Troy Davis

"When white folks say justice, they mean 'just us.'"

I don't know all the details of the case, but 7 of the 9 eyewitnesses have recanted their testimonies claiming police coercion and intimidation made them perjure themselves in the original trial. One of the 2 remaining witnesses was a suspect in the murder of the white police officer, so his testimony is instantly questionable. There is no DNA evidence to connect Davis to the crime, and beside the forced testimony from the 7 witnesses, nothing connects Davis to the murder of the police. Indeed, I highly doubt Davis's original hearing was just. The evidence against him was lies, and the jury was likely composed of whites or apathetic blacks who wanted to get on with their lives. In fact, the jury of 7 blacks and 5 whites found Davis guilty after less than 2 hours.

This case is one of many in which I have come to oppose the death penalty. The state should not have any power of life or death, and executing a man who likely committed no crime is worse than letting a thousand guilty criminals go free. Furthermore, Davis should not have to spend the rest of his life in prison either. The white family of the police officer have no idea what they're saying and should work on finding justice by ensuring that the real culprit is found. This is clearly race-related and a good example of police corruption and a justice system designed to imprison and execute black men. And despite years of appeals and attempts by the state to take his life, Davis and his family still fight for his future.

If Obama and the black communities of Georgia really gave a damn about fighting injustice and protecting black lives they would be marching to the facility where Davis is held, occupying state buildings, and using violence if necessary. Obama should be calling he governor of Georgia, the parole board, and the family of Troy Davis. And the blacks of Atlanta and Savannah should be escalating their actions, rioting and attacking state property if they must. This is what happens we give a state the power to execute civilians! Nobody should have the power of life or death over another, especially in the hands of an institutionalized racist power structure that has historically and currently attacked black men and an increasingly high number of black women. If Davis were white and he had all the celebrities, politicians, and hundreds of thousands of petition signatures asking for clemency I have no doubt he would've received it.

I can't lie. I feel helpless for not doing anything to prevent the likely execution tomorrow. I do know that if I could be in Georgia tomorrow, white folks would be having hell. Alternatively, if I occupied the highest seat in the land, I would use all my authority to prevent what truly is the torture and execution of a human being. Despite all the talk of 'progress' and social change in this country, it's remarkable how little this era differs from the past in terms of exploitation, control and destruction of black bodies. I will not be able to rest easy or trust this country any less (and I already have little faith in it) if Davis is murdered tomorrow. The state of Georgia and the United States of America owe him his life, which they have deprived him of for 22 years. He ha a family who cares for him, and was a well-known mentor for others in his community. My heart goes out to his sister, nephew, and other relatives who have lived through hell for the last 2 decades.