AHMAD"S: Too Much Doubt

Troy Davis was convicted of murdering a Georgia police officer in 1991. Nearly two decades later, Davis remains on death row — even though the case against him has fallen apart.

The case against him consisted entirely of witness testimony which contained inconsistencies even at the time of the trial. Since then, all but two of the state's non-police witnesses from the trial have recanted or contradicted their testimony.

Many of these witnesses have stated in sworn affidavits that they were pressured or coerced by police into testifying or signing statements against Troy Davis.

One of the two witnesses who has not recanted his testimony is Sylvester "Red" Coles — the principle alternative suspect, according to the defense, against whom there is new evidence implicating him as the gunman. Nine individuals have signed affidavits implicating Sylvester Coles.

Breaking News: An execution date for Troy Davis is scheduled for September 21! In the days before Davis' execution, the Georgia Board of Pardons & Paroles will hold a final clemency hearing – a final chance to prevent Troy Davis from being executed.

Troy Davis Execution Set For Sept. 21

Death Penalty, Prisoners and People at Risk, USA | Posted by: Brian Evans, September 6, 2011 at 8:05 PM

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An execution warrant setting Troy Davis’ execution has been signed by a Chatham County judge. The execution date has now been set for September 21st.

An execution is NOT inevitable. This merely sets the clemency process in motion. Before Sept. 21, the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles will rule on whether Troy Davis’ sentence should be commuted, or whether the execution should be carried out as scheduled. Previously, the Board stated that it would not allow an execution unless there was “no doubt” as to guilt.

Amnesty International will call an International Day of Solidarity for Troy Davis once we know a little bit more about the plans of the Parole Board. Get started – organize for Troy now, and please check back here or atjusticefortroy.org for further updates.

Troy Davis was convicted of murder in 1991. Nearly two decades later, Davis remains on death row — even though the case against him has fallen apart. Learn more about Troy’s case.

Tags: abolish the death penalty, clemency, death penalty, doubt, state of georgia, troy davis, u.s. scheduled executions

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123 Responses to “Troy Davis Execution Set For Sept. 21”

mary-louise scott Says:
September 6th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Totally against all capitol punishment. Whether guilty of the most heinous crimes or not, we as a people have no right to take a life in everyone’s name. Life without parole is acceptable. We are the only “civilized” nation left that uses capitol punishment.
Lily A Says:
September 6th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
? What i am supposed to put here? I am against execution in general…
Maui Pete Says:
September 6th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
I am against capital punishment for only one reason – that if even once an innocent is killed we are collectively guilty of murder.
Suzi Says:
September 6th, 2011 at 10:45 pm
I have read every article on this trial and the death sentence is the right
one for someone who kills a police officer, he knows this in his heart or he would have tried to free himself instead of ask for life without parole.
Gene Douglas Says:
September 6th, 2011 at 10:45 pm
So how are you supposed to do something to protest?
sillama Says:
September 6th, 2011 at 10:50 pm
“Thou shalt not Kill” is still in the Ten Commandments, I believe. It’s time to start following it. “He who is without sin among you, cast the first stone.” I think that answers the “What would Jesus do?” question.
With all the doubts in this case, it is a miscarriage of justice to forbid another trial.
David Henley Says:
September 6th, 2011 at 11:51 pm
There are some things worse than death…life without parole being one of them.
Susan O'Connell Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:19 am
“Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for you own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends.”
-J.R.R Tolkien
Rebecca Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:36 am
Release this innocent man!!! I will not accept anything else. There is more than reasonable doubt. It all adds up to he did not do it.
Jessica Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:45 am
I’m not sure how anyone could have read every article on this case of and not know that Troy Davis has been virtually screaming from the rooftops (as much as someone on death row can) that he is innocent of this crime. He has spent the last twenty years doing everything he can to convince a court that there is too much doubt to execute him. The fact that our justice system is flawed does not mean he has conceded his guilt.
julie Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:59 am
I can’t stop crying…I know we’re supposed to have faith and hope and all that, but am afraid I don’t have any of that left—irony is that in the past, a letter from Troy would have given me hope…I grew up a christian, believing and all that, but can’t summon the comments saying on all the websites that god is faithful, god is our hope, just can’t find it anymore. Whenever I write Troy I send all the uplifting messages, but I don’t really believe em—there’s no justice on this earth, maybe a fluke every now and then…let’s hope there is a heaven cause this world’s a hell…sorry to share my despair guys
Michelle Kolpack Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 1:04 am
Suzi, what are you talking about? That doesn’t make any sense. Even if you insist on telling yourself that executing someone who killed a police officer provides some kind of justice, you don’t appear to be considering the possibility that the state put the wrong person on death row and Troy Davis is innocent. If you are truly so informed and have read every article on this case, where is your response to the mountain of evidence that points to Troy Davis’s innocence?? Are you insisting that there is such a thing as a perfect system, comprised of perfect people, who function perfectly 100% of the time? And do you support the state killing innocent people? If you consider the fact that institutions and people can NEVER be 100% perfect, 100% of the time, then you can’t rationally support the death penalty. Given that people and institutions make mistakes, it is unavoidable that the death penalty kills innocent people. Given that so many people and institutions are severely bigoted, people who were later proven to be innocent have already been put on death row, murdered and/or spent decades in jail for crimes they did not commit. Furthermore, this is especially the case for black men, even more so in the south. A shockingly disproportionate number of black men have been proven innocent after being subjected to trials and convictions that were based on racial hatred! Sadly, it appears that Troy Davis could be another person who is killed for being black and struggling through a bigoted system run by bigoted people.
So, I leave you with these questions, Suzi:
With so much evidence pointing to Troy Davis’s innocence, how can you advocate his execution? It’s time for you to do some deep searching and be honest with yourself. Could bigotry of your own be clouding your perspective of Troy’s case? If so, be aware that your racism is supporting this bigoted system that now uses the penal system, instead of nooses and lynch mobs, to kill black men out of white supremacist hatred. If racism is not influencing your perspective, how can you assume so easily, when there is overwhelming evidence of his innocence and his life is on the line, that Troy Davis is guilty?
Margo Schulter Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 1:18 am
Apart from the inherent inhumanity of the death penalty, there is this case, at the very least, what the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment in the UK in 1953 termed a “scintilla of doubt” concerning the prisoner’s guilt, and noted as one of the reasons militating powerfully for clemency in death penalty cases. While the UK abolished the death penalty for murder in 1965, and for all of the remaining “extraordinary” crimes such as treason, piracy, and military offenses by 1998, the wisdom of that concern about “a scintilla of doubt” remains true for any jurisdiction which has not yet taken the civilizing step of abolition. The Model Penal Code of the American Law Institue (ALI), as adopted in 1962, also contained an optional death penalty provision, Section 210.6 (1) (f), requiring a trial judge to exclude the death penalty if “although the evidence suffices to sustain the verdict, it does not foreclose all doubt respecting the defendant’s guilt.” This safeguard, so applicable to the case of Troy Davis even if follows the view of federal Judge Moore that he has not “proven his innocence,” ironically appears in the optional death penalty provision of the Model Penal Code withdrawn by the ALI in 2009 because the Institute had concluded a minimally fair death penalty system simply did not appear practical to operate in the real world, based on three decades of experience in the U.S.A. Yet even under the ALI’s code as adopted in 1962, and in the spirit of the Royal Commission’s report in 1953, Troy Davis should have his sentenced commuted to life without parole. That is indeed an awesome punishment for the killing of a peace officer, a heinous crime — assuming Davis is guilty, of course!
P.C. Lowry Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 1:20 am
I’m completely appalled that the state of Georgia refuses to admit it has made a terrible mistake in Troy’s case.
How could any state even consider executing a person unless there is NO DOUBT that the person is guilty? Executing a person on such questionable testimony alone, without hard evidence, is nothing short of MURDER.
This could happen to ANY of us.
May justice prevail & the state of Georgia right this horrible wrong.
Tamarah Browder Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 2:14 am
Looking into holding some type of event. May just be me passing out flyers downtown, but I’d rather do something no matter what.
charlie ervin Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 4:57 am
Come on ppl let’s come together and stop this for Troy
Karen Rebb Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 5:59 am
With so much doubt and so much evidence pointing to Troy Davis’ innocence, the only just and merciful conclusion is to grant him clemency.
