While in prison he has become a "reformed/changed" man. He has worked to broker gang peace and appears to have recognized the error of his ways. This doesn't undo his crimes.
I don't care if he convinced some kid to not join a gang, he is directly and indirectly responsible for far more deaths than anyone else on death row. Even if he didn't kill those four people, he was a leader and founder of a violent street gang, there's virtually no chance he didn't murder numerous people in his lifetime. Some people earn the death penalty through a single heinous act, I'd say founding the Crips and the violence that is bound to require from him more than earns Tookie the death penalty.
And about the "Don't do as I did, do as I say" Tookie tells kids not to join gangs bullshit. Did your Dad telling you to do as he said and not as he did have any effect on you? I doubt it. Didn't on me. I never believed that's how you teach a kid to do anything. "Do as I say not as I do" is the epitome of hypocrisy.
Kids see through Tookie. They know he's full of shit. Don't fool yourselves, he doesn't convince a kid who wants to join a gang to not join a gang.
Tookie's not an idiot. Here's how he presents himself now...
Here he is back then...
I do think there is one thing that all of us should be able to agree on in this complicated case...
LOOK AT THAT GUY'S MOTHERFUCKING ARM!!!!!!!
THAT DUDE WAS FUCKING HUGE!!!!!!!
JEEEZUS!!!
Nice 'fro as well.