The clemency petition of Troy Davis has been denied by the Georgia Board of Paroles and Pardons. The decision came this morning after the board heard pleas from both sides of the case to either condemn Davis to death or let him live. Davis is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection Wednesday night at 7 pm.
The Your Black World Coalition, the NAACP, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Dr. Boyce Watkins and even former President Jimmy Carter, along with others throughout the world, have expressed their discontent about the case. Out of the nine original witnesses to the murder, seven have recanted or changed their stories. In spite of this evidence, the board still decided that Davis should be killed for his crimes
Davis' sister, Martina Correia, said that having the execution of her brother scheduled repeatedly has been difficult. “It’s been like reliving a nightmare over and over. ... But we believe in our brother’s innocence.”
The family of the officer who was killed, Mark MacPhail, was anxious to finally see Davis put to death.
“He’s guilty,” said MacPhail’s widow, Joan MacPhail-Harris. “We need to go ahead and execute him.”
She also expressed the anger that her family has about the death of Officer MacPhail:
"What a travesty it would be if they don't uphold the death sentence. ... It's time for justice today. My family needs justice. He was taken from us too soon, too early.”
Thousands of people from around the world gathered in Atlanta to protest the execution of Troy Davis. Hundreds of thousands of letters and signatures were sent to the parole board, and people held vigil for Davis around the globe.
The parole board in Georgia has sole authority to deny or grant petitions for clemency. It has commuted just three death sentences over the past decade. The board chose to deny clemency to Davis in spite of the fact that numerous witnesses and even one of the original jury members, has expressed more than reasonable doubt about Davis' conviction.
15 comments:
This truly makes me sad to know that someone is going to have their life taken tomorrow. It makes me angrier to know that someones life is going to be, according to the law,'justifyably' being taken. It amazes me. We kill him for killing? That just makes it ok? Whether he did it or not (I don't know, I wasn't there), to kill anyone is going against the christian values on which this country is built upon. How can you say you're one nation under God, but you take God out of schools, introduce gay teachings in schools and kill of God's people? Yeah, I'm pretty sure God is pleased with that
Amen, Entertainment writer! I wasn't there nor do I know any facts of the case. However, if all of this evidence has come forth, I don't understand why they won't grant him a stay so that things can be looked into further. He is in GA so I don't think 'the powers that be' give a care. It ain't over until God says it's over! If He allows this execution to go on then there has to be a plan in this. If you listen to the family of that police officer, you can gather that they don't care who dies for it, as long as somebody does and a black man is just as good as any. I wonder what would happen to this country if we (African Americans) truly 'go back to Africa', as we have been so rudely and evily told to do, and take with us our patents and copyrights to all we have built, invented and contributed to in this country? Since we were stolen and brought here, is the government going to pay for our leaving? Makes you wanna say, "Mmmmm?"
Well said Entertainment Writer and D4Him. I don't know all of the facts either....but at this point it obviously does not matter. I lift this issue to God the Father and pray that He has mercy on Troy Davis' soul, the family of the slain officer and ours.
Where's The Faith?
It is apparent that the truth has no place in the Georgia system of law. Over and over again, this state has shown that they do not think they can err when it comes to judging a man's guilt or innocence. I have personally encounter young men who have been caught in the webs of situations not their own but eventually convicted of things they did not do. When they can not convict they drum up peple who will say things to get them a conviction, but now when someone says you did not give me all the facts to make a sound decision, they say, so what or at least that is what I hear. God help anyone who gets entangled in the Georgia legal system, they have nothing but the self righteousness of their state to up hold and certainly they are not interested in the truth. If being wrong is worst than taking a life then death truly reigns and soon victims will respond according. May the Lord help us all for in reality it is not justice we seek, but righteousness. That is what the law was leading us to, but we have lost our way. At least some of us have.
I agree with all the above comments it's so sad my prayers are with both families!
The parole board of Georgia will also be judged by the highest court in the world for their decision. I hope they can handle it.