Willfully executing an innocent man would be “murder” and a heinous crime. There is still time for the State of Georgia to rectify this barbaric decision.
Extinguishing the death penalty is long overdue.
Marthel Stojanovic Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 7:55 am
what a sad place america is when you kill your own., when you sit in judgement of others, just think, what if it were your son sitting in death row, would you push the death penalty then…….what a superior breed you are!!!!!!! has Troy not suffered enough, has he not served his time, glad i’m not American and can stand before God and say “oh i was in agreement to the death penalty”
Marthel Stojanovic Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 7:59 am
sorry meant to say ” was not in agreement of the death penalty” God bless you Troy, will pray for you
Wynn M Chapman Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 8:20 am
What’s with the State of Georgia? Killing an innocent man in the name of the law is just murder, and revenge, and nothing less! Troy Davis is innocent – full stop. I am proud and humbled to have been one of Troy’s tribe of letter-writing supporters and I look forward so much to his replies. He doesn’t whine – he just asks for justice. A justice which looks as if it’s been put on the back burner, once again.His letters make me smile and he gives me hope that there are good people in this weird world. Troy, Martina and Troy’s family are an inspiration to us all and I have so much respect and compassion for them at this dreadful time. Justice and Troy Davis matter very much.
Judith Bond Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 9:03 am
I was sick yesterday when my sister called and told me about Troy. My sister had made a bond with Troy and his family and she introduced me to them throgh letters. I look forward to Troy’s letters because he is such a strong person and has so much faith. He and his family have been my angels even though they have been going through so much they give me strength when I am going through something because of the faith they have. It is sad that the Georgia State Justice system has so much hatred that they will not admit that they have made a mistake and want to murder an innocent man. I am praying that it is God’s will that justice wil be done for Troy.
Carole Weiss Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 11:47 am
I believe in social justice, not in execution. I wish the hardened hearts would soften and stop this injustice. Am I asking too much?
Ohmygod Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Dear Sillama,
“Thou shalt not kill”… Does that count for all ?? How about an eye for an eye?
I agree nobody is without sins, but all depends on what kind of sin right? We can not just walk around killing people and come with that excuse.
Besides that, those who wrote these words you are using so fondly are the biggest criminals on earth. Just think about it. Maybe it will make some sense to you.
Good luck
god Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
This seems like ga is about to commit premeditated first degree murder of a human to show humans who murder that murdering humans is wrong. Babylon the fire will burn you burn you.
Oimwoomwio Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
I have thought a lot about the death penalty. In my youth, I was a staunch supporter of ultimate retribution in the name of deterrence, and all that.
Upon investigation and long reflection, my view has changed.
I still think I could support capital punishment under the following condition:
In any capital sentencing proceeding, a sentence of death may be applied if and only if the witnesses for the prosecution, the prosecutors, the members of the jury, and the judge all sign binding agreements to themselves be put to death if it ever be demonstrated that they caused and innocent man to be condemned…
I sadly suspect that we would see the execution rate plummet dramatically in such a scenario.
sam Jebananthan Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Please do a thorough investigation, please look over all evidense before you execute him.I pray God will intervene on his behalf if innocent.
victoria Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Our legal system is so full of error that I don’t understand how anyone can live with themselves knowing they MIGHT put to death an innocent man. I know it must happen all the time and especially if the case is based on eyewitness testimony. It is SUPER faulty..
Franz J Fortuny Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
“Don’t judge me”, that’s what we say when people start talking without knowing our integral reality. We “judge” people all the time. But when as the result of legal judgement a person is condemned to death, if the legal system made a mistake, there is absolutely no way to fix it. This is a very simple and very old reasoning argument. In the Troy case 7 out 9 witnesses have changed the sense of their declarations. Whoever is in charge of stopping this madness should act now!
Jean-Marie Delthil (France) Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Dear Friends,
What a shock about this sad news, about this date of 21 th september…
Troy is innocent : it is evident, it is absolutely evident !! – So, I live very far from Troy and from all his familly, but I pray for him, I pray for them…
Troy will not die, he will not be executed : it is the deep of my prayers…
With all my Love.
Jean-Marie Delthil (France)
Tina S. Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Two words: Reasonable Doubt.
Robert M. Moore Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
It is, thou shall not murder, there is nothing morally wrong with killing. The eye for an eye was superseded by forgiveness and love. Also, the penalty for all sin is death, there are no degrees. We are not to judge others but rather judge their actions of purpose.
I wil pray to the ALMIGHTY FATHER for Troy Davis.
The Editors Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
Thanks for all your comments. We just put up another post with 3 things you can do to help stop the execution:http://blog.amnestyusa.org/deathpenalty/dont-let-georgia-kill-troy-davis/
Helen Speight Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Let justice be done, and do not execute this innocent man.
Denzell Stricker Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
This case screams reasonable doubt. Executing Troy Davis is NOT justice. It is not to late for Georgia to right this wrong they have made. Troy Davis should be granted clemency instead of being executed. God Bless you Troy and your family I will keep you in my prayers. Georgia, please do not execute this innocent man.
anneke berken Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
I no longer believe the death penalty is a punishment we should apply as a nation/as part of our world. I did believe it could be a just(ified) sentence for many years of my life.
Even though recent events in my personal life have given me many dreams about death of a close family member who perpetrated unthinkable crimes on a small child, I can no longer be for such a punishment.
Please stop this execution.
Corinne Johnston Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
I am begging the State of Georgia not to do this. This is so wrong on so many levels. Think of Officer McPhail – the victim in this matter. You can never get justice by executing someone who has been railroaded right from the start.
I am a Police Foundations student and also studying to be a Paralegal. I consider the Police to be people we respect and admire. Officer McPhail wasn’t on duty that night, but he responded as a Police Officer should and sadly lost his life. The question is WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER AND TOOK HIS LIFE?
The answer is NOT TROY DAVIS? You have far too many doubts to consider this a clear cut capital punishment case. Please don’t do this! This is not the kind of notoriety and fame that your beautiful State needs.
Please do not execute Troy Anthony Davis
Corinne Johnston
Sandy Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Do not execute this man if there is reasonable doubt. Man up and own the mistake that has been made by the justice system. This screams innocence. From what I’ve read, this isn’t justice. It is wrong to execute someone who is innocent. What a load of s–t. Point the finger at anybody, to close the case. God bless you Troy, and your family, and may peace be with you.
Corinne Johnston Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
I don’t mean to offend anyone on this link but it seems ironic that Muslim countries execute people whether or not they’ve done something to deserve it and the United States of America does the same thing.
Wow! This month I will light a candle to remember those murdered on September 11, 2001 and I will light another candle if the State of Georgia murders Troy Anthony Davis
Corinne Johnston
Katharina Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
I am begging to save the life of this man. Death penalty is always a crime, there is no reason of killing a person- but in this case it is even worth, it seems that he is not guilty.
I am begging the USA, the state of Georgia- do not kill this man- there are so many douts- what if he is innocent? Everybody involved in this case should immaginate how he or she would feel like if he/she would be killed without having done something wrong?
You want to punish someone for a murder, but what if this will be the second murder in this case?
KM Pruett Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 8:48 pm
I believe the stiff-necked intransigence of these people is far less a matter of any sort of principle, and far more one of protecting their own careers and image. They believe — so it appears to me — that if they allow their actions in this case to lose the gloss of validity which has so perversely been lent those actions, they may find themselves not only embarrassed in this one instance, but also exposed to new scrutiny in all their other work, their other completed cases being revisited one-by-one and in some cases reversed, and all their future work being met with extreme skepticism by the public and in particular, juries. In some instances that may be unavoidable — probably some of them do need to be removed from their jobs; some may perhaps even face serious consequences for having selectively, maliciously prosecuted the innocent and obstructed justice, sometimes even having allowed the actual perpetrators to go free. Those particular individuals, and they know who they are, have good reason to be afraid. No course of action they choose now can guarantee them exemption from potential consequences.
But what is the old adage about finding you’ve dug yourself into a hole? The first thing to do is, STOP DIGGING.
I believe there will be death-penalty reform, even in the State of Georgia. The question is, how many more people who have not been proved guilty will have their lives sacrificed to the false gods of political self-preservation and hateful, random Revenge before that happens? LISTEN, you prosecutors and judges and police: You can choose that way which has a future by becoming part of the solution, by admitting your methods have led to too many wrongful results in the past and by getting out in front of the issue as reformers; and not only will History be kind to you, but in the nearer term the Public will be more kindly disposed toward you as well — so long as you make them understand exactly why you are changing your stance, and at long last are standing up on the right side of this question — regarding Troy Davis, and any and every other person whose case sufficiently resembles his by virtue of that sacred cornerstone of justice, Reasonable Doubt.
