Troy Davis reaction: Resignation from John Lewis, and a call for a prison strike
As you probably know, the state Board of Pardons and Paroles this morning declined to commute the death sentence of Troy Anthony Davis, convicted of the 1989 murder of an off-duty police officer.
The decision was immediately denounced by Amnesty International, the NAACP and other groups that made the case an international cause – arguing that the recantation of multiple eyewitnesses had thrown sufficient doubt on the verdict.
Republicans, including Gov. Nathan Deal, have remained largely quiet, preferring the system to run its course.
The reaction from Democrats has varied. U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta expressed resignation. In part:
“We have come a great distance in Georgia, but today we have demonstrated we still have a great distance to go before we build a society based on simple justice that values the dignity and the worth of every human being. We are not there yet. I am deeply saddened and deeply disappointed by this decision, but in light of all I have seen through the years, it does not surprise me.”
State Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, called for a work stoppage by the men and women who keep inmates at the Jackson, Ga., facility corralled. Again, in part:
”I am calling for a general strike or sick-out by all but a skeleton staff of the Georgia Diagnostic Prison on September 21st, 2011. I say to the prison staff: If you work on that day, you will enable the prison to carry out the execution of a possibly innocent man.”
In a column he wrote for CNN, former Georgia congressman and federal prosecutor Bob Barr levels this harsh criticism:
Imposing a death sentence on the skimpiest of evidence does not serve the interest of justice. The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles did not honor the standards of justice on which all Americans depend by granting clemency. In doing so, it will allow a man to be executed when we cannot be assured of his guilt.
That was the final admirable principle standing between Davis and his scheduled death by lethal injection Wednesday. And the parole board did not uphold it.
Commenting on this post has been closed.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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196 comments Add your comment
ConnecticutCowboyBush
September 20th, 2011
2:23 pm
“It’s George Bush’s fault! Blame him.”
No…it’s not. Let’s be honest. Bush was anly repsponsible for driving America over a cliff, putting the middle class on the endangered species list by rewarding huge corpoarations for shipping all our jobs over to China, lying to start a war where he had to borrow a trillion dollars from Red China to pay for it, and doubling our National Debt after Reagan had already tripled it and made America the world’s biggest debtor nation.
You can’t blame Bush for everything. It’s not fair.
Tom (Independent)
September 20th, 2011
2:23 pm
I hope Troy Davis ,just prior to his execution, tells the world the truth about killing the officer, if not it is my sincere hope he goes straight to burning HELL. If you have any hope of salvation and god’s forgiveness, let your last breath tell the truth and not continue the lie!
I am NOT Troy Davis
September 20th, 2011
2:25 pm
Not all of the parole board members are white. There are two black members…
check your facts meathead
P.
September 20th, 2011
2:26 pm
Shouldn’t we at least have our facts straight before we start spewing ideas and protests?
1. President Obama cannot pardon an inmate convicted of a crime against the state–only those against the United States.
2. This Parole Board consists of two blacks and three whites–ALL appointed by Gov. Perdue, not Gov. Deal. (And as a side note, Davis was convicted by a jury of 7 blacks and 5 whites).
3. The Governor of Georgia has absolutely NO clemency or pardoning power whatsoever.
4. Davis’ conviction has been upheld by every single layer of the judiciary in this country.
Need I say more? I’d say this guy has gotten MORE than a fair shake.
JJWILL
September 20th, 2011
2:27 pm
It is a shame that we are in the twenty-first century and ignorance and racism or still high on the totem pole. For those of you who say that it is not true, you are lying to yourself. In spite of all the false allegations and witnesses recanting there stories, this guy will still be murdered. Troy, its only because you are a BLACK MAN. May God be with you.
SAWB
September 20th, 2011
2:28 pm
Folks the bottom line is all this evidence has been reviewed and reviewed over the last thirty years and the same conclusion has been reached. African Americans have been involved in every step of this process and have up held this verdict. It is a shame to see a human being put to death, but it is a much bigger shame that many in our society have no compassion for a MURDERED Police Officer.
Those who cast....
September 20th, 2011
2:29 pm
It’s funny how people who don’t know much bark the loudest. At the end of the day no one on this board knows if the man did it or not because NONE of us were there so how can fix our mouths to say someone deserves to die. How quickly we judge! This world is going to a place that makes me reconsider having children.
