#RIPTroyDavis
The state of Georgia ignored a mountain of evidence andkilled Troy Davis on Wednesday night. But the movementthat grew out of the effort to save his life has cast irreparable doubt on the country’s death penalty system. That a man whose innocence seemed so clear to many—or, at the very least, worth of a second look—can be so hastily killed casts doubt over nearly every stage of his prosecution. And that fact has become a rallying cry for people around the world.
Davis’s case is sadly typical. The Chicago-based Innocence Project, a group that has successfully fought for the exonerations of dozens of people from Illinois’ now-defunct death row, lists eyewitness misidentification and government misconduct as two of the leading causes of wrongful convictions. And even then, questions of guilt or innocence seem almost beside the point when you consider the fact that people of color often receive more harsh sentences for the same crimes as whites, especially when the victim is white. As historian and author William Jelani Cobb told our own Akiba Solomon this week, “The implication is that a white life is worth more.”
Anti-death penalty groups like Amnesty International and the NAACP are working hard to use the momentum surrounding Davis’s case to ask more probing questions about how to fix America’s broken punishment system. Here’s a closer look at who ends up paying the most for which crimes.
Rhonda Cook of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution talks about her role as a witness to the Troy Davis execution:
I’ve done this a dozen times before. On Wednesday, I was a media witness to Troy Anthony Davis’ execution.
“Make no mistake…they call it an “execution”, we call it ‘murder’.
And my mother always told me to call things what they are.
This is a murder.”
~ Ed Dubose, President Georgia NAACP
A Message From Occupied Wall Street (Day Five)
This is the fifth communiqué from the 99 percent. We are occupying Wall Street.
On September 21st, 2011, Troy Davis, an innocent man, was murdered by the state of Georgia. Troy Davis was one of the 99 percent.
Ending capital punishment is our one demand.
On September 21st, 2011, the richest 400 Americans owned more wealth than half of the country’s population.
Ending wealth inequality is our one demand.
On September 21st, 2011, four of our members were arrested on baseless charges.
Ending police intimidation is our one demand.
On September 21st, 2011, we determined that Yahoo lied about occupywallst.org being in spam filters.
Ending corporate censorship is our one demand.
On September 21st, 2011, roughly eighty percent of Americans thought the country was on the wrong track.
Ending the modern gilded age is our one demand.
On September 21st, 2011, roughly 15% of Americans approved of the job Congress was doing.
Ending political corruption is our one demand.
On September 21st, 2011, roughly one sixth of Americans did not have work.
Ending joblessness is our one demand.
On September 21st, 2011, roughly one sixth of America lived in poverty.
Ending poverty is our one demand.
On September 21st, 2011, roughly fifty million Americans were without health insurance.
Ending health-profiteering is our one demand.
On September 21st, 2011, America had military bases in around one hundred and thirty out of one hundred and sixty-five countries.
Ending American imperialism is our one demand.
On September 21st, 2011, America was at war with the world.
Ending war is our one demand.
On September 21st, 2011, we stood in solidarity with Madrid, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Madison, Toronto, London, Athens, Sydney, Stuttgart, Tokyo, Milan, Amsterdam, Algiers, Tel Aviv, Portland and Chicago. Soon we will stand with Phoenix, Montreal, Cleveland and Atlanta. We’re still here. We are growing. We intend to stay until we see movements toward real change in our country and the world.
You have fought all the wars. You have worked for all the bosses. You have wandered over all the countries. Have you harvested the fruits of your labors, the price of your victories? Does the past comfort you? Does the present smile on you? Does the future promise you anything? Have you found a piece of land where you can live like a human being and die like a human being? On these questions, on this argument, and on this theme, the struggle for existence, the people will speak. Join us.
We speak as one. All of our decisions, from our choice to march on Wall Street to our decision to continue occupying Liberty Square, were decided through a consensus based process by the group, for the group.
Note: Our use of the one demand is a rhetorical device. This is not an official list of demands. Click Here to learn more about how you can participate in the democratic process of choosing the “one demand”.
The 15 most disgusting Twitter responses to Troy Davis’ Murder. (via BuzzFeed)
Lots of News Corp. on there and a former congressman (last 5 presented with quote because Tumblr only allows 10 photos in a set apparently)
1. New York Post (Owned by Rupert Murdoch)
2 & 3. Ann Coulter (Gets paid by News Corp.)
4. “Pussy and Heroin” (They seem very proud to be on this list) Their Tumblr
6. Anthony Cumia from the Opie and Anthony show
7. Tammy Bruce (Gets paid by News Corp.)
9. “Jimmiebjr” His website
10. Frank Fleming
11. Tabin
“Women are killed for breaking religious laws that I am told to “coexist” with & people are going crazy abt a convicted cop-killer? #huh?
12. Neal Boortz
“Is Troy Davis dead yet? Can we speed this thing up? I have a drink ready to toast this cop killer gonig charlie tango”
13. Jake Bradford
“Will there ever be a trending RIP for a white cop-killer death row inmate? Maybe the 5th of never……..”
14. Tea Party Organizer Maggie Acerra
“The people so anxious to return this sociopathic cop-killer to the streets don’t live in his neighborhood”
15. White Supremacist David Duke
“Am I the only one who thinks even if Troy Davis wasn’t guilty of this crime he was probably guilty of another? So good riddance!”
The kinds of people who support the death penalty: Bigots, opportunists, ignoramuses.
I don’t normally like to reblog things with this much hate. But it’s good to be reminded of how other people think. When I wonder why we can’t make any progress toward good in this country, I just have to remind myself that we are surrounded by folks who believe in this manner.
Spot the difference.
A compelling indictment of the Georgia Board of Pardons. This makes the case for opening up their proceedings to the public all the more compelling.
If one of our fellow citizens can be executed with so much doubt surrounding his guilt, then the death penalty system in our country is unjust and outdated.
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Former U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter, quoted in Ga. execution leaves debate over guilt unresolved | ajc.com Carter says he hopes the Troy Davis case will lead the nation to reject capital punishment. (via tartantambourine) Along with President Carter, I hope that the lynching of Troy Davis will be the turning point and that the USA will join the rest of the civilized world and abolish the death penalty. (via timetruthhumor) |