Or, you can continue to be part of the problem, by staying immovably committed to sending to their deaths men and women on whom the presumption of innocence rightfully remains; and History, and also your own consciences, will place you in the column of those who were so corrupt, they were actually willing to kill the innocent for their own short-term expedience. May God have mercy on your souls for that. But before you meet Him, you WILL encounter Reform, face to face; and when you do, if you have not already chosen to lead the way as a reformer, you will indeed become the object of that Reform, and the judgment of righteous people everywhere — but especially in Georgia and in your own houses — will weigh down heavily upon you for the rest of your lives.
You officials who bear this burden: It is still, just barely, not too late! God bless the man or woman who knows what is right and turns in time to do it.
Kim Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
I find the “death penalty” to be not only barbaric, but shameful for a great country like ours who prides itself on human rights. Truthfully, I am just learning about this case, but it sounds like a person’s worst nightmare come true. At the risk of sounding sanctimonious or possibly stating the obvious.. if this could happen to him, it could happen to any one of us. Gross injustice to a fellow human is injustice to us all. I was just wondering if anyone knows what the “witnesses” who have revoked their testimony are doing to stop this injustice. It would seem to me that they would be dedicating their lives to somehow right this horrific wrong.
Tonya Amos Says:
September 8th, 2011 at 2:29 am
No death penalty in the US. Period.
Jeffrey Hellman Says:
September 8th, 2011 at 3:19 am
justice?
justice?
what is this?
what did davis do?
was there a photograph, video,
evidence, that proved this true?
voice of the masses,
of all different classes,
calling to stop this,
death penalty pain, blood stain,
it simply must not go through,
not on peace one day,
not by false dismay,
not by ill decree,
not by you or me,
supreme court deaf to this call?
justice blind, can’t see us all?
troy’s life, now on the line, join amnesty,
please grant his life some time, grant clemency!
poem by jeffrey karl hellman
2011
Peter Says:
September 8th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
USA Not Accept the 10 Gebote
John Says:
September 8th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
It is irresponsible to blindly petition the state for clemency of a convicted murderer – especially someone convicted of murdering a police officer. This website promotes this petition, to anyone, in any country, with no relevant case information two decades after conviction. Where is the full homicide report and autopsy protocol? Where are the trial transcripts? If this officer served with me or was a family member, and I saw this page promoting this petition without all providing the full case records, police reports, etc I would be fuming. Oh yeah, that’s why we have juries.
Geoff Dees Says:
September 8th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
The circumstances of this case are almost beyond belief and would be laughable if there were not a life at stake. Why have the Georgia police not investigated Sylvester Coles, who has been accused of this murder? The answer, my friends, is simple. They don’t need to as they have already convicted someone else – Troy Davis.
Would those bloggers who favour the death penalty please remember that the execution of an innocent man weakens, not strengthen their case. (I oppose the death penalty in every respect). And make no mistake about it – if Troy Davis is executed – the truth will come out just as surely as night follows day.
The United States and my home country, the UK, work tirelessly to rid the world of evil and injustice, and each time we fail to uphold the best possible standards ourselves, the likelihood of our success is diminished.
Troy Davis must be granted clemency. It is as simple as that.
norman amnnor Says:
September 8th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Noun: The unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.
I am confused. Murder is bad when committed by an individual, but good when done by a committee no matter how corrupt?
Noun: Punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong.
Perhaps this is the right word. Georgia is happy if “someone” is killed
in vengeance for a wrong done by someone, whoever that may be. Gang
warfare at its most brutal…
Kim O'Brien Says:
September 8th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
You may morn the dead but fight like hell for the living!!! Lets get out and be seen!! Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your union, bring your church, bring your garden club, bring signs and bring all those who quest for justice. This is not just a Savanna movement, a Georgia movement, a United States movement this is a World movement!! No more torture!! No more legalized murder!!
Walt of RI Says:
September 8th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
The reason Troy is still alive is that a few years ago, serious doubts to
the guilt of Troy were adressed. To kill a human being is reprehensive , Some of the witnesses in the original trial have changed their story. He should get a new trial at the very least. If there is even a 1 percent chance that he is not guilty his life must be spared.
Walt of RI
Vietnam Vet '66 Says:
September 9th, 2011 at 2:47 am
I don’t believe that a government as unrepresentative of the American people as this one has a right to kill ANYONE for ANY REASON. The pathetic electoral process that prohibits working class candidates from getting a hearing…much less, ballot status in many areas….insures that a small percentage of people over the age of 18 choose ( ‘elect’), the government.
Question: Why are so many proponents of the death penalty OPPOSED to televising the killings live on television? If the conventional argument for deterring crime is one of threatening to throw people in prisons which are repeatedly depicted as a bad place to be….then the government’s killing of people should be just as visible. C’mon all you teabags, what are you concerned about? Are you afraid that the communities of exploited and oppressed working people will began to take THEIR Second Amendment rights as seriously as you do? Did you forget that ‘gun control’ started with the KKK? We didn’t.
Think about it.
Corinne Johnston Says:
September 9th, 2011 at 5:43 am
John
If you read all of the information about this case you would not feel too comfortable executing Troy Davis.
The gun belonged to Sylvester Coles. Someone swore in an affadavit that they saw Coles shoot Officer McPhail. There was no gun found only shells and casings. Sylvester Coles swore he lost the gun half an hour before the shooting. I mean, come on, where is the proof they even bothered to investigate Coles even though they admit he is a potential suspect.
Juries don’t always get it right. Stephen Truscott was 14-years-old here in Canada when he was tried and convicted and sentenced to be hung for the murder of a friend. Evidence was suppressed in that case too – evidence that had the jury heard it they would have aquited him on the spot. Thank God Canada abolished the death penalty and Stephen Truscott won his freedom.
There is NEVER any reason to execute someone who might be innocent because there is REASONABLE DOUBT. Troy Davis should not be executed because a LIAR AND COWARD (Coles) decided he wanted to save his own worthless neck.
elena montes Says:
September 9th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
I can’t hardly believe there is a possibility of Troy being executed, my mind and my heart don’t want to believe it. After all the struggle to prove his evident innocence (evident at least for those of us who have had a glance of his personality and awesome humanity), after the retractal of most of the witnesses in the trial and after all the erratic, long, uncomprehensible process of this case, this cannot happen.
I really hope that these days, not only his family, friends and closest supporters, but all the Georgian society (those in Savannah and Jackson in particular) go out in the streets as you Americans know how to do, and show the legal authorities that you won’t be accomplices of such an injustice. Please, cry out that Troy is innocent, stand for all of us who cannot be there but would like to. I know there are a lot of Georgians who are really seeking for truth and justice and I sent all my recognition and support from afar.
I also hope that finally Troy will come out of prison as an innocent man. I long for seeing that.
Saoirse Says:
September 9th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, or the Rev. Al Sharpton, or one of the prominent ministers involved in this case need to go en masse to Redd Coles and help his family convince him to turn himself in. If Jesse Jackson and Jimmy Carter can negotiate hostage deals, surely they can arrange a life without parole plea deal with Larry Chisolm for Coles. One of – if not the – most important jobs of a Christian minister is to teach those who do wrong about the redemptive force of forgiveness, which can only begin when one accepts responsibility for one’s actions.
Stephanie Says:
September 9th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
My question to Suzi as well is: Since when is a police officer’s life worth more than anybody else’s because of the profession that he/she has chosen? Their lives are no more/less important than the rest of ours! There are criminals on the police force as well in the community. Not all officers are prejudice/crooks/drug dealers, but Suzi, what should happen to an officer that out right murders an unarmed civilian? Should he/ she get the death penalty as well?
