I don't know much about Troy Davis. I don't know who's son he is, if he's a father, a brother, a husband, a friend... I don't know if we have the same favorite food. I don't know if he's a Lady Gaga fan. I don't know anything except that he is scheduled to be executed tonight in Georgia at 7pm EST.
In 1991 Davis was convicted of murdering a Georgia police officer. I'm sure putting him on death row seemed like a good idea to those involved at the time (something that I don't think will ever be a good idea with me...), but 20 years later the case against Davis has fallen apart:
"The case against him consisted entirely of witness testimony which contained inconsistencies even at the time of the trial. Since then, all but two of the state's non-police witnesses from the trial have recanted or contradicted their testimony.
Many of these witnesses have stated in sworn affidavits that they were pressured or coerced by police into testifying or signing statements against Troy Davis.
One of the two witnesses who has not recanted his testimony is Sylvester "Red" Coles — the principle alternative suspect, according to the defense, against whom there is new evidence implicating him as the gunman. Nine individuals have signed affidavits implicating Sylvester Coles."
("Too Much Doubt", amnestyusa.org)And still, Georgia is going through with the execution. WTF, America?
Just remember at 7pm tonight as your eating your dinner, watching TV, facebooking, or whatever it is that you do with your time that another man's done gone.
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