I AM STILL TROY DAVIS!
Posted by AdvoCare · 29 Sep 2011 · 2 comments · 1010 views
For many years, I have fought for criminal justice reform and attended vigils outside of our prisons’ death chambers. I have mourned at losses and celebrated victories.
However, I do not know that I have ever felt more violated by our criminal justice system than when I realized our nation was actually going to allow Troy Davis to be executed despite all the evidence that negated his guilt.
Would I have fought for Troy Davis’ release? To be honest, I am unsure. I have not been presented with every piece of evidence. I did not sit on the jury. I would need more information. I do feel certain, however, about being uncertain.
What is so compelling is that one juror from the trial proclaimed that she certainly had reasonable doubt now that the testimony she relied upon was being recanted.
So, why is this so troubling? It has happened before, and it looks as though our nation will allow it to happen again. We know that when an innocent man gets convicted, a GUILTY one remains free. We know that there is so much racial disparity in our system and rarely do murderers, even the admitted ones, get the death penalty for killing a minority victim. Even law enforcement in this case made an abhorrent display of power and mockery while a man’s life was hanging in the balance. But, none of those things are what bothered me the most in this case.
What is truly disturbing to me is that those who do not even make up the majority of our society can mask their hate and revenge by committing this act of murder in my name – on behalf of the people.
Well, I am here to tell you that you did NOT do this in my name for I am Troy Davis, and you have committed this heinous act against me, not for me!
I can only hope that the awareness raised by the killing of Troy Davis will encourage others to question whether they feel just in allowing such things to be done in their name.
I guess the question is not whether you believe that there could be appropriate cases in which to take another’s life, but do you believe with 100% certainty that Troy Davis deserved to be killed? Was it done in your name?
Do you believe with 100% certainty that mother of three, Lena Baker (The Only Woman Electrocuted in Georgia's Electric Chair), deserved to be killed? Was it done in your name?
Do you believe with 100% certainty that 14 year old, George Junius Stinney, Jr. (He was 14 yrs. 6mos. and 5 days old --- and the youngest person executed in the United States in the 20th Century), deserved to be killed? Was it done in your name?
If not, then you need to be stand up and say, “NOT IN MY NAME!”