As the entire world watched, you put the needle in Troy Davis’ vein. As candlelight vigils were held in London, Paris and New York, you ignored the outcries and decided it was more important to be right than protect justice. As Davis refused his last meal and last words, you continued to reject every last minute plea.

This particular case is not even about whether the death penalty is right or wrong. This case is not about Troy’s guilt or innocence. It is well beyond all that. This case proves our criminal justice and legal system are beyond repair. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that people from low socioeconomic status or minorities are far more likely to be convicted than rich white people.

Not only convicted, but likely will have longer sentences or death. Does that seem fair? Furthermore, the burden of proof during the original trial rests with the prosecution. However, for every other appeal, the defendant must prove his innocence. You, dear Georgia, completely botched this case from the beginning.

Witnesses were tainted, the jurors were tainted and the police never even considered any other suspects. The trial should have been moved to a different location after you flashed Davis’ picture on the news with the words “Cop Killer.” You should not have had all the “witnesses” together to reenact the crime.

Any two-bit police department in the nation knows this. What is your excuse for acting so unprofessionally on this case? Without any evidence of Troy’s guilt, how can he prove he is innocent? Yet, that is what the courts have expected of Davis.

I cry tonight as your state murders a man. I think that maybe this will open up the eyes of the nation of the problems with the death penalty. However, that won’t bring Troy Davis back. He has spent most of his life in jail only to be killed by your state to teach him killing is wrong. I wonder if the victim was not a cop or not white if the outcome would be different?

I already know the answer to that. A police officer’s life is worth more than other people. I hope everybody feels good down there for this state-sponsored lynching. Please know that I will never spend another moment in your state again. I would hate to be wrongly accused of a crime in your backwards ass state.

Yours truly,
Erin

The article Dear Georgia…, A Reaction to Troy Davis` Execution appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The world is still coming to terms with the shocking execution of Georgia inmate Troy Davis as more details emerge of Davis’ final moments. Davis spoke to the spectators gathered to watch him be put to death on Tuesday night. His final words before the lethal injection took his life were chilling.

Addressing some of his last words to the family of the victim, Mark MacPhail, who were in the viewing gallery, Davis lifted his head as needles were inserted into his arm, and insisted, as he always has done, that he was not responsible for killing the young, off-duty police officer.

“I am innocent. The incident that happened that night was not my fault,” he said, according to the four US media representatives who attended. “I personally did not have a gun. I was not the one who took the life of your father, son, brother.” Davis then turned to prison officials. “For those about to take my life, may God have mercy on your souls. May God bless your souls.”

Outside, the crowd of nearly 700 people cried and held hands as Troy Davis was killed. Over a million people from around the world signed petitions in support of Davis. Riot police and helicopters were dispatched as the execution approached, however there were no incidents of violence. Even though, many protesters were angry.

Davis’ lawyers amounted the execution to a “legal lynching.” “In the state of Georgia 48.4 percent of people on death row this morning were black males, and in Georgia they make up no more than 15 percent of the population,” his lawyers told reporters outside the jail.

Polls show that 57 percent of Americans believe Davis is innocent. This may be, as I have been saying, the catalyst that ends capital punishment in America. The US currently executes more people than any country in the world except China, Iran, North Korea and Yemen.

Although just over 60 percent of the public still support capital punishment, that number appears to have been slowly falling since the 1990s. DNA technology has allowed several death row inmates to be exonerated in recent years, denting faith in the system. Davis released a final message to supporters earlier in the day.

Edward Dubose, a member of the Georgia NAACP, met with Troy before his execution. “Troy wanted me to let you know – keep the faith. The fight is bigger than him … The death penalty in this country needs to end. They call it execution; we call it murder.”

The article Troy Davis’ Final Words appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.