Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Crime / Courts A conversation with death row inmate Troy Davis
Posted by Gwynedd Stuart @gwynnstu on Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 11:02 AM
He is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Georgia Diagnostics & Classifications Prison in Jackson.
Over the weekend, CL photographer Joeff Davis (no relation to Troy) met the death row inmate's cousin E. Red at a rally. Joeff submitted questions to E. Red, who relayed them to Troy. E. Red was not permitted to take notes while his cousin spoke, but did his best to write down some of what Davis said after their two hour visit.
E. Red said, "Today was the first time I had him [Troy] by myself, the first time we had a contact visit in a year and a half, it was the first time we were able to be in the same room, normally we have us a use a phone with a wall between us. The guards down there, they love him. When they had a riot there earlier in the year they brought him in to talk to the prisoners, and thats how they are and that's how it has always been."
"I did the best I could to get the answers to your questions. I could not take notes while he spoke but I wrote down what he said as soon as I got back in the car. We visited for two hours."
Question from CL: How do you feel?
Troy Davis: " I feel blessed and at peace because God has blessed me
through everyone that is fighting for me."
CL: What would your message be for your supporters around the world?
TD: "Thank you for supporting me and my family I have been truly blessed by god through you all. Thank you for showing solidarity and continuing the good fight for humanity."
CL: Are you scared?
TD: "No scared of what? I don't fear the devil. God has blessed
me through millions of people."
CL: If you got out of jail what would you do?
TD: "Make sure my family is ok and well taken care of due to
what they have been through the last 22 years and make sure my nephew
and niece gets through college and gets a good education. I would also
start a program with the state and 6th or 5th grade-level and talk to
them and help them to understand the future and their goals."
E. Red added, "He wants to teach young kids how to stand up on their feet and not be torn down and he wants people to teach people to live together and help kids who came from troubled homes and help them to have a good life."
Laura Moye, Amnesty International's Death Penalty Abolition Campaign Director, says her organization is calling on the pardons board to reconsider its decision, and also asking that the Chatham County District Attorney call for the execution warrant to be vacated by the presiding judge.
Several protests are planned, including one at 7 p.m. tonight on the steps of the capitol and one tomorrow at a church across the street from the prison where Davis is to be executed. "We're calling on all Georgians to come out and say, 'Not in my name,'" Moye says. "Not while this cloud of doubt still looms over our heads."
Photos from last Friday's Troy Davis march and Prayer Service
Related Stories
-
Troy Davis' final day and the last-ditch efforts to save him 2
The clock is ticking for the death row inmate and his supporters
-
"I am willing to die for Troy Davis" 12
A local minister has renewed an offer to die in place of Davis
-
Bob Barr: Don't execute Troy Davis 3
Comments (29)
Showing 1-29 of 29
I don't understand how with all this doubt someone would be comfortable NOT stopping the execution. I don't think the state should be executing people, let alone someone for whom there is considerable doubt that has come to light since the conviction. Who is on this board?
like
dislike
Tried, convicted, appeals, sentence upheld....multiple times....what else is there?
The only doubt is from people that look a sliver of evidence versus an entire trial, like the jurors, judges, and parole board.
50 years from now state sponsored execution when doubt perisits will be looked back at in the same way as public lynchings. May god have mercy on the souls of those that seek vengeance above justice.
Majority rules.....tried....convicted....appeals....all the same outcome.....majority rules....
As much as I am in favor of capital punishment, there does appear to be a significant amount of doubt surrounding this entire case. Eyewitness testimony only vs. physical/forensic evidence. All of this recanting of statements and/or testimony.
It should take 90-180 days to thoroughly re-investigate everything. One way or another the truth will come out. But until then, put the imposition of sentence on hold.
Majority rules? Like when the majority said the earth was flat? Like when slavery was legal? Like when... - you get the idea, or do you?
It should scare the shit out of everyone that such a fallible system can kill a person.
