Take action -- Supreme Court has declined to hear Troy Davis' case

Supreme Court has declined to hear Troy Davis' case

 

Amnesty International - October 14, 2008

 

http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis-finality-over-fairness/page.do?id=1011343

 

The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency for Troy Anthony Davis shortly before 5 p.m.

on Friday, September 12.  They did so despite overwhelming doubts of Davis' guilt - and after stating last year that they would "not allow an execution to proceed in this State unless and until its members are convinced that there is no doubt as to the guilt of the accused."  On September 23, The U.S. Supreme Court stayed Troy Davis' execution "pending the disposition of [his] petition for a writ of certiorari."  On October 14, the Court decided not to accept his petition.

 

The Georgia Board has the power to step in at any point, so we encourage you to continue to collect letters and petitions asking them to issue clemency.

 

These letters are being collected in Amnesty International's Atlanta office to be delivered to the Board at the appropriate time.  Please do not send your letters directly to the Board.  Take action below, or fax your letter to 404-876-2276.

 

 TAKE ACTION!  Write a letter to the Georgia Board of Pardon and Paroles http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=11330

 

    * To see what activists are doing in Georgia,

    please visit GFADP. http://www.gfadp.org/TakingAction/TroyDavis/tabid/68/Default.aspx

 

    * Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.

    It's quick and easy using the ACLU's website.

    http://letters.aclu.org/letter/?letter_KEY=1039

 

    * Text "TROY" to 90999 to help spread the word with your cell phone.

 

We respectfully ask you to not contact the US Supreme Court or the Governor or Attorney General of Georgia because it could be detrimental at this time.

 

Listen to Troy tell his story

http://stream.luxmedia.com/?file=clients/amnesty/TroyDavis_edit_4.mp3&method=dl

 

Hear from Troy's sister http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.do?id=1011384

 

Join the discussion on our blog

http://blogs.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/archive/2007/06/25/troy-davis--catastrophic-flaws-in-the-us-death-penalty-machinery.htm

 

Recent Timeline:

 

    * July 16, 2007      Georgia State Board of Pardon and Paroles issued a stay of execution (scheduled

    for July 17, 2007) for up to 90 days.

 

    * August 3, 2007   Georgia Supreme Court agreed to hear Davis' appeal for a new trial.

 

    * March 17, 2008   Georgia Supreme Court denied Davis' appeal for a new trial.

 

    * Sept. 12, 2008    Georgia State Board of Pardon and Paroles denied clemency for Davis (execution

    scheduled for Sept. 23)

 

    * Sept. 23, 2008     U.S. Supreme Court issues a stay of execution pending the disposition of the

    petition for a writ of certiorari filed on Davis'

    behalf.

 

Background

 

Restrictions on Federal appeals have prevented Troy Anthony Davis from having a hearing in federal court on the reliability of the witness testimony used against him, despite the fact that most of the witnesses have since recanted, many alleging they were pressured or coerced by police. Troy Davis remains on Georgia death row, and may be scheduled for execution in the near future.

 

Troy Davis was sentenced to death for the murder of Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail at a Burger King in Savannah, Georgia; a murder he maintains he did not commit. There was no physical evidence against him and the weapon used in the crime was never found. 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.

 

http://blogs.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/archive/2007/06/25/troy-davis--catastrophic-flaws-in-the-us-death-penalty-machinery.htm

 

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.

 

** Print a fact sheet on Troy Davis' case http://www.amnestyusa.org/uploads/file/TroyDavisfactsandtimeline(1).pdf

 

** Read more about innocence on Georgia's death row http://www.amnestyusa.org/abolish/Innocence_and_Exonerations_in_GA.pdf

 

** Read the European Parliament Resolution on Troy's Case http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2008-0368+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN

 

** Visit Troy Davis' website http://www.troyanthonydavis.org/

 

** Send a solidarity message to Troy on his E-Book through AI-France http://soutenonstroydavis.amnesty.fr/

 

Read the report:

 

    * Where is the justice for me?: The case of Troy Davis, facing execution in Georgia

    http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=    ENGAMR510232007

 