Welcome! "What's Happenin'?" is a casual community diary (a daily series, 8:30 AM Eastern on weekdays, 10 AM on weekends and holidays) where you can hang out, talk about what is going on with you, listen to music, talk about the news and the goings on here and everywhere.
Note: Today, we remember Troy Davis, who was murdered by our government last week. Details about his funeral, held today in Savannah, can be found at the bottom of the news round-up. The music, poetry, and news were chosen in remembrance of Troy.
We Will Never Forget!
News
A Supreme Court Justice reconsiders.
Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens 'Regrets' Voting for Texas Death Penalty
Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has confessed that in 35 years of serving on the nation's highest court, his only regret was voting in 1976 to reinstate the death penalty in Texas, an option he believes the state has used too often.
Texas prosecutors have unfairly exploited the death penalty to their advantage to authorize "so many death sentences in that state," the former just said in a recent interview.
"I really think that I've thought over a lot of cases I've written over the years. And I really wouldn't want to do any one of them over…With one exception," he told ABC on Wednesday. "My vote in the Texas death case. And I think I do mention that in that case, I think that I came out wrong on that," Stevens said.
A death penalty supporter has doubts.
Are we getting the death penalty right?
The idea of Georgia inmate Troy Davis lying on a gurney in an agonizing wait for nine justices hundreds of miles away to resolve in a single-sentence statement that he should in fact die — even if innocent — should be enough to give pause to the most ardent supporters of the death penalty.
Davis was executed for the killing of a police officer 22 years ago, despite scant forensic evidence and recantations over the years of most of the eyewitnesses. Even some of the jurors said they’ve changed their minds about his guilt.
A victim's family says "No!" May we all learn from their example.
Family of hate crime-murder victim asks for death penalty to be removed
The family of James Craig Anderson has asked the state of Mississippi and federal officials to remove the death penalty from the table in regards to the seven white teenagers who allegedly murdered Anderson in the early morning of June 26.
In a letter written by Anderson’s sister, as reported by CNN.com, states:
“We ask that you not seek the death penalty for anyone involved in James’ murder,” the letter states; the letter is signed by Barbara Anderson Young, Anderson’s sister who is in charge of, and speaks for, the estate of Anderson.
As Troy Davis himself told us, there are many others like him...
Another Troy Davis in Missouri
Reggie Clemons faces execution in Missouri with no more evidence of wrong doing than Troy Davis. Like Davis, there is no physical evidence; there are police coercion allegations and a stacked jury in the Clemons case according to Amnesty International that called for public Tuesday to stop this execution.
Clemons, who has been on death row for eighteen years, was sentenced to death in St. Louis as an accomplice to a 1991 murder.
"There was no physical evidence and since allegations have arisen of police coercion, prosecutorial misconduct, and a ‘stacked’ jury in the Clemons case," reported Amnesty International Tuesday.
The time has come for the faith community to speak up.
Christians and Troy Davis
Troy Davis will be buried Saturday in Savannah, Ga.
We all know the “justice” system is flawed and that many factors contributed to the final outcome of his case. But, I beg that as folks point the finger regarding who is at fault that we remember the many innocent death row inmates whose cases were not covered by the media.
I also ask that we, challenge ourselves to do more in our communities on behalf of innocent death row inmates and/or the child in your community who could become tomorrow’s Troy Davis.
In my opinion, many of us who call ourselves Christians could probably stand to evaluate how active we are in preventing the outcomes we criticize most. I think we often focus more on individual “salvation” and “the power of prayer” than the true mission of the church, which is rooted in service and love.
Today we celebrate the life of Troy Davis
Troy Davis funeral set for Saturday in Savannah, Ga.
A parade of nationally known activists and entertainers will be in Savannah, Ga., on Saturday for the funeral of Troy Davis, the Georgia death row inmate and murder convict who was executed last week amid global outcry.
NAACP president Benjamin Jealous and Amnesty International USA executive director Larry Cox will speak and Rev. Raphael Warnock, spiritual advisor to the Davis family and head of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the church of Martin Luther King Jr., will deliver the eulogy.
Troy's family has graciously allowed the NAACP to stream his funeral live over the internet, beginning at 11am.
Troy Anthony Davis
Born October 9, 1968
Murdered by the United States of America on September 21, 2011
Rest in peace, Troy.
Forgive us who let this happen.
May God have mercy on our souls.
So Thank you and remember I am in a place where execution can only destroy your physical form but because of my faith in God, my family and all of you I have been spiritually free for some time and no matter what happens in the days, weeks to come, this Movement to end the death penalty, to seek true justice, to expose a system that fails to protect the innocent must be accelerated. There are so many more Troy Davis'. This fight to end the death penalty is not won or lost through me but through our strength to move forward and save every innocent person in captivity around the globe. We need to dismantle this Unjust system city by city, state by state and country by country.
I can't wait to Stand with you, no matter if that is in physical or spiritual form, I will one day be announcing,
"I AM TROY DAVIS, and I AM FREE!"
Never Stop Fighting for Justice and We Will Win!
~Troy Davis, September 20, 2011
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