere hours until the end of the line for Stanley "Tookie" Williams, convicted murderer and founder of the brutal gang known as the Crips, and the celebrities of the left coast are still wailing and gnashing their teeth at the horrible injustice of it all. Despite the brutal murders of four innocent people, such noted personalities as Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg (a former Crip), Mike Farrell and others have poured their time and star-studded influence into a plea for clemency for the gang leader. But the man I find most interesting in his support for Williams?

A group of about three dozen death penalty protesters were joined by the Rev. Jesse Jackson as they marched across the Golden Gate Bridge after dawn Monday en route to the gates of San Quentin, where they were expected to rally with hundreds of people.

What, you ask? That same Reverend Jackson who has in the past railed against the gang culture -- and more specifically against the rival Crips and the Bloods of south central Los Angeles -- and its ravaging affect on the black community? That same Reverend Jackson who claims to stand for the rights and advancement of so-called "African-Americans" and is so quick to rally against anyone -- be it government, corporation, school or individual -- who in his eye is a threat to the freedoms and liberties of his people?

Yup, that's the one.

The Reverend Jackson appeared on CNN today to condemn California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for his denial of a stay of execution. In fact, in an interview last month with FOX News' John Gibson, Reverend Jackson went so far as to intimate that Williams' guilt was questionable.

There is a committee in California setting up a commission on fairness in the administration of justice. Why kill him in December and maybe find out in April it was not necessary?

The case has no witnesses. The case has no blood stain, no DNA. The boot that was his did not match. Gommar's hairs were found on somebody else's bed.

Interestingly enough, Williams' defense has failed in every single appeal over the last twenty years. Even the extremely liberal activist judges of the 9th US Circuit (Circus?) of Appeals just today refused to reopen the case, saying...

...it would not intervene because, among other things, there was no "clear and convincing evidence of actual innocence."

Gov. Schwarzenegger upheld this stance [PDF] when he rejected the last minute plea for clemency.

As usual, the Reverend Jesse Jackson is not one to falter in the face of overwhelming and indisputable facts. But why lend his fame and face to this cause that is so promising of doom? Is it because he sees the White government of this corrupt nation beating down a helpless fellow Black man? Is it because of the injustice of killing a man who has written nine (count 'em) children's books from behind those cold racist bars of prison? Is it because he sees in this poor, downtrodden Black man the chronicle of oppression suffered by the Negroes throughout this nation's history?

Or is it a last ditch effort to assuage his own shameful past of violence and oppression, and a chance to shift some attention off his own judicial troubles? Reverend Jackson is himself due to face the court in January on several charges...

...including: Assault, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and a California Civil Rights Claim. [His son] Jonathan Jackson also will face the additional charges of Battery and False Imprisonment.

Hat-tip to Dave at The Paladin Blog for the reminder about Jackson's upcoming civil trial (although the original post on The Paladin seems to have since disappeared...)