Amen to the above comments! It truly behoves me that people will not stand up for what is right and righteous when given the opportunity! I am not familiar with the case but it seems mighty strange that 7 out of 9 "witnesses" can recant their story and a juror can express doubt but because this is a black man in the south; it is justifible to put him to death without knowing who is actually guilty of the crime for which he has been convicted! These are "our leaders"...running the justice system. I know I fall short of His glory and expect that I to, will meet my judgement day. I have and continually repent and stay faithfully on my knees. However, for those who have been called to be leaders/teachers; His word says do not call yourself a TEACHER/Leader for they will be JUDGED Heavier!!! Meaning He expects and desires MORE from them than the average person...James 3:1
As a mother, a sister, a Grandmother and a Great-Grandmother of young Black men, my heart goes out to those grieving friends and relatives of this young Black man. I say grieving because it seems that the Powers that be decided that this young Black man or someone has to pay for the death of this person. And I agree that someone, being the person who committed the crime should pay; not just putting anyone to death to send a message to "would be criminals." And someone has the POWER TO STOP this senseless killing. It is the DUTY of those in charge to find the guilty person and hold them accountable. That's what they get paid for. It is high time that we stop accepting mediocrity in our law enforcement.
As a mother, a sister, a Grandmother and a Great-Grandmother of young Black men, my heart goes out to those grieving friends and relatives of this young Black man. I say grieving because it seems that the Powers that be decided that this young Black man or someone has to pay for the death of this person. And I agree that someone, being the person who committed the crime should pay; not just putting anyone to death to send a message to "would be criminals." And someone has the POWER TO STOP this senseless killing. It is the DUTY of those in charge to find the guilty person and hold them accountable. That's what they get paid for. It is high time that we stop accepting mediocrity in our law enforcement.
With so many unanswered questions and shaky evidence in this case, I'm not at ease with this decision. What do we do if/when he is executed and it is discovered later that he was innocent? How do we undo THAT injustice? Is Georgia so eager to please the family of the slain officer that they refuse to make that they have the correct man 100% Too many innocent men & women have been executed.Isn't it worth making sure that this execution is justifiable?
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS "THE LAW" AS IT PERTAINS TO "DOUBT" HAS BEEN "IGNORED". THE "WIIL OF THE PEOPLE" VIA "THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS" OF PETITIONS, HAVE BEEN "IGNORED". SO IF THE "LAW OF THE LAND" AND THE "WILL OF THE PEOPLE" ARE MADE "NULL AND VOID" WHAT PREMISE REMAINS BY WHICH TO "STAND" AND DEMAND "JUSTICE"? WE MUST CONSIDER AND "ADDRESS" THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THESE ACTIONS FOR THE SCOPE IS MUCH LARGER THAN "TROY DAVIS" AND INDEED PERTAINS TO US "ALL". MR. DAVIS "UNDERSTOOD" THAT, BUT WHETHER OR NOT THOSE WHO INTERCEDED ON HIS BEHALF UNDERSTAND THIS, REMAINS TO BE SEEN IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOW.
I have read the comments with much respect as all of them breathe reason, and love.
But I do say this: since when are we all think we are defeated already? Because one human judge signs something, One other Judge can overturn that. So pray as if your own lives are at stake!
Until the news God forbid reaches us all that prayer has become futile let's not stop. The verdict can still be stopped. Our God is a all powerful God. Even though some humans may consider Him harmless or non-existent or worse: think they themselves are gods. Pray as if your hair is on fire!
I'm not a family member so I don't know what they're going though right now. I do know that it must be a long drawn out process for them and they want justice! But, if they truly want justice to be served, wouldn't they want the real killer identified? I'm not saying Mr. Davis is innocent, but if he didn't do it, the person who deserves to rot in jail is still roaming the streets! I would be outraged....
Prayers goes out to both families. God is calling the shots here. Not a jury, judge, DA, Defense Lawyer, protesters/supporters or the powers here in the flesh. I trust God and I never guestion him. If Troy is innocent, and they go through with the execution, I'm sure God will find him a NEW HOME. A place we ALL would rather be.....
This is Justice Dixie Style and nothing has changed with the tan puppet in the White House.
Can America's first Black President in the modern day era do something to stop this state sponsored murder?
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