Kim O'Brien Says:
September 10th, 2011 at 12:41 am
This is a country dominated by a class dictatorship. It role in human progress has long passed by. It remains a ruling class that sees profit as its only goal. Its holy or holy’s. The police, the courts, and the rest of the state apparatus have one purpose only to silence any voice that contradicts ruling class policy. People of color, immigrants, and the working class as a whole are constantly under assault because of the empires quest for profit. What they do in the rest of the world they will do here. Their financial crisis was unavoidable. Their answer to the problem is to give themselves more. Ours is to take power and build a new society based on equality, planning and technological advancement where no one is left behind. Only a workers and farmers government and state organized by revolution as in Cuba fifty years ago can wield the power necessarily to make this transfer. It is a tall order for some and few are ready to do this now. To those not ready we say we will join you in the fight against brutality in all its forms. We will join you in the economic struggle. We will never tell you that you can trust their promises or that revolution can be replaced by reforms that are only temporary. What ever rights and reforms we win in the streets they will always try and take back. We must tear it out by the roots and replace the whole system.
Mike Sinnott Says:
September 11th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
FREE TROY DAVIS!!!….dutty babylon..smh
Roxi Stephens Says:
September 11th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
I have never supported the death penalty from a moral standpoint. I believe only God should determine when someone dies. I become more convinced that the death penalty is wrong when minorities are executed at an alarming rate and when cases where guilt is not an absolute certainty still end with sentences of death.
Dan Pennings Says:
September 11th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong? Troy, you’re in my prayers.
Corinne Johnston Says:
September 11th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
My question is why can’t Georgia admit that they possibly made a mistake. Where is the evidence that they even considered anyone else (Coles) a suspect and investigated them. If I was a Police Officer (and I am a Police Foundations student) and I was killed in the line of duty I would want the person who did it punished (jail time – worse than the DP because Prison Guards don’t like Cop Killers either) not just a scapegoat because the legal system is too bogged down to do a good job.
If you are going to use the quotation ‘life for a life’ from the Bible, remember, they had to be 100% sure they had the right person before they took his/her life. Not 75% or 50% sure – 100% sure. Anyone who took place in the execution of an innocent person could themselves lose their lives. It was a serious judicial matter. I think it’s time for Mr. Coles to pay the piper.
Saoirse Says:
September 11th, 2011 at 11:32 pm
@Corrinne Johnston (and all): The Rev. Jesse Jackson, or the Rev. Al Sharpton, or one of the prominent ministers involved in this case need to go to Redd Coles’ family and help them convince him to turn himself in. They have been trying to do that for years. If Jesse Jackson and Jimmy Carter can negotiate hostage deals, surely they can arrange a life-without-parole plea deal with Larry Chisolm for Coles. One of – if not the – most important jobs of a Christian minister is to teach those who do wrong about the redemptive force of forgiveness, which can only begin when one accepts responsibility for one’s actions. So you need to go to the website or FaceBook page of Rev. Al Sharpton, or RainbowPush Coalition, or the Carter Peace Center and ask them to do this. Start a petition to them on petition.org, or change.org, or have your minister contact them and offer to help. This is the only way the DA’s office will be able to save face and the only real chance Troy has, if Coles turns himself in. He’s only likely to do that if he knows he won’t face the execution chamber. Please do this TODAY. Troy can’t wait.
Saoirse Says:
September 11th, 2011 at 11:35 pm
@Troy Pennings: Troy didn’t kill anyone. If you want to help instead, see my comment to Corinne Johnston, above. Troy needs real help now, not just prayers.
Corinne Johnston Says:
September 11th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Unfortunately it would take a man to stand up and say “I did something wrong. I let an innocent man sit in jail for a crime I committed.” Sylvester Coles is the furthest thing from a man I can think of. I don’t know about the Justice System down there, except its arbitrary and unfair, but can they still charge Mr. Coles after all these years?
Saoirse Says:
September 11th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
@Corinne Johnston: there is no statute of limitations on capital murder, which is what killing a law enforcement officer is.
Last year, the suggestion was made that someone help Coles’ cousin convince him to turn himself in on the savannahnow.com website, and someone else (obviously, a member of Coles immediate family) replied that he is now a working family man, not the kid he was 22 years ago. Redemption happens – but only if society lets it happen. You may not believe that, but ask yourself this: are you going to be able to sleep at night, knowing that you didn’t do everything that was in YOUR power to do to help Coles confess? What’s it cost you to send an email or fax to the people listed above, asking them to intercede with the DA on behalf of Coles?
Corinne Johnston Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 2:19 am
SAORISE
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM SINGLING ME OUT.
I HAVE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THE TROY DAVIS CASE FOR A LONG TIME. I HAVE SIGNED EVERY PETITION I COULD; I’VE SENT LETTERS, EMAILS, AND FAXES TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN.
I SPEAK TO PEOPLE ALL ABOUT IT AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. AND I ASK MYSELF HOW A COUNTRY WHO PRIDES ITSELF ON ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD COULD SO CALLOUSLY TOSS TROY ANTHONY DAVIS INTO THE GARBAGE THEY CALL A LEGAL SYSTEM.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO. EXCEPT PRAY THAT SOMEONE HAS A SUDDEN ATTACK OF REALITY AND SETS TROY FREE.
NICE ISN’T IT THAT COLES HAS A FAMILY – WHILE TROY DAVIS NEVER HAD THAT OPTION GIVEN TO HIM.
Saoirse Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 7:30 am
@Corinne Johnston: why are you using all capital letters, which is the equivalent of shouting? Why have you wrongly stated my comments are directed only at you, when I’ve state they’re toward everyone? And why have you avoided at every turn discussing the content of my comment. You seem like a government-paid provocateur. Nice – when a man’s life is at stake.
Until people of prominence get involved with Coles and intercede with the DA on his behalf to set up a plea deal for him for life in prison instead of the death penalty, he has no incentive to turn himself in, which is the last, best hope for Troy’s release. To my knowledge, this has not been tried by the ministers involved in this case, who are several (one even offered to die in Troy’s place, as you know, if you’ve been following Troy’s case). If you (and everyone reading this blog) has signed petitions and sent faxes, what’s one more to Jesse Jackson, or Al Sharpton, or Bishop Tutu, or the adore-mentioned UCC minister, whose name I’ve forgotten. In the time it took for you to needlessly excoriate me, you could have done that. I mean – really!
george1120 Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 7:45 am
The man was convicted by a jury of his peers which was reviewed by a federal judge. I do believe in capital punishment. If Mother Jones were publishing a fair piece the evidence against him would have been summarized. It was not. Standards of proof exist and the review process considered those required standards. If there is evidence supporting his innocence it should have been presented. I see an outpouring of support for letting him go free but no summary of evidence. I am reminded that Mother Jones is home to the bleeding heart liberals who do not seek a full review of evidence. All they need is Amnesty International to advocate for release and 65 readers post for release of the innocent man. Where is evidence of innocence?
Corinne Johnston Says:
MY NAME IS THE ONLY ONE YOU HAVE USED IN YOUR POSTS.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AI FOR FOURTEEN YEARS AND FOUGHT THE DEATH PENALTY AT EVERY TURN. I ALSO LIVE IN CANADA, A COUNTRY THAT HAS NO DEATH PENALTY AND WHOSE PEOPLE DON’T GIVE A DAMN WHAT GEORGIA DOES TO TROY DAVIS. I HAVE FOUGHT AN UPHILL BATTLE SINCE DAY ONE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN HIS INNOCENCE. I AM NOT A GOVERNMENT WHATEVER – I’M NOT EVEN A REGISTERED CANADIAN CITIZEN SO THEREFORE I CANNOT GET INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENTAL ISSUES.
I GIVE UP.
Corinne Johnston Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 7:58 am
SINCE YOU SEEM TO BE THE ONLY ONE WITH ANSWERS, YOU FIGHT IT ALONE.
BY THE WAY, THE CAPITAL LETTERS ARE BECAUSE I AM GOING BLIND AND CAN SEE BETTER. SO SCREW OFF AN LEAVE ME ALONE.
Saoirse Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 8:26 am
@Corinne Johnston: no – you are wrong. Until you began singling me out, my comments were to you “and all.” check above.
This is a forum for those who wish to help Troy, not a ‘playground for those who want to bully others and self righteously flaunt their activism careers.
