Troy Davis in the Chatham County Superior Court during his trail in the shooting death of off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail. (AP Photo/Savannah Morning News)
A statement from Troy Davis:
The struggle for justice doesn’t end with me. This struggle is for all the Troy Davises who came before me and all the ones who will come after me. I’m in good spirits and I’m prayerful and at peace. But I will not stop fighting until I’ve taken my last breath.
via Amnesty International (h/t SwedishJewfish)
Parole board denies clemency for Troy Davis
The state Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday has denied clemency for Troy Anthony Davis after hearing pleas for mercy from Davis' family and calls for his execution by surviving relatives of a murdered Savannah police officer.
Davis' case has already taken more unexpected turns than just about any death-penalty case in Georgia history and his innocence claims have attracted international attention. Its resolution was postponed once again when the parole board late Monday announced it would not be making an immediate decision as to whether Davis should live or die.
Davis, 42, is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the state prison in Jackson. He was sentenced to death for the 1989 murder of off-duty Savannah Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail.
For background on this case, please read this diary by SwedishJewfish.
Update 1
Amnesty International has released a statement, but I can't find the whole thing. This is what CNN is reporting:
"It is unconscionable that the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles has denied relief to Troy Davis. Allowing a man to be sent to death under an enormous cloud of doubt about his guilt is an outrageous affront to justice," Amnesty International said in a statement Tuesday.
"Should Troy Davis be executed, Georgia may well have executed an innocent man and in so doing discredited the justice system," the statement said.
Update 2
Amnesty International is calling for an action in Atlanta this evening. Please spread the word to anyone you know in the Atlanta area.
Text:
#TroyDavis: clemency denied. sad. outrageous! This is "Day of Protest". wear black armband w/ "not in my name". ATL: capitol 7pm tonite
Update 3
Amnesty International is still asking people to sign a petition. They are trying to get the district attorney to withdraw the death warrant.
Georgia's State Board of Pardons and Paroles has recently rejected Troy Davis' clemency petition. Davis continues to face execution on Wed., Sept. 21 at 7 pm EDT.
We demand that the Board reconsider its decision and demand that Chatham County (Savannah) District Attorney Larry Chisolm seek a withdrawal of the death warrant and support clemency himself.
The NAACP has a similar petition. (h/t RiaD)
Update 4 (h/t Annalize5)
The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty has released a statement and called for action:
"The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty is stunned and disappointed.
"There can be no clearer indication than the Board of Pardons and Paroles decision today, that the system is profoundly and unalterably broken.
"Each institution in Georgia that was charged with the responsibility of doing justice in this case has failed.
"And now the Board of Pardons and Parole has failed miserably even though they had every opportunity to do their job properly.
"It is now clearer than ever -- that the only way to prevent an innocent man from being executed in Georgia is to end the death penalty in that state once and for all.
"We pledge to work with our sisters and brothers in Georgia who have worked tirelessly to prevent the travesty of justice in the Troy Davis case and to retire the peculiar institution known as capital punishment, brick by brick."
The NCADP already had actions planned in the event clemency was denied:
TUESDAY
If Clemency is granted or the execution is temporarily stayed:
-Atlanta: gathering of gratitude at 7pm at Central Presbyterian Church (across the street from the Capitol at (201 Washington St. SW; Atlanta, GA 30303)
-Everywhere: gatherings of gratitude and a call to commit to building the abolition movement are encouraged. Check with your state coalition to see what plans they have.
If clemency is denied:
-We will urge the Board to reconsider, asking everyone to send more emails and faxes to the Board
-Tuesday will be a "Day of Protest"
-People are asked to wear a black armband, with "not in my name!" written on it
-ATLANTA: protest rally at the state capitol 7pm (Washington Street side);
-Everywhere: protests are encouraged. Check with your state coalition to see what plans they have.
WEDNESDAY
If clemency is denied
-Wednesday will be a "Day of Vigil"
-wear black armband, with "not in my name!" written on it
GEORGIA focal events:
a) vigil in Jackson across from the prison at Towaliga County Line Baptist Church;
b) vigil in Atlanta on the capitol steps
Everywhere else: vigils are encouraged. Check with your state coalition to see what plans they have.
Please express your outrage to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles
Address:
2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, SE
Suite 458, Balcony Level, East Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4909
Phone: (404) 656-5651
Fax: (404) 651-8502
Email:
Webmaster@pap.state.ga.us
Update 5 (h/t Lady Libertine)
There is a new call from twitter to contact to the district attorney and pressure him to petition to have the death warrant withdrawn.
Call (404) 656-5651 Listen to menu, press #5 for "Pardons," Ask for DA Chisolm, Leave msg
Update 6
From the ACLU:
The Southern Center for Human Rights is calling for a general strike or sick-out of all execution personnel — doctors, nurses, and guards should stay home tomorrow. The protests will begin at 7 p.m. at the capitol building in Atlanta.
We have one more day to stop this execution, and we’re not giving up. You should continue to take action from wherever you are:
1. Email and call the Board of Pardons and urge them to reconsider: 404-656-5651.
2. Contact the Chatham County District Attorney and urge him to withdraw Troy’s death warrant: phone: 912-652-7308, fax: 912-652-7328.
3. Contact CorrectHealth and call for a general strike of all execution personnel - doctors, nurses, and guards should stay home tomorrow. Urge them not to participate in this travesty of justice: Phone: 770-692-4750; Fax: 770-692-4754