RogerMalcom
September 20th, 2011
2:31 pm
Connecticut Cowboy-
You forgot: Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, AIDS, the CLAP, California falling off into the ocean, CIA assassinations in 3rd world countries, Haiti, the sunami (sp), thongs, the Yankees winning the world series, etc. And dont get me started on Nixon …..or Ike……..
Electric Chair
September 20th, 2011
2:31 pm
Too bad we don’t still use the Electric Chair to execute criminials. I would be glad to be the executioner and pull the switch starting the charge to send this Human POS on to meet the Devil in the burning fires of HELL. EXECUTE TROY DAVIS NOW!!!!!!!!!!
Laura
September 20th, 2011
2:32 pm
All I’ve gathered from all the comments, is that “WE” as a society have some serious issues. Whether white or black, shouldn’t really matter. Wishing someone to burn in hell is really mature, better make sure you’re not next to that person!
Tables turned
September 20th, 2011
2:33 pm
Angie B you are an idiot, so just because the victims kids were not old enough to remember, according to you, they have no right to speak to the parole board. They have more of a right than some of the people speaking on behave of the CONVICTED MURDERER.
SAWB
September 20th, 2011
2:37 pm
“It’s funny how people who don’t know much bark the loudest. At the end of the day no one on this board knows if the man did it or not because NONE of us were there so how can fix our mouths to say someone deserves to die. How quickly we judge!”
Do we still teach Civics in school? Funny how many people have no idea how our Judicial System works. I do not have to know if Troy Davis is guilty, but I do know a Jury of his peers convicted him. Then he went through a twenty year appeals process which confirmed the verdict at each step. Folks this murder occurred in the 1980s not last week he had his day in court again and again.
RogerMalcom
September 20th, 2011
2:39 pm
I bet that Michael Cooper, the man that Troy Davis shot just prior to shooting that blood-sucking McPhail police officer, would probably disagree with those who want Troy Davis The Cop Killer pardoned.
Ron Burgundy
September 20th, 2011
2:43 pm
Rogermalcom please…ithe fact that they found exact matching of shell cases is meangless. 7 out oof 9 witnesses recanted (I am sure they weren’t badgered at all into recanted and actually just came forward to recant out fo the goodness oftheir hearts).
RogerMalcom
September 20th, 2011
2:45 pm
I know….I know….shouldn’t let those FACTS get in the way of hyperbole…….my bad.
Patsy
September 20th, 2011
2:45 pm
Traian: Your question about lawmakers in Georgia being smarter than lawmakers in Europe? Yes I do think they are smarter!
Ron Burgundy
September 20th, 2011
2:47 pm
If it makes black people feel better I thought Casey Anthony should be fried as well based off of ZERO eye witness testimony and zero DNA.
Jere
September 20th, 2011
2:47 pm
No matter what the subject we see the same old tired hustlers stoking the fire.
ABC
September 20th, 2011
2:48 pm
1:02 pm post by Tom he said it all a young officer brutally shot down by a scum of the earth thug. it is unfortunate this convicted murderer piece of trash has been allowed to live and repent in prison at cost to taxpayers of more than $750,000 over the last 22 years. It is a shame he was not taken out by some other prison thug. He contributed nothing to society up to the point of pulling the trigger and 22 years later the same can be said.
Georgia should follow Texas in eliminating the killers . Freeing them and or commuting sentence does no good. Look at the Simpson trial in which a killer was allowed to walk only to end up in prison again for burglary. Look at the Trial from 2005 in Georgia where a cold blooded murderer killed a white judge, a black policeman and 2 white clerical official staff. $2,000,000 in legal fees paid by Tax Payers and the scum will be in prison for a lifetime to be fed, and taken care of at Tax Payers expense. We can not afford to keep scum of the earth alive ..white …hispanic or black they kill someone… they are convicted… bring about execution in a timely manner.!
RogerMalcom
September 20th, 2011
2:49 pm
And I liked OJ before he went on that killing spree against those white folks in Brentwood. Heck of a running back and great actor……..
Zipperell
September 20th, 2011
2:49 pm
Even though it pains me to see crimes being committed, I can’t help but cheer inside when some people (OJ) get away with murder. Americans areso two faced that it makes me sick when they pretend to want justice and not revenge.
