Stevio...LA LA Lovin' It?

I'm British-born Chinese from Bristol, UK. I’m LA-based. I’m a hip hop aficionado. After 15 years in London I moved to LA to pursue a new career and outlook on life.

Back in the 80s I was a DJ. In the 90s I contributed to the world's first street style exhibition at London's Victoria & Albert Museum. In 2011, I had my first interviews published. Today, I’m keeping busy with music, art, photos and writing.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

RIP Tookie Williams

I had mixed feelings about the execution of Tookie Williams, co-founder of LA's notorious Crips gang. Recently he has been spotlighted by the Jamie Foxx film, Redemption: Gangster, Death Row Inmate, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee...

The truth is I thought he Tookie Williams was of more use alive than dead. Could he have had a dialog with the Crip gang members today to try to forge some peaceful solution to the conflict in LA? May be, may be not, but executing him could also ignite fury and further alienate inner city youth around the city.

The other view point that was very clear was that Tookie Williams only sought forgiveness after he was imprisioned and there is no doubt he is a murderer. However, he may not have killed the 4 people he was accused of murdering. Since he was imprisoned he has repented and even written a book to help keep the youth off of the streets which was nominated for a Nobel prize.

As reported in the Guardian newspaper: As Schwarzenegger made the final execution decision Leftwing councillors in Graz, his hometown, announced that they are seeking to strip Schwarzenegger of his Austrian citizenship. In a further protest, they also want to rename the local sports complex, now the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium, as the Tookie Williams Stadium.

In a act of pride, Schwarzenegger wrote to the Graz governor: "in order to spare the responsible politicians of the city of Graz further concern, I withdraw from them as of this day the right to use my name in association with the Liebenauer Stadium. . . . I expect the lettering to be removed by the end of 2005. The use of my name to advertise or promote the city of Graz in any way is no longer allowed," continued Arnold. "Graz will not have any problems in the future with my decisions as governor of California, because officially nothing connects us any more." And just for good measure he returned the "Ring of Honor" he was given in 1999 for the "pride and recognition" he brought Graz.

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