Troy Davis waits to be executed for a murder he did not commit. The case against him rests on the flimsiest of evidence.
Many of us are aware of the Exonerations Project and the Center for Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University.
Among other things, this proved what many of us have known for many years – African American men are disproportionately convicted, imprisoned and sentenced to execution.
Troy Davis’s case stands out at this time because he is scheduled for execution, because there is practically no evidence against him, and because the courts have refused to reopen his case. He was given a 30-day stay of execution, but this has already passed.
There was no murder weapon and no physical evidence to convict him. Seven of the nine witnesses against him have withdrawn their testimony, stating that they only provided it under duress.
You can read more about this at Sojourner’s Place.
See also Derrick’s Window
Converstions with Marva
So why is this case being upheld?
Why is a retrial not being granted?
Fans of TV dramas such as CSI and Law and Order would strongly object if these shows depicted such a case. No weapon, no forensic evidence. This plot does not hold together.
But this is real life. And history has shown us time and time again that Black people’s lives are not worth much.
He killed a police officer. He must be guilty, regardless of the lack of evidence.
It just seems like the same old thing to me. String another one up. Lynchings, tasings, legal, state-sponsored executions. It all amounts to the same thing. So much African blood being spilled.
Black life is not worth much.
Meanwhile, the real killer is still out there somewhere.
Black life is not worth much.
Think about Samantha Orobator, the young woman from South London who was scheduled for execution in Laos.
Black life is not worth much.
Amnesty International have called for today to be an International Day of Blogging for Action.
Black life is not worth much. Click here to email or fax Georgia’s Governor Perdue and prove that this is not true.
3 comments:
You provided me with some links and information that I didn't know before. I've shared similiar post in support of Troy Davis on my blog today. Hopefully, we can move Gov. Perdue to do the right thing with our prayers, emails, letters and phone calls...
peace, Villager
Much obliged for participating in this important call to action. I hope you will accept a token of my appreciation left at the old SjP’s for you. Just learned that MSM is being denied access to Troy.
Wow this is really sad and I will pray for him.
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