You can send Bishop Tutu a letter from his website’s .php (www.tutu.org), or a fax to him at (27) 21 525-1990, or an email to him at info@tutu.org. I beg of you – stop using this forum to bully me and start using it for good. My letter to Tutu appears below:
By Fax: 27 (21) 525 1990
and email: info@tutu.org
Rt. Rev. Bishop Desmond Tutu
Suite 62, Frazzitta Business Park
Corner Freedom Way and Koeberg Road
Milnerton, 7441
South Africa
Re: URGENT – EXECUTION OF TROY ANTHONY DAVIS
Dear Bishop Tutu: As you may know, a final Warrant for Execution for Troy Anthony Davis was signed last week. He is scheduled to be executed September 21st. Until the people of prominence who’ve gotten involved with Davis intercede with the DA on Coles’ behalf to set up a plea deal for him for life in prison instead of the death penalty, he has no incentive to turn himself in,which is the last, best hope for Troy’s release. To my knowledge, this has not been tried by the ministers involved in this case, who are several (one of whom, a UCC minister, even offered to die in Troy’s place, as you may know). I thought it was one of the main jobs of a Christian minister to help those who’ve done wrong learn the power of forgiveness by accepting responsibility for their actions. These people need to act as a delegation and go talk to Coles.
Please – will you contact Jesse Jackson, or Al Sharpton, or your fellow laureate, Jimmy Carter, and ask them to do these things? Coles’ cousin (whose husband testified against him at Troy’s ludicrous evidentiary hearing last June) has been trying to get Coles to turn himself in for a long time; I’m sure she would appreciate some help, and I know Troy would.
Thank you (for all you do).
Yours most sincerely,
Ashley Stearns
Saoirse Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 8:27 am
@Corinne Johnston: no – you are wrong. Until you began singling me out, my comments were to you “and all.” check above.
This is a forum for those who wish to help Troy, not a ‘playground for those who want to bully others and self righteously flaunt their activism careers.
You can send Bishop Tutu a letter from his website’s .php (www.tutu.org), or a fax to him at (27) 21 525-1990, or an email to him at info@tutu.org. I beg of you – stop using this forum to bully me and start using it for good. My letter to Tutu appears below:
By Fax: 27 (21) 525 1990
and email: info@tutu.org
Rt. Rev. Bishop Desmond Tutu
Suite 62, Frazzitta Business Park
Corner Freedom Way and Koeberg Road
Milnerton, 7441
South Africa
Re: URGENT – EXECUTION OF TROY ANTHONY DAVIS
Dear Bishop Tutu: As you may know, a final Warrant for Execution for Troy Anthony Davis was signed last week. He is scheduled to be executed September 21st. Until the people of prominence who’ve gotten involved with Davis intercede with the DA on Coles’ behalf to set up a plea deal for him for life in prison instead of the death penalty, he has no incentive to turn himself in,which is the last, best hope for Troy’s release. To my knowledge, this has not been tried by the ministers involved in this case, who are several (one of whom, a UCC minister, even offered to die in Troy’s place, as you may know). I thought it was one of the main jobs of a Christian minister to help those who’ve done wrong learn the power of forgiveness by accepting responsibility for their actions. These people need to act as a delegation and go talk to Coles.
Please – will you contact Jesse Jackson, or Al Sharpton, or your fellow laureate, Jimmy Carter, and ask them to do these things? Coles’ cousin (whose husband testified against him at Troy’s ludicrous evidentiary hearing last June) has been trying to get Coles to turn himself in for a long time; I’m sure she would appreciate some help, and I know Troy would.
Thank you (for all you do).
Yours most sincerely,
Saoirse Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 8:35 am
@Corinne Johnston: You didn’t use all capital letters in your initial posts, above.
Really! A man’s LIFE is at stake. Please stop acting so petty and help him.
Breny Bustamante Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 11:33 am
For Troy:
Revelations
3:8
When God leads you to the edge of the
cliff, trust Him fully and let go, only 1 of 2
things will happen, either He’ll catch you when
you fall, or He’ll teach you how to fly! ‘The
power of one sentence! God is going to shift
things around for you today and let things work
in your favor. If you believe, send it. If you
don’t believe, delete it. God closes doors no
man can open & God opens doors no man can
close…
elizabeth Philpots Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
This case doesn’t surprise me. It saddens me. I’m not American (and 90% of the time I say THANK GOD for that!) » No offence, its just these very reasons that have me saying “wtf” with the decision making process and consequences of the USA)
As no 1 person is perfect, one would not assume that collcetively a group of ppl would be fool proof. I cannot fathom why it would take a system ,not just 20 yrs, but 20 yrs of proof on top of proof that leads to him being INNOCENT BEYOND reasonable doubt to set this man free. And it gets better! They deny every retrial request every and anything to reopen this case has been tossed out. Better yet!! Now they’ve decided to end the drama by admitting they ( a grp of imperfect ppl) may have made a wrong decision? (Which @ the time may have been a right decision based on the witnesses- which a reversal at this point wouldn’t make them right or wrong but human and moral). Not at all! Let’s end this by getting rid of him!
I believe this death penalty is not so much abt “punishment for a crime” but a “let’s end the commotion this “nobody” has caused and get on with our corrupted life in peace”
The funny thing abt that is I lived in Atlanta for a short time and always swore that if ever I would for some reason choose to relocate to the states- ATL wud be it! Ahhmmm… Yea…not so much now. This is quite daunting.
To Troy and his family and supporters – From the caribbean islands I pray for this man I’ve never met. I believe that you are innocent and not only ask for the penalty to be pulled but for your freedom for a chance at life! And make no mistake in whom I’m referring to when I say I “ask for …” I don’t ask ppl for anything! The human race can be quite (evident here) disappointing. I ask of The Lord God that u see ur freedom! WHEN u r free- ensure u take a trip to Jamaica!
*for ppl responding to Suzi- don’t. Time wasted can never be regained. Acknowledging ignorance and arrogance is certainly time wasted.
*to saores and corrine- stop the childish banter. I’ve read these posts from top to bottom and still can’t identify where any1 would/should take offence to anything the other has said. You both have compelling thoughts…keep em coming. *
JDL Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
After reading the articles, I believe there is enough evidence to put doubt into anyones mind. The police officers coerced the witnesses into saying Davis did it because he was there and they wanted someone to pay for killing their colleague, and probably because he is a black man. Georgia is not willing to admit they made a mistake and release him because they know a lawsuit would follow and I believe that, as horrible as it sounds, they would rather put an innocent man to death then to pay him for the time he spent behind bars. Also, there are only two witnesses who have not changed their stories, one of which is the other suspect…HELLO…of course he is not going to change his statement because he is probably the one that did do it. If you feel that Davis is innocent or at least deserves another chance to prove his innocence, there is a petition on change.org that will be given to the pardons board.
marywnm Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
do you that write feel the same about abortion-we know there is complete innocence there
Sharon Kyle Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
I pray for Troy, his family and the rest of this country as we (the vast majority of the citizens of the United States) continue to remain oblivious to the gross miscarriages of justice carried out everyday in our courts. Justices Scalia and Thomas of the U.S. Supreme Court dissented from a stay of a death sentence declaring, “This Court has never held that the Constitution forbids the execution of a convicted defendant who has had a full and fair trial but is later able to convince a habeas court that he is ‘actually’ innocent.”
Other conservatives on the Supreme Court have said that the execution of an innocent person does not violate the Constitution. In Herrera v. Collins, then Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote for the conservative majority that claims of innocence based on newly discovered evidence does not preclude an execution.
Nefertiti Yates Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
IT SADDENS ME SO MUCH, THAT THERE ARE MANY MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN IN TROY DAVIS’S SHOES AND HAVE BEEN WRONGFULLY ACCUSED AND EXECUTED. MY BLESSINGS GO OUT TO HIM AND HIS FAMILY I CANT EVEN IMAGINE HOW HE FEELS RIGHT NOW…..I DONT HAVE THE EVIDNCE ON MY DESK AND I WASNT THERE BUT GOD HAS PUT IT ON MY HEART THAT HE IS INNOCENT……FREE TROY DAVIS!!!!
Nefertiti Yates Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
MAN!
Danielle Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
How many people have to petition this for it to stop?
