Inside speakers included the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Bruce Gordon of the NAACP, Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam, recording artist Snoop Dogg, human rights advocate Bianca Jagger and closed with a speech by Tookie’s son.

The services were intensely passionate, part solemn, part outrage. But mostly it was a celebration of Williams life and his redemption.

Outside there was some tension when hundreds of LAPD showed up in full riot gear. There seemed to be no need for this excessive display by the LAPD. The crowd was peaceful and orderly and crowd control was being well managed by the organizers of the event.

I saw no incidences that would merit the deployment of so many riot police to this event.