p2pnet - rss feed: Schwarzenegger: angry with Graz
p2p news / p2pnet: Calfornia governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered his home town of Graz in Austria, to terminate his name on its web sites, and to take it off a soccer stadium.
“He was reacting to fierce criticism from opponents in his hometown who denounced him for refusing to block the Dec. 13 execution in California of Stanley Tookie Williams,” says the Associated press.
Williams, who once led the notorious Crips gang in South Central Los Angeles, was killed in the San Quentin prison by a lethal injection on December 13. The pic on the right is from a protest site.
“Late Sunday or early Monday, Graz officials took down the large metal letters spelling out Schwarzenegger’s name on the 15,300-seat arena,” says AP. “On Tuesday, the mayor’s office said references to the actor-turned-politician were scrubbed from Graz’s main Web site and from a sister site devoted to the region’s sports scene.”
Williams’ execution “triggered a firestorm in Europe, and calls mounted for the stadium to be stripped of Schwarzenegger’s name,” says AP. So, “the governor opted for a pre-emptive strike: A week ago, he dashed off a letter to local officials ordering his name to be removed and said he was returning an ornate ring of honor that Graz officials gave him in 1999.
“Capital punishment is illegal in Schwarzenegger’s native Austria, where many people consider it barbaric. Opposition had run especially high in Graz, whose official slogan is ‘City of Human Rights’.”
Also See:
Associated press - Schwarzenegger’s hometown strips references to him from Web sites, December 27, 2003
December 27th, 2005 at 3:18 pm
No matter if he was right or wrong about Tookie, Arnold is an a**hole
My 2 cents -probably worthless-
December 27th, 2005 at 4:24 pm
How touching of the Austrians considering they were more “Nazi” thatn Germans. Such a concern against captital punishment.
December 27th, 2005 at 6:20 pm
I am pleasantly surprised by the reaction of Graz-saludos desde Peru.
Tookie impressed me as someone who rose from the ashes and soared, the best argument there is against capital punishment, regardless of the rights & wrongs of his case. His refusal to ask for forgiveness for something he denies doing, to save his life, certainly grabs the attention. I believe his spirit and example will go on much longer than that of any politician living in his former country, or any other that I can name-perhaps Graz should rename the stadium, Tookie Stadium!!
From person Dada, to persons
Cheers!!!
December 27th, 2005 at 8:07 pm
Huh?? Does he deny forming the Crips too? Done more for children, how, by forming one of the most murderous gangs ever so they could join it and kill each other? I suggest reading - Monster : Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member by Sanyika Shakur to see the real legacy of Tookie.
“perhaps Graz should rename the stadium, Tookie Stadium!!”
Only if they are going to introduce gladiatorial games there, with 9mm gats replacing swords.
December 28th, 2005 at 8:41 am
Whether or not death was warranted, whether or not it was right or wrong, doesn’t really matter. What matters is that Governor Schwarzenegger had the power to save a mans life and chose not to. Arnold Schwarzenegger has always been keen on his accomplisments, and I wonder if he sees this as just another notch in that belt. No matter what side of the fence you may be on, you can’t deny he now has blood on his hands. I guess now he really will be able to say he’s done it all when the time comes. Way to go Schwarzenegger. Way to go. You truly are a role model to look up to.
January 3rd, 2006 at 9:22 pm
Yeah I can understand someone opposing capital punishment but things aren’t the same as they where 20 years ago. The arguement that innocent people might be killed or if they are reformed or rehabilitated in jail that is more valuable than using state sponsored killing. It’s all bs. With the way forensic technology is today you can’t get away with a crime and it’s near on impossible to get away with a crime for any length of time much less for someone who is truly innocent to be put to death for murder. Tookie wasn’t reformed or rehabilitated he was working the system same way every other criminal doing time in a pen all across this country does. He knew he was going to be put to death and was hoping that his kids books would convince people that he had reformed himself. I’m glad arnie didn’t give into the crybabies who wanted a convicted murder to continue to be allowed to leech off the system and refused to grant a stay of execution. He sent the message that those who kill will be held accountable for their actions and forced to take responsibility for the crimes they committ. These boneheads all over this country and in Europe scream about Tookies rights and the rights of those like him while conveniently forgetting about the rights of those whose lives where taken and the rights of the victims loved ones. If I had someone I loved killed by Tookie or any of his crip cohorts I’d want to see the man who formed such a violent gang put to death for his crimes and in the same token I believe that other family members of victims should be granted the same level of justice. Let Europe run things there way so long as they stay the hell of America’s affairs. Arnie did the right thing letting our system work without interference for so called no it all’s and monday morning quarterbacks who would rather protect the rights of evil individuals than using their energies to protect the rights of the innocent being victimized all over this country. Makes me sick.