Archive for the ‘Troy Davis’ Category

Occupy Atlanta today will focus its attention on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and what it calls “critical flaws in the judicial system.”

It’s no secret that much of Occupy Atlanta’s emotional energy is derived from the recent execution of Troy Davis, put to death last month for the 1989 murder of an off-duty police officer.

Immediately upon arrival two weeks ago, the occupiers of Woodruff Park” have renamed their living space “Troy Davis Park.” This no doubt has contributed to the tension between the protestors and law enforcement.

Woodruff Park is named after Robert Woodruff, the Coke CEO and philanthropist.

An 11 a.m. press conference is to feature civil rights leader Joe Beasley and a close friend of Davis who goes by the name of “E Red.” Two hip-hop artists will also be participating. One will be Michael Render of Atlanta, whose presence is being advertised via his stage name: Killer Mike.

Which sounds like an unfortunate case of mixed …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: Occupy ATL summons ghost of Troy Davis »

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 …

Continue reading Troy Davis reaction: Resignation from John Lewis, and a call for a prison strike »

Count U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Decatur) among those who think President Barack Obama would be making a mistake if he dropped a public option insurance program as part of a health care reform package.

Johnson, in fact, says he’ll vote against any measure that doesn’t include government-based competition for health insurance companies.

In an interview with Denis O’Hayer and WABE (90.1 FM), Johnson said:

”I don’t think it would create the same level of competition for the insurance companies as would a public option. The co-op idea certainly would allow groups to negotiate with insurance companies for health care for their members.

“But if you don’t have insurance because you can’t afford it, that concept does nothing for those people.”

O’Hayer asked Johnson if he would oppose a measure that included only non-profit insurance co-ops:

”My position is hardening as we speak. There’s got to be a different way other than to appease the millionaires and the …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: If no public option, count Johnson out of health care reform »

The Wall Street Journal this morning has piece on the jaded side of the free market that’s showing itself to the residents of Douglas, Ga.

This spring, Pilgrims Pride Co. announced it would shut down its local chicken-processing plant as part of its bankruptcy filing. To Coffee County, it was a loss of 1,000 jobs and $300,000 a year in county tax revenues.

Local officials have been trying to find a buyer, but the company has resisted, to the point of keeping one prospective buyer from touring the plant. “The standoff shows how two important imperatives in a recession — creating jobs and cutting excess capacity — can collide,” according to the WSJ.

To continue:

In an email to the city of Douglas, Pilgrim’s President and Chief Executive Don Jackson said, “With declining demand for chicken in this terrible economy we need to remove chicken from the market. This would not be accomplished with a sale.” While he said he recognized the “devastating impact” a closing would …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: It’s not enough to get laid off in some parts of Georgia. You have to stay laid off. »

Bob Barr, the former Libertarian presidential candidate and Georgia congressman, has an op-ed piece in today’s New York Times:

There is no abuse of government power more egregious than executing an innocent man. But that is exactly what may happen if the United States Supreme Court fails to intervene on behalf of Troy Davis.

Mr. Davis is facing execution for the 1989 murder of an off-duty police officer in Savannah, Ga., even though seven of the nine witnesses have recanted their testimony against him. Many of these witnesses now say they were pressured into testifying falsely against him by police officers who were understandably eager to convict someone for killing a comrade. No court has ever heard the evidence of Mr. Davis’s innocence.

After the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit barred Mr. Davis from raising his claims of innocence, his attorneys last month petitioned the Supreme Court for an original writ of habeas corpus. This would be an …

Continue reading Bob Barr: Georgia may be about to execute an innocent man »

U.S. Rep. John Lewis just let it be known that he and fellow congressman Hank Johnson of DeKalb County will pay a visit to Georgia’s death row and inmate Troy Davis on Friday.

Davis was convicted of murdering a police officer in Savannah in 1989. Since the time of his original trial, seven of the nine witnesses have recanted or contradicted their testimony. Davis’ attorneys have filed a final legal measure to avoid his execution — asking the U.S. Supreme Court to send the case back to a judge for reconsideration of the changing testimony.

Lewis has been involved in the Davis case for the last two years, and testified at a parole board hearing on the inmate’s behalf.

But Lewis has never visited death row, spokeswoman Brenda Jones said — although during his Freedom Rider days, the much-jailed congressman was once hauled off to a maximum security prison in Mississippi.

Jones also pointed out that Lewis had made a quiet prison visit to Genarlow Wilson, who was sentenced …

Continue reading Two congressmen to pay a visit to Georgia’s death row »