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)
As I wrote on Saturday, the state of Georgia has set an execution date for Troy Davis for September 21, 2011. Troy has been on death row since he was convicted of murdering a police officer in 1989. Since his conviction, which was based solely on eyewitness testimony, the case has unraveled. Seven of the nine eyewitnesses have recanted their testimony and claim that they pointed the finger at Troy under duress from the police. Of the remaining two, one of them, the first to come forward and accuse Troy, has himself been fingered as the true assailant by a number of other individuals. Amnesty International has produced a short documentary explaining the problems with the Troy Davis case. I've embedded the trailor below.
Links to the full documentary:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
You can also read this Criminal InJustice Kos diary for more background on the case.
The only thing standing between Troy and his execution is a clemency hearing before the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles on September 19, 2011. We have five days to take action to persuade the board to spare Troy's life.
What can you do?
First, write letters to the Governor of Georgia and the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles
Governor Nathan Deal
203 State Capitol SW
Atlanta, GA 30334
Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles
2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, SE
Suite 458, Balcony Level, East Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4909.
Sign petitions being assembled by change.org, Amnesty International, and the NAACP.
Second, ask your friends and family to do the same, most especially anybody that lives in Georgia. Appeals from their own constituents will be the most convincing. Reach out to death penalty supporters and explain why this case should matter so much to them.
Third, participate in a day of action on Friday, September 16, 2011. Justice activists are organizing events around the country to draw attention to Troy's case. If you know of, or want to plan an event, contact Amnesty International or the International Action Center.
These are the events I've been able to find so far:
New York, NY
Friday, September 16, 4:30-6:30pm
Times Square (42nd Street & 7th Ave)
Oakland, CA
Outreach and Rally Friday
Friday, September 16, 4-6 pm
Oakland Federal Building
1301 Clay St., near 12th Street-City Center BART
For more information, call (510) 589-6820 or email california@nodeathpenalty.org.
Atlanta, GA
Friday, Sept. 16, 6 p.m.
March: Assembling at Woodruff Park, Peachtree and Edgewood, and concluding at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 407 Auburn Ave., with a service featuring national civil rights, community and religious leaders, Martina Correia and other family members of Troy Davis, and exonerated prisoners.
Ann Arbor, MI
Thursday, September 15, 7PM
Downtown Ann Arbor
Northeast corner of Main Street and Huron Street
We will be participating in the Global Day of Solidarity a day early. Please join us for a demonstration and petition circulation to help save the life of Troy Davis!
Washington, DC (Link to Facebook event)
Friday, September 16
We'll gather at 6PM at Tivoli Square (Columbia Heights metro station at 14th and Park, NW) to rally. At 7PM we will march to St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church, at 1525 Newton St NW. Please join us there even if you can't make the march!
1525 Newton St. NW Tivoli Square, DC (14th and Park NW) and St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church
Chicago, IL
Friday, September 16, 5-6 pm
Prudential Plaza
130 E Randolph St
Dallas, TX
Friday, September 16, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
El Centro College, by the Pegasus Statue
801 Main Street
chuckvw has information on an event in Seattle
The list of events is growing by the hour. Please check Amnesty's website for more information.
An innocent man is only one week from death. The system has failed him. It's time for the people to rise up against this injustice!