Tables turned
September 20th, 2011
2:51 pm
People, the 7 witnesses that recanted only done so in the last year or so, after hearing statements from the NCAAP, ACLU, Amesty International, Jimmy Carter, the Pope and bleeding heart liberials. I would think that if they were truly badgered into their testimony at the trial they would have come forward sooner than 30 years later, don’t you thank.
Ron Burgundy
September 20th, 2011
2:52 pm
My question is what does a black man have to do to draw the ire of their fellow black man?
I mean OJ was innocent, Vick deseveres a second chance, this guy is innocent, MLK is a God despite sleeping with all sorts of women other then his wife, Jesse jackson is a adulterous minister.
Meanwhile Don Imus (a GASP shock jock) calls the rutgers team a distasteful name and blacks want him fired and sent up the river.
RogerMalcom
September 20th, 2011
2:53 pm
Tables Turned – If you continue to use logic, we’re gonna have to ask you to leave this forum…..
ThelmaLou
September 20th, 2011
2:53 pm
OPIE: ‘Gee Paw, how do they decide who to kill? Seems like that Brian Nichols guy did more bad and he didn’t get killed.’ ANDY: Well Son, its how the Justice System works, and sometime its not always fair.’ OPIE: So why are kids taught to be fair, can we have our own JustUs System?’
Jerry
September 20th, 2011
2:53 pm
Tim: Good Lord man, you need to lay off the caffiene. In fact the system worked over and beyond to give this man a chance to appeal. Give me 22 years and I can find as many people to say that Hitler was really a good guy given the automtated petitions online and the various activists groups willing to use a criminal as their cause de jour.
RogerMalcom
September 20th, 2011
2:53 pm
Enter your comments here
jay
September 20th, 2011
2:54 pm
The alleged recantations were reported to the defense but when it came time for the recantation witnesses to testify in court to make it offical only 1 recanted … so essentially only 1 person admitted to lying under oath. The other 6 either did not testify, were deceased, or on the stand never stated that Davis was not the killer. READ THE ORDER.
RogerMalcom
September 20th, 2011
2:56 pm
Jay- Sorry, but if you are going to use FACTS on here, we are going to have to ask you to leave. (Please see previous post for Tables Turned).
James
September 20th, 2011
2:57 pm
Zipperell: Many Americans especially in the Southern U. S. delight in watching folks like you froth at the mouth and get your panties in a wad over our system. You are very entertaining when you are so worked up. Let us know when you need another fix.
Ron Burgundy
September 20th, 2011
2:58 pm
jay…lets not let facts get in the way of defending black people no mater how heinous the crime.
black people fussed more over imus comments then Vicks electrocuting dogs. If I walked the streets with a Don Imus T Short I would be racist but they will wear dog killer jerseys all day long.
Dwayne
September 20th, 2011
2:59 pm
Why do these discussions always devolve into you’re-stupid-no-YOU’RE-stupid kinds of playground-type squabbles.
Fine, if the article was exploring whether Kim Kardashian had cosmetic surgery; but we’re talking about life and death here.
Ol' Timer
September 20th, 2011
3:01 pm
I’ve seen alot in my years — enough to know that police, district attorneys and judges sometimes get ahead of themselves and can pervert the justice system.
I don’t know enough about the case to have an opinion; but if witnesses recanted their testimony and jurors are having second thoughts about the process that led to their verdict, then maybe there should be an ammended verdict that is not as final as taking a man’s life when there’s mounting doubt in his guilt.
But of course these district attornerys and judges are elected and they want to come across to the voters as being tough on crime even if it means bending a fact or two or doing whatever it takes to be re-elected.
The truth is we have the finest healthcare and judicial system in the world if you have tons of money. If you’re poor — the healthcare system and justice system gives you the short end of the stick.
And, so it goes.
Lulu
September 20th, 2011
3:01 pm
Patrick, Patrick, Patrick! Only racists play the race card in 2011. I believe we are a society of laws but apparently AI and Naacp think they’re too advanced in society to believe in laws. Sad. and please spare me the Europeans don’t do it card. Just as they are free to adopt any system they wish so are we. Ours are quite different societies with quite different values and thus laws. You may have noticed their system throughout history doesn’t always work well. When it doesn’t guess who they call on?
