Causecast

by ERICA LIEPMANN, Causecast Editor

His Story:
In 1991, Troy Davis was convicted of the murder of police officer Mark Allen MacPhail in Savannah, Georgia. Davis has unwaveringly maintained his innocence and physical evidence or a weapon connecting him to the crime was never found. Yet, despite this lack of hard evidence, Davis was sentenced to the death penalty based on the testimony of nine witnesses. In the years since the trial, seven of the nine witnesses have recanted their testimony, explaining that they were coerced by police to name Davis as the killer. Of the two witnesses who have not retracted their testimony, one is also a prime suspect himself.

For almost 20 years now, Davis’ case has been drawn out as his legal team continually petitions against his execution. Davis has been granted four temporary stays of execution, despite consistent denials by courts to reopen his case. Throughout the years, passionate activists have worked tirelessly to save Davis’ life, including sister Martina Davis-Correia, who has traveled around the world bringing international attention to her brother’s case.

Causecast looks at the Troy Davis case in the first episode of our new cause-based show, Cause in 60 Seconds.

The Death Penalty:
Under the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the death penalty violates human rights that should be extended to every individual. In 2007, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for all nations to abolish the death penalty. The United States continues to ignore such requests, remaining the only Western nation that continues the practice of killing convicted criminals. Of the 35 U.S. states in which it is practiced, the death penalty is especially prevalent in the South. Although studies have shown racial bias indicating that African-American defendants are more likely to receive the death penalty and cases involving African-American victims are less likely to garner the death penalty, it continues to be used as a tool of “justice” across the country. Also, mistaken convictions occur with an alarming frequency; 133 innocent inmates on death row have been exonerated since 1973.

To fight the death penalty in your state, check out Amnesty International’s state map for specific info on how to write to your State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator.

Now:
Currently, Davis’ life rests in the hands of the Supreme Court, as he awaits their ruling on his petition to have the case reopened. The decision was scheduled to be handed down today.

Instead, the Supreme Court decided that they will postpone ruling on Davis’ case until September. This is just one of many postponements Davis has received over the last eighteen years. If the judges rule in Davis’ favor in September, the case will be reopened and presented in federal court. Given Davis’ history of rejected appeals at both state and federal levels, the likelihood of a favorable ruling remains in question.

You can support Troy Davis, first and foremost, by signing this petition through Amnesty International to reopen his case. You can also join Amnesty and the Abolitionist Action Committee for the Annual Fast and Vigil to End the Death Penalty in Washington, D.C., June 29 to July 2. Amnesty is also co-sponsoring A Week of Witness for Troy Davis with the NAACP, asking communities and churches across the country to bring attention to Davis’ case.

Photo by World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, flickr.