The Impending Execution of Troy Davis
The state of Georgia is about to execute a man who is almost certainly not guilty. Seven out of the nine witnesses who provided all the evidence in the case have recanted their testimony. Prominent figures all over the world, including Jimmy Carter, Pope Benedict and former FBI Director William Sessions are standing behind accused “cop killer” Troy Anthony Davis, who will be executed Tuesday evening unless the Georgia Board of Pardons intervenes.
NPR had some great coverage of the situation this morning. And Davis’s support group has a site with tons of material about the case.
We urge you to contact the Georgia Board of Pardons and demand they issue a stay of execution, at the very least. Tell them the whole nation — indeed the world — is watching as Georgia prepares to murder a man who most witnesses say did not commit the crime of which they helped convict him.
Call: 404-656-5712
Fax: 404-651-8502
Email: clemency_information@pap.state.ga.us
Update (9/23): For those who haven’t heard, The US Supreme Court granted Davis a stay of execution until they can consider ordering new hearings on the matter. So he’s still alive, for now.
From WaPo:
The stay of execution will remain in effect while the Supreme Court considers Davis’s appeal. Davis wants the high court to order a judge to hear from the witnesses who recanted their testimony and from others who say another man confessed to the crime.
See also this horribly headlined AP story, or this from AFP.
Pete,
How can anyone who believes in the death penalty say with a clear conscience that every person that has ever been put to death has been totally guilty and has recieved a fair and impartial trial?
We are human and prone to prejudices. If one innocent person has been executed because of bias and weakness, that should throw doubt into the whole justice system.
badog5
B.C. Weasel Reply:
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:15 pm
well said. the criteria for putting people to death should be much more rigerous to eliminate as much as possible the “fudge factor.”
Big Al Reply:
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
The US needs to ban the Death Penalty. It is ridiculous and a real blight on our country. What separates us from Iran and China and Saudi Arabia and the like when we continue to kill people, some of whom are innocent, after all. Barbaric.
Let’s face it, many of the folks on death row where never pillars of their communities. Many have rap sheets longer than a roll of toilet paper.
But that said, if even one innocent is convicted and put to death then a terrible travesty has been committed.
Just being a slime ball is no reason to be executed.
If it where, we’d have a sudden drop in population!
Should we be proud that many other countries in the world that have the death penalty are middle eastern theocracies?
This situation is just another example of the injustice that still remains in this country. To anyone who upholds the death penalty I ask? What would Jesus do?
Woohoo they just stayed the execution! Praise Jebus.
Glad I went to website and wrote the letter to board and governor - Probably didn’t have the weight the Pope did, but what the heck!
Here is a Thomas Jefferson quote for all to chew on
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs. Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802)
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)