Ron Burgundy
September 20th, 2011
3:02 pm
Dwayne – my point is where were all these defenders of the innocent when the media was showing Casey Anthony to be all but certainly guilty and getting the death penalty.
The ONLY reason this gets attention is cause of race. If this was a white man his family would be helping him decide what last meal to choose and protesting innocence.
Andy
September 20th, 2011
3:04 pm
Roger Malcom, tell me about the guy he shot earlier in the night. I have never heard that part of the story. That might actually change my opinion.
Ol' Timer
September 20th, 2011
3:04 pm
@Tables Turned: I sure as hell hope you never serve on a jury. Unfortunately, many like you do.
Andy
September 20th, 2011
3:05 pm
I heard about him beating the homeless man.
Ron Burgundy
September 20th, 2011
3:05 pm
Poor Ol’ Timer….sounds like a bitter old man who is disgusted he is not in a better lot in life. My grandparents grew up poor and worked two jobs at all hours of the day to make sure they were getting a leg up. They did not have cable or some thing slike that to ensure they could make ends meet and then some.
Most people are poor because they choose to be ppor. if people don’t want to be poor then MAYBE they should cancel HBO or the smart phone or the text messaging fees or drive a reliabel old car instead of some thing that makes up for thier small junk.
Ron Burgundy
September 20th, 2011
3:06 pm
Andy – he shot at a man earlier in the night and the shell casing were exact matches,
RogerMalcom
September 20th, 2011
3:10 pm
Andy- Ron beat me to the punch. Davis shot a man named Michael Cooper and I believe wounded two others before he arrived at Burger King parking lot with Redd Coles. They were beating a homeless man, Larry Young, when McPhail tried to intervene and help. He was shot 3 times, 2 after he was on ground at very close range- once in the face. Davis fled to Atlanta afterwards.
Andy
September 20th, 2011
3:11 pm
That changes my mind completely. Eyewitness accounts are not reliable either way, but balistics have a way of telling the truth. I have changed my mind, he should be executed.
Ron Burgundy
September 20th, 2011
3:12 pm
NO Roger…you got it all wrong….Davis was merely buying a big mac and was also helping save this homeless man….Wow….talk about the wrong place at the wrong time. It happens to me a lot too.. Sometimes I go to restaurants and mind my own business and next thing you know I am wanted for murder.
RogerMalcom
September 20th, 2011
3:14 pm
I still can’t figure out how those guns find their way to my hand……
If the gun doesn’t fit, you must acquit…..or something like that.
RogerMalcom
September 20th, 2011
3:15 pm
Ron- was it a Big Mac or Whopper?
Ron Burgundy
September 20th, 2011
3:16 pm
Its obviously racism Roger. I mean all white people do all day is think of ways to stick it to the brothas.
Frankie
September 20th, 2011
3:17 pm
see you got me typing like your ignorant ass…if 10% o fblacks are on welfare that is a far lesser number than whites….
Truth
September 20th, 2011
3:18 pm
I hope he burns in hell! Cop killer! Rangers Lead The Way!
Tables turned
September 20th, 2011
3:18 pm
@ Ol’ Timer the point is if you do something wrong and a jury ( if i am on it so be it) finds you guilty do not expect to have it altered because of the color of your skin which seems to be the case here.
Dwayne
September 20th, 2011
3:19 pm
Ron – I feel that most of the time when people argue race, it is ultimately unhelpful. True, false, who knows, just unhelpful. Like raindrops drumming earthworms out of the ground, the race argument tends to summon the lowest common denominators from under their rocks . . . on both sides of the issue. Just scroll up and see.
I don’t think one needs to utter the word “race,” or even wander close to the subject, to have concerns about this case. I wasn’t there; I didn’t get to review the evidence; but apparently the persons upon whose testimony the conviction and sentence were based, had reason to doubt their own verdict.
To me, being a staunch supporter of capital punishment (as I am) means having the resolution to and will to execute the right person for the crime. The right person. Not the convenient person.
Thus, I come down differently than the family of the slain officer. However, they sat through trial, and they heard the evidence, and I did not. If their powerful belief that he should be executed is based on a powerful belief that he is the man who killed their son/father/spouse, then who am I to criticize them for it.
But of everyone else who seems to have just taken an ideological position and folded their arms and shut their brains, I am ashamed.