Terri Smith Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 6:28 pm
This brings back some really bad memories for me. I was involved in a case from 1977 that a black man was convicted for killing a nun. I was young and overheard 2 men and a women talking about the nun that was murdered in the cemetary. They were not from the US by their accents and even the way they were dressed. Long story short…a man was arrested for this. He was proven to be retarded and he only confessed as he thought he was confessing to stealing sheets off a clothesline. There was other evidence about these 2 men and 1 woman that could have been involved. I was physically removed from the courtroom from testifying. At the time I overheard this, the nun had not been found. It was election time and it looked really good to convict a black man and convict him quickly, which is what happened. As I got to know the family, I tried to fight the system to make them listen. My life, my family’s life was threatened if I continued doing this. I still did it. I was on TV (without face) and told my story. Unfortunately, he was executed….and innocent man in 1992. The Governor would not accept my call or anyone else for that matter. This man could not have done this. This man was a very small man and there were large trees cut and things that he wouldn’t have been capable of doing. This will never leave me. I pray for you and this innocent man. Justice??? Where in the hell is it? I never believed in the system after that and never will. It’s all politics. I’m a white woman…what would I have to gain from telling them my story. There is so much more to this story, but I just wanted to say that I will keep this in my prayers. Good luck….
1. Dan Pennings Says:
  September 12th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
  Saoire,
  Are you trying to say that my entry is not valid? You don’t back me up in my prayers for Troy? Who are you to negate anyone else’s comments. How arrogant can you get?!!
2. Halli Says:
  September 12th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
  I think a death sentence to be revenge by the state
3. K. Bandell Says:
  September 12th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
  …please, please and please include at http://www.justicefortroy.org a link to a petition asking for clemency….
  …thank you….
4. Saoirse Says:
  September 12th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
  @Dan Pennings: no one but an agent provocateur can ascribe such species intent to the fact I conveyed in my comment. As you well know, I said nothing about whatever you choose to pray. You need help.
5. Stephanie Says:
  September 12th, 2011 at 11:25 pm
  @marywmn, Yes, what makes you think we don’t? Let’s not make this about anything else but what it is! Injustice!, and 2 wrongs don’t make a right. This forum is not about abortion and God already settled that in the OT, when it speaks about if a pregnant woman’s child is killed in the womb. So, next question!
6. abdull Says:
  September 13th, 2011 at 4:22 am
  Urgently necessary
  The judge must reconsider the punishment even to regret he did not become as there are witnesses in the case law the judge must re-examine and re-investigate the case for justice and not to kill the same against the evidence
7. Shamis Says:
  September 13th, 2011 at 9:15 am
  I have signed the petition for Troy Davis. I am a black female, a mother, a sister, and I have sons. This of course is not the reason I signed the petition, my reason is because I do know that our justice system is flawed. If I read an article such as Troy’s for any human being regardless of race where there is so much doubt, it would concern and draw my attention.
  I signed this petition because it could’ve been me, my friend, or my brother and I would do it for you as I hope you would do it for me.
  I am against the death penalty 100%. I am a person that believes if you commit and found guilty BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT of a crime so heinous that the only punishment fitting is death, that instead they should sentence you to solitary confinement for the rest of your natural life. No recreation time, tv, phone calls, visits, mail, just sitting in the cell day in and day out until you take your last breath.
  Is Troy Davis worthy of a punishment such as this or even death? By the evidence… ABSOLUTELY NOT!
8. P. Jiles Says:
  September 13th, 2011 at 10:07 am
  Based on the articles I’ve read and the evidence presented, Troy Davis is an innocent man and should be freed. Our justice system has been proven on many occassions to be anything but perfect and this is just another one of those times. Our justice system has wrongly punished before and there were a few falsely accused caught timely but a greater amount not so fortunate. Let’s save Troy’s life and punish the real person! Justice for Troy!
9. Heidi Schechter Says:
  September 13th, 2011 at 10:43 am
  Why can’t he appeal his case to higher levels of courts? if he’s innocent (or insufficient evidence, court/justice errors), i thought you’re supposed to be able to appeal and appeal to higher level of courts so that no one entity the state of Georgia can’t rear indominable power in such a set of circumstances. Maybe it’s time to go federal??? i believe practically harder said than done, but I thought that was the consitutional structure.
10. Asongz Says:
  September 13th, 2011 at 11:37 am
  I heard the new on Tom Joyner Morning Show it touched my heart deeply so i texted and e-mailed all my friends and said lets be active lets save and innocent life…. much luv to the Davis family and especially to his sister i admire your dedication
11. sierra mitchell Says:
  September 13th, 2011 at 11:59 am
  the devil has risen it’s ugly head, and blacks you have bought a lot of this on your heads, because you forgot who is who, are you seeing them now the evil never left, it laid low for almost fifty years, now they are disrespecting us in our face, we had better speak up, we do have the lord on our side, die on your feet not on your knees!
12. Saoirse Says:
  September 13th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
  @Heidi Schecter: You are correct. But Troy has exhausted all his appeals. It took him 17 years just to get the evidentiary hearing he had in June, 2010, and that only happened because the Supreme Court ordered the 11th District Court in Savannah to have one. Because Troy had already been convicted, the “innocent-until-proven-guilty” rule didn’t apply. His burden was to prove he was innocent at that point. Sounds like splitting hairs, but what it was supposed to have come down to was whether or not Judge Moore would accept any evidence that patently proved Troy innocent. He did not, basically re-writing civil procedure (Troy’s legal team was supposed to show he could not have killed Officer MacPhail; Judge Moore said they should have proved someone else [Redd Coles, the state's key witness, who has confessed to the murder outside of court] committed the crime). The SCJ declined to become further involved at that point.
  In my mind, the last, best hope for Troy is if Coles confesses, but he’s not likely to do that unless there is a plea deal for life without parole instead of the death penalty. This is the only way the DA’s office can save face and do anything to help Troy (the DA is the only person, other than the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, that can ask a judge to do anything to help Troy – rescind the warrant for execution, parole him, pardon him, or all of the foregoing). I can’t understand why any of these prominent ministers (Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Marvin Morgan) haven’t gone to Coles and pleaded with him to turn himself in; helping people find forgiveness through accepting responsibility for their actions and attoning for them is the main job of a Christian minister! I saw the very tail end of Al Sharpton speaking anout Troy last night, and I don’t know if he said anything about working on a suchbavplea deal for Coles, but if you’d like to help persuade him, here’s a letter you can send to the Carters, who are also Georgia natives and likely to be concerned about Georgia’s rapidly growing bad reputation:
  September 12, 2011
  By Fax: (404) 331-0283, (404) 420-5169
  Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Carter
  The Carter Center
  One Copenhill
  453 Freedom Parkway
  Atlanta, GA 30307
  Re: URGENT – EXECUTION OF TROY ANTHONY DAVIS
  Dear Mr. and Mrs. Carter:
  As you may know, a final Warrant for Execution for Georgia native, Troy Anthony Davis, was signed last week. He is scheduled to be executed September 21st. Until the people of prominence who’ve gotten involved with Davis intercede with the DA on behalf of the actual murderer of Officer Mark MacPhail, Redd Coles, to set up a plea deal for him for life in prison instead of the death penalty, he has no incentive to turn himself in, which is the last, best hope for Troy’s release and the only way the DA’s office can save face. To my knowledge, this has not been tried by the ministers involved in this case, who are several (one of whom, a UCC minister, Rev. Marvin Morgan, even offered to die in Troy’s place, as you may know). I thought it was one of the main jobs of a Christian minister to help those who’ve done wrong learn the power of forgiveness by accepting responsibility for their actions. Why can’t those ministers who’ve been involved with Troy act as a delegation and go talk to Coles and DA Larry Chisolm?
  Please – will you contact Jesse Jackson, or Al Sharpton, or the afore-mentioned UCC minister and ask them to do these things? Coles’ cousin (whose husband testified against him at Troy’s ludicrous evidentiary hearing last June) has been trying to get Coles to turn himself in for a long time; I’m sure she would appreciate some help, and I know Troy would.
  Thank you (for all you do).
  Yours most sincerely,
13. David Rubinstein Says:
  September 13th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
  I’m not expert, but would it help to contact The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles?
  Here’s the info I have:
  2 Martin Luther King Jr, Drive, SE
  Suite 458
  Balcony Level, East Tower
  Atlanta, GA. 30334-4909
  404.656.5651
  And double check that that’s correct, please by http://www.ask.com
14. Megan Parker Says:
  September 13th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
  State of Georgia Pardons & Paroles,
  It baffled me and others throughout the United States that TROY DAVIS is still in prison after 7 “so-called” witnesses recanted on their statements made, and your state has NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE tying this man to the crime in which he has been prosecuted and spent so many years behind bars for.
  It seems, within the police force (statewide), that there is that much more put on police officers lives, as if they were more important than any other living being. A large majority of the police force is corrupt, in which there are too many instances where they take their authority & use it to racially profile, find reason to arrest, beat, shoot and/or kill minorities. There is no lack of disregard for human life when it comes to homeless people neither.
