Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A Death in the state of Georgia

Troy set to be executed today!

In the sad event that there is no intervention today, Troy Davis will be executed by the state of Georgia at 7 p.m.

Please make one last attempt to halt the execution of a potentially innocent man. Call the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Georgia Attorney General's Office and urge them to stop the execution.

BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES: 404-657-9350

GEORGIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: 404-656-3300

Mr. Davis' serious claims of innocence, which include the recantation of 7 out of 9 witnesses, have never been heard in court. Further, no murder weapon was found and no physical evidence linked Davis to the crime.

For more information visit: http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis-finality-over-fairness/page.do?id=1011343&n1=3&n2=28&n3=1412

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Thanks for taking the time to support fairness for Troy Davis. If you have not already done so, please forward this urgent action (http://www.amnestyusa.org/troydavis) to all of your friends.

In solidarity,
The Campaign to Abolish the Death Penalty
Amnesty International USA

Your message was sent to:

Georgia State Board State Board of Pardons & Paroles

I was saddened to learn that you denied clemency to Troy Anthony Davis on September 12, but I recognize that you can revisit this decision at any time between now and September 23. I strongly urge you to do so.

I welcomed your decision to stay the execution of Troy Davis in July 2007. When you issued this decision, you stated that the Board "will not allow an execution to proceed in this State unless and until its members are convinced that there is no doubt as to the guilt of the accused." In March, the Georgia Supreme Court denied Troy Davis a hearing, so doubts of his guilt will always remain. Please be true to your words of last year and commute the death sentence of Troy Davis.

As you know, Mr. Davis has been on death row in Georgia for more than 15 years for the murder of a police officer he maintains that he did not commit. Davis' conviction was not based on any physical evidence, and the murder weapon was never found. Instead, the case was based solely on the testimony of witnesses, many of whom now allege police coercion, and most of whom have since recanted their testimony. Despite mounting evidence that Davis may in fact be innocent of the crime, appeals to courts to hold a hearing on this evidence have been repeatedly denied for procedural reasons.

This case has generated widespread attention, which reflects serious concerns in Georgia and throughout the United States about the potential for executing an innocent man. Nothing can undermine public faith in a criminal justice system faster than an execution when serious doubts about guilt have not been resolved. The power of clemency exists as a safety net to prevent such an irreversible error and preserve public confidence in the state’s capacity for justice. The integrity of justice in Georgia is at stake in this case, and I urge you to reconsider your September 12 decision and stop the execution of Troy Davis.

Thank you for your consideration.

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