So if the MAJORITY of the poster here say you are a buffoon you will happily abide by our judgement and never post again?
they've had 20 years to prove his innocence and now when FINALLY he is going to die for murdering an innocent person everyone wants a MURDERER to go free. That is a screwed up logic folks. He has gone all the way to the Supreme Court- HE IS GUILTY, DESERVES TO DIE. Deserved to die immediately after he killed the innocent victim. Racism is bs, I would be ready and willing to see a white man die just as much as black for this crime.
"It should take 90-180 days to thoroughly re-investigate everything. One way or another the truth will come out. But until then, put the imposition of sentence on hold."
Are you f'ing serious it's been 20 YEARS! This man has had countless appeals and chances to prove his innocence. His lawyers presented only affidavits from "recanting witnesses" not the actual people themselves as they would have been subject to cross examination by the court. This has NOTHING to do with his color and everything to do with the fact that he has been found GUILTY. Black people want equality yet they pull the race card every time they have a chance.
KILL HIM ALREADY.
Hopefully the chemicals they bought from the clandestine racing school in Europe work out properly. It'd be just awful if it hurt a lot and took a long time.
This is Georgia. We're Christians and we love to kill when the guvment tells us it is OK.
The man was guilty until proven innocent. If you think that's how trials should work, you are most definitely an idiot. Cops forced people to testify against him and the real murderer most likely testified against him as well. So while the murderer walks free, another man dies. Closure? More like you'll be haunted for the rest of your life. The real victim here is no longer the cop or Davis... it's the legal system in Georgia. It dies at 7pm tonight.
I have no idea whether Troy is guilty or innocent, but like it's been mentioned 5 million times already, there is an insane amount of doubt here to go through with his execution. Really this is just a sad travesty & another reason for Americans, including decent Georgians, to be ashamed of the rotten peach state.
And regarding the bloodlust, if you're clamoring for someone to get executed, why not concentrate on Brian Nichols or Jared Loughner? Shouldn't be any problem finding witnesses there.
Barring an act of logic and compassion.....
Georgia tonight has joined the ranks of Texas, China and Iran in its level of humanity.
"Black people want equality yet they pull the race card every time they have a chance."
white people pull the 'pull the race card' card every time they have a chance
kill all ofey grays
For all of yu demonic pale white ppl who is commentin on this post in reference to Troy Davis situation; and with makin other inclinations that black/brown Nubian/African-American are always playin the race card etc..
Many of yu need to really take an in-depth study of history across the globe on who and what race of ppl it was that started the caste-system that catapulted the racisms, atrocities and the diasporas against black ppl everywhere in this world for the last 2000yrs..
Moreover, many of yu need to either read the book of JOB in ur KJV bible [chapter 30:1-8], and then sit down and watch that 1981 movie called "QUEST FOR FIRE!" In which, merely explains and depicts who yall pale white ppl are upon this land. Yall have never had a soul nor any compassion for anyone, bcause yu are a ppl of greed, lust, hate and violence etc..
I think you must be on some other shit, Tehuti.
I think history reveals that people of all races have done some pretty horrific shit. I don't think whites necessarily hold a monopoly on that.
American slavery was certainly notable in it's brutality. I don't know if that's because we have such a large amount of volume of history on it since it's on a few generations within a living memory or what.
I remember learning that Aboriginal Australians are one of the most peaceful civilizations in the world. This is probably true for a couple of other island nations as well but if you lived on one of the other five continents, there's some ugly history.
Latest in Fresh Loaf
-
Time and Place: Read between the lines
To me this photo is about doing your own thing and following your own path in life.
-
Vernon Jones wants to return to the Gold Dome and other interesting qualification tidbits 1
Qualifying period ends, dust settles, campaigns begin
-
Suspects in Pittsburgh gay bashing slated to go to trial Tuesday
The men accused of beating Brandon White in Southwest Atlanta already headed to court
- More »
More by Author
-
Well, CBS Atlanta tried to save your life 5
In memory of a used mattress bill inspired by a CBS newscast
-
Fresh Slice 5/22/12: Another person infected by flesh eating bacteria 2
And other happy news about death and E Coli.
- More »