  How can THE PEOPLE rely on this so-called justice system if there is NO JUSTICE???
  You wonder why our young ‘BLACK & BROWN’ youth say “Fu** the Police!!”….?
  Its because they have nowhere to run to, the MAN is too busy chasing, dehumanizing, prosecuting & ruining the lives of what our future is suppose to be.
  The state of GA made a mistake charging this man who is INNOCENT (Quick to prosecute when a police officer if killed- and haste follows w/ foul judgement)
  ******* PLEASE SPARE TROY DAVIS LIFE ***********
15. Kim O'Brien Says:
  September 13th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
  The police force under Capitalism has the sole purpose of enforcing ruling class policy. The police force is allowed a free hand when it come to blacks, browns and working class people because they know we lack acess to the system through professional lawyers. For them it doesn’t matter who pays the price as long as someone pays. In fact because Coles showed up at the police station with a lawyer and became a witness he was off the suspect list because of that. The once the police decided it was Troy they just needed the evidence to prove it. Unable to find any physical evendence they decided to bring in the usually suspects. Anybody whose arm they could twist into saying what they and a jury would want to hear. Why do you think most police interegations are not recorded on video tape especially ones invovling capital punishment? Of course if they were recorded than the would find a way to lose them or accidently erase them like President Nixon.
  If Troy were to walk out of prison tomorrow they would be unable to convict anyone else because any other lawyer would then ask how could you be certain “…” did it when before you were so certain that Troy did it
  Coles is unlikely to confess, or change his story and any one approaching him asking that he change his story would likely be accused of witness tampering which would only make things worse.
  As far as Troy receiving a settlement after release that is very unlikely and plays about zero role in his case. Go look at other people who have been released from death row and you will see that most receive abosolutely nothing. Why? because unless he can prove himself to be innocent not just not guilty he is unlikely to be able to seek damages.
16. tj Says:
  September 13th, 2011 at 7:53 pm
  It is only right to not execute a person if there is any doubt…this is too fishy that witnesses are recanting statements. There is injustice in our justice system.
  There is also hope for those that are innocent can be released from prison. Recently the West Memphis Three were released and one was on death row since 1994 the other were serving life sentences. Through determination, alot of work, faith and god bless public media, they were released.
  This man deserves an evidentuary hearing at the least. If you believe so then sign the petition, it will help. That is the least that you can do, tell everyone you know.
  If not, we have set ourselves up for the same type of persecution…next time it could be your family or someone you know. If it could happen to him then it could happen to you! Exercise your rights as an American and speak up…sign the petition today. This man deserves a hearing…sign before it is too late.
17. Major Mark Hide Says:
  September 14th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
  If Davis is innocent why didn’t he testify at the special hearing? Doesn’t it seem odd that so many people would recant some of their original testimonies? Do you think these recantations may have been the result of pressure from those on the side of the defense? As far as pressure concerning the original testimonies do you believe the police and those conducting the original interviews or those who recanted (some of whom have lengthy criminal records)? What evidence is there to convict Coles? Davis, who admits to being at the murder scene, changed into Coles clothes shortly after the murder. Why did he do that? Why did he flee to Atlanta?
18. r k ray Says:
  September 14th, 2011 at 2:08 pm
  Do the licsenced prosecution sense that thier rush to judgement defines a code of ethics.? It is after all, A regional court directive,not the law of the land. We must not favor the mob directives that try to add fuel to retribution. To prove you speak for justice,all the people must be heard.{vox populi] satisfaction is sought through process ,while.resoluteness is easy to express.
19. Vid Arroyo Says:
  September 14th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
  let the man live!
20. Abigail Winston Says:
  September 14th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
  Troy Davis has clearly been framed by corrupt cops who only want a notch on their guns. SEVEN witnesses say they were pressured to testify against him and the courts won’t listen to them? This has become a murderous, vicious, fascist country!
21. PAPADOPERAKIS Says:
  September 14th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
  Today sept 14th, I very deeply start thinking of a positive issue to Troy’s case. I do believe in Man’s ability to take the noble decision in the final phase of a trial. International pressure is so strong: Let’s make one step towards respect of life and good opinion of ourselves: Troy Davis; here in France the whole country thinks about you; and we’ll be with you and support you till the final victory.
22. tj Says:
  September 14th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
  Thank God that we are not judged because we did not testify. Ever been in a situation that no matter what you said people did not believe you??? We do not know why he did not testify, but that fact alone does not make him a guilty man. How could anyone believe that in this time in history that a defense team could intimidate 7 witnesses to recant…someone would have had them in court and suing them for their actions. History has shown many times of certain police officers took advantage of allowable interrogation techniques and coerced statements. That is not as common now but could happen.
  A new hearing would look at the charges and judge whether he will be granted a new trial to prove his innocence. Without the testimony of 7 of the 8 witnesses, the case against him will not hold water. There is no physical evidence. No one should be put to death in this country with no evidence against them. If you were wearing his shoes you too would want a new trial.
  The main point is that no matter what Troy has the right to present evidence that could prove him an innocent man….we all are guaranteed that right as American citizens. To tolerate any less than that is unconstitutional. No one should be denied their rights. That is why I believe and all American citizens should believe that Troy should not be denied his rights. To settle for less means we are making a compromise that no one would be able to live with. It would make our forefathers of this great land roll over in their graves and be ashamed.
  So email this to people you know, tell everyone you can, encourage signing of the petition….or else you could be the next one in Troy’s shoes.
  I am proud to be an American, thankful for the rights I have….I will stand firm for my beliefs and for all Americans rights.
23. David Says:
  September 14th, 2011 at 8:05 pm
  You want me to sign a petition to free or commute the sentence of this person? You need to give me the facts of the case. How was he involved? Was it a robbery gone bad? A drug deal? Some other criminal act? What led to the death of the other person.
  If you want to keep him in prison for the remainder of his life, you pay for it. I dont want my taxes paying for prison terms that are for all intents and purposes a death sentence.
  You don’t believe in death sentences? Identify yourselves and pay the bill to keep him alive, but don’t expect me to pay even one cent of it.
24. dB Says:
  September 14th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
  It seems that there is enough reasonable doubt about this mans guilt to warrant at least a stay of execution and also possibly a new trial.
  I don’t know all of the facts, but I find it hard to believe that a court can accept 7 witnesses recanting their testimony and then go ahead ahead and follow through with an execution without looking into the case.
25. Kim O'Brien Says:
  September 15th, 2011 at 2:20 am
  I they thought they could win a new trial they would have no trouble granting one. A new trial would consist of two witness’s and seven saying they recanted their original testimony. Now do you think any jury with a modest amount of decency would convict let alone sentence him to death? So around this goes if they execute him most of the cops get what they want. I say most because its seems that former FBI head Judge Sessions has come out against this frame up. Sessions was brought in to help take the stink out of J Edgars political police force. Now to those say he is still guilty explain why the cops twisted so many arms for this trial? Many murders go unsolved. Sometimes a jury may just not believe threre is enough evidence. I have read of cases in Texas where the whole theory of the crime had to be changed but did the defendent get a new trial? No he got executed antway. There was one heart braking case where a man was executed because of junk science Cameron Tood Willington. Junk science said it was arson. After three real scientific investigations each one turns out there was no reason that a finding of arson could be sustained. But a jailhouse snitch, a professional shrink and junk science sent him to his death anyway.
26. realtalker1 Says:
  September 15th, 2011 at 8:23 am
  He was probably involved in the crime. He was involved in too many circumstances surrounding it to be completely innocent but I don’t think he’s the killer. I just think he was there. But that being said, without any physical evidence tying him to it, how in the hell did he even end up in prison. This country is full of idiots. How the hell does a jury convict someone on contradictory eyewitness testimony alone. This happens way too often in this rediculous country. How the hell do we continue to call ourselves the land of the free with a smile on our face and the greatest country on earth when we incarcerate people without a lick of evidence and in higher numbers than any other country on the planet. We also kill more that all but 3 other countries. We aren’t civilized at all.
