Is the State of Georgia set to put an innocent man to death? The answer to this question is YES, unless Georgia Governor Perdue intervenes.
Troy Anthony Davis has been held on Georgia's Death Row for nearly 2 decades. Convicted of the murder of murder of Police Officer Mark MacPhail. Despite the facts that there was no physical evidence tying him to the murder, no murder weapon was found, and 7 of the 9 witnesses have recanted or contradicted their own testimony appeals to the highest state and federal courts - including the US Supreme Court - have all refused to hear or denied requests for a new trial.
Most recently, the Georgia Board of Pardon and Paroles has voted to deny clemency even though the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, Leah Ward Sears, in a scathing dissent wrote:
If recantation testimony, either alone or supported by other evidence, shows convincingly that prior trial testimony was false, it simply defies logic and morality to hold that it must be disregarded categorically. A judge should consider the new evidence.Amnesty International, the organizer of this Global Day of Action for Troy Davis, further states that:
...The case against him consisted entirely of witness testimony...Many of these witnesses have stated that they were pressured or coerced by police. One of the two witnesses who has not recanted or contradicted testimony is Sylvester Coles, the principal alternative suspect. Nine individuals have signed affidavits implicating Sylvester Coles. Troy Davis has never had a hearing in federal court on the reliability of the witness testimony used against him.So, what happens now? Troy's 30-day stay of execution expired on Friday, May 15, 2009 and as such Governor Perdue holds his life - possibly the life of an innocent man - in his hands. As indicated in the online petition to the Governor, he alone has the power "to see to it that the death sentence of Troy Davis is commuted, in order to ensure that Georgia does not put to death a man who may well be innocent."
Sojourners, I urge you to join us in this call to help save the life of a man who may be innocent. You may do so in a number of ways, joining thousands throughout the United States and the world, to bring focus to the empending execution of Troy Davis. Write a post, visit other bloggers participating in this registered Amnesty International blogging campaign, sign the online petition, or see what's been organized in your state or country. Time is running out...but, it has not run out!
Much obliged to the following Sojourners for participating in this Global Blogging Day of Action for Troy Davis:
African American Political Pundit – AAPP aka LN Rock
Obliged to you for hearing me,
and now old SjP ain't got nothin' more to say...
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