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Options for Crips Founder on Death Row Dwindle

Stanley "Tookie" Williams, co-founder of the Crips gang, says he is prepared to die if California proceeds with plans to execute him on Dec. 13. Wednesday night, Williams phoned from San Quentin Prison to thank supporters for urging California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to stop the execution.

Since his murder conviction, Williams has renounced his gangster lifestyle, written children's books, and been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize -- which supporters cite in their arguments for clemency.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

As an arts correspondent based at NPR West, Mandalit del Barco reports and produces stories about film, television, music, visual arts, dance and other topics.
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