27. SKenn Says:
  September 15th, 2011 at 11:03 am
  I just read the story. Just as with OJ Simpson case and the case of Casey Anthony, if the evidence is not solid, there is no reason for death or imprisonment. Casey Anthony’s little girl from my understanding was family admitted that this girls car smelled like a dead body, she didn’t immediately call the police, and also she had no solid story. Now if that’s the case she should have been put under the jail. Althought no physical evidence was found, I would have said this woman was guilty. OJ same thing. Ok, here you have a man that says he didn’t do it. Testimony now from witnesses that state they were forced by police to say it was Troy. As crooked and manipulative as the people and justice system is here in Georgia we can only speculate who else could have committed this crime since evidence and now verification from witnesses has changed.
28. Claire Holder Says:
  September 15th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  It is with great sadness in my heart that I write these few words to say how much I support Troy Davis and condemn the violent system that wants to put him to death when there is so much doubt. The Death Penalty is wrong in principle. It is an evil and outdated institution. Why is it being maintained in the USA of all places? The so called ‘Land of the Free’.
29. Trevor Says:
  September 15th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
  Goodbye and don’t come back !
30. Alexandria Says:
  September 15th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
  I have had the opportunity to meet Troy Davis when he was an inmate at an institution that I worked at. The man has a heart of gold and faith out of this world. I believe in my heart that this man is completely innocent. I myself has experienced a flawed justice system. The state of Ga just does not want to admit that they were wrong because if freed, Troy will want monetary payment. He has a lawsuit that could rack him in MILLIONS from the state of Ga. With so much at stake, why would they free an innocent man?? Ga by far has one of the worst justice systems that I have researched in my life. I hate this. There is no justice in this system at all. There are so many other inmates like Troy Davis who is innocent but since they cannot afford a decent lawyer, they just have to sit in prison. My heart goes out to Troy Davis and his family. Just know that a former correctional officer believes in your innocence and I hope that the unjust department of corrections officials get their just deserts. I hope that one day they are in the wrong place at the wrong time and gets accused of a crime that they did not commit. I hope that one of them lose their job for defending themselves in a domestic violence altercation. They are so high and mighty that they forget these things happen. God bless you Troy Davis. Stay strong and never forget that what god has for you, it is for you.
31. jimbo Says:
  September 15th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
  if he was standing there when the officer was shot he is just as guilty as the other guy. every person in prison and jail is innocent and they all find Jesus in the jail house, then they leave him by the door when they get out. that way they can pick him up on the way back in. Dont start spewing off bible verses untill you read Romans 13, ” the Gov. is sent to execute the wrath of God upon those who do evil”
32. Stephanie Says:
  September 15th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
  At Jimbo,
  that’s just it ,the government is sent to execute judgement of God, but what do you do with the evil government?! How is it that this so called “govt” of God finds away to execute harsher judgement on people of color as well as the poor, while the rich can pay their way out of trouble for the same or worse crimes? Please, we all could use some Lindsay Lohan justice. So yes, we can all spew bilbe verses. Unfortunately, justice is NOT blind when justice sees the hue of man!
33. jimbo Says:
  September 15th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
  because “people of color” disproportionally commit crimes that warrant the death penality. look at the crime stats for violent crimes. Yea lindsay lohan got off easy. but so do “people of color” who are given probation after probation after probation, but wait, black is a color, brown is a color, yellow is a color and last time i checked white is a color also. yea i am from texas, white, brown, black, purple, green or blue. if your kill a police officer, more than one person or a child or elderly person you are probably toast.
34. Andy Says:
  September 16th, 2011 at 1:48 am
  The system is made to punish somebody for a crime even if your innocent. As long as somebody does the time seen it all before, just like the murder of the rhodes. Death penalty is not justice, it’s retaliation!!!
35. Geoff Dees Says:
  September 16th, 2011 at 5:24 am
  Responding to Alexandria above….
  Thank you for posting these powerful observations and for sharing your knowledge of Troy Davis.
  We can only hope that the Georgia authorities do not consider the dollar cost of justice to be so high that they needn’t bother too much about the justice. The only thing that should matter is whether there is doubt as to Troy Davis’s guilt…otherwise the justice system will be delivering anything but justice and will be unfit for purpose.
  Would those bloggers who favour the death penalty please remember that the execution of an innocent man weakens, not strengthens their case. And make no mistake about it – if Troy Davis is executed – the truth will come out just as surely as night follows day.
  The United States and my home country, the UK, wish to see a world free of evil and injustice. Each time we fail to uphold the best possible standards ourselves, our case is severely weakened.
  Today I travel to London for the Amnesty International rally at the US Embassy at 5pm UK time.
36. Tanisha Says:
  September 16th, 2011 at 8:16 am
  I am so sad that Troy has had to FIGHT so hard to prove his innocence and it has fallen on deaf ears. I pray that the office of Pardons and Parole listen to our cries and pleas and commutes his sentence. Even though he is innocent, I would rather Troy serve life in prison than the death penalty. I pray that we can make a difference and HELP this innocent man! I have been following his case for the last 10 years (since college) and I am appalled at our justice system and sickened by the state of GA. Rally tonight Sept 9th meeting at woodruffs park and marching to ebenezer! Come out and let your voice be heard! Do not KILL Troy!
37. Jay Says:
  September 16th, 2011 at 9:23 am
  Ill sign the petition, only because I believe he deserves at least a re trial. I dont see any actual facts concerning his case, except for comments and opinions posted all over. So since there is at least reasonable doubt, he deserves a new trial. And unless they find dna evidence against him on the evidence, assuming its been preserved properly, I hope he gets freed.
38. Rula Says:
  September 16th, 2011 at 11:04 am
  My heart is saddened by a culture of retribution, hate, stereotypes, and absolute power. But I still hope that the morality of humanity and words of the constitution that I hold so dear come alive; that honesty and integrity prevails, the surmountable doubt is acknowledged and that Troy Davis is exonerated. September 21 is the International Day of Peace; capital punishment, especially when unjust as in Mr. Troy Davis’s case, is a crime against conscience and should not be how we honor the day or our constitution. Praying for our collective wake of conscience and freedom of Troy Davis.
39. Kim O'Brien Says:
  September 16th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
  Jimbo next time your standing next to an illegally parked car should the meter maid write you a ticket?
40. Carol Anne Harwell Says:
  September 16th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
  Justice must be served and Troy must be freed. How can we, in an age where we cancommunicate in seconds, where we can elect a black president not free a man that is apparently innocent. I am praying that this injustice is over turned and he will be released. I know we are talking about not executing him but we should also be discussing freeing him. I pray to see the day when he is freed
41. Saoirse Says:
  September 16th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
  The only way the DA’s office can save face and do anything to help Troy is if Sylvester Coles turns himself in. Why Rev. Al Sharpton, or Rev. Jesse Jackson, or Rev. Marvin Morgan couldn’t have gotten together and staged an intervention for Redd Coles to get him to surrender himself is beyond me. Moreover, if Rev. Jackson and Pres. Jimmy Carter can arrange hostage deals in foreign countries, surely they could have arranged a life-without-parole plea deal for Coles as incentive to get him to do this. Isn’t it one of the main jobs of a Christian minister to teach people the power of redemption by accepting responsibility for their mistakes and attoning for them? I don’t see any of the Christians posting on this site calling for this obvious ministry. All that aside, what in the world does Coles think awaits him if the worst case scenario comes to pass and poor Troy pays the consequences for Coles’ crime? Bet he’ll wish he was in prison then – when the DA doesn’t have to protect him any more. Won’t somebody ask Rev. Al to get a group together to do this????? What’s it cost anybody to do this? Can we sleep if what looks inevitable happens, knowing we didn’t do everything we could to avert this impending disaster?
42. Mary Says:
  September 16th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
  I am not totally anti the death penalty- though given the justice system, I find it hard to trust that those so sentenced are guilty. The most obnoxious fact about pro death penalty propagandists is they ignore the facts- the death penalty does not discourage crime, murder included. States that have the death penalty have a higher murder rate, so, really, beyond all the moral arguments, where is the logic?
  However, the US justice system has flaws, and one of those flaws is around the admissability of new evidence- I am no expert on the details but I know it happens that a court cannot consider new evidence at certain stages in a case. When there is new evidence that contradicts that upon which a verdict was rendered, how can it not be considered? HOW is that justice?
43. Stephanie Says:
  September 16th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
  Hey Jimbo,
  Have you ever heard of the Fullerton Police Department? Why don’t you google it and see what you find out and then talk about
  Roman 13!
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