LOS ANGELES - The pending execution of Tookie Williams [ 1 | 2 ] is set to amplify the anti-execution sentiment world-wide that was recently arroused after the murder of Australian Van Tuaong Nguyen, who was executed in Singapore on December 2 after spending 3 years in prison for drug trafficking.

Local protests are planned tonight in response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's denial of clemency. Death penalty opponents plan to converge on the Governor’s Mansion in Brentwood tonight on the belief that he will be there at the time of the execution. Read Schwarzenegger's statement

Since 2004, there are currently 139 countries that have decided to renounce the the death penalty to differing extents, in an increasing global trend to abolish the death penalty, which has been described by many as barbaric.

The governor’s press office will not disclose where the governor will be at the time of the execution. But it is widely believed that he will either be at the mansion in Brentwood or in hiding at some undisclosed location. There is also a march and rally in Westwood this evening at the federal building. Protesters plan to gather at 6:00 pm and the march is expected to start at 8:30 pm.

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Related Links: American National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty | Amnesty International : Death Penalty | Death Penalty Information Center | 2005 Report on Executions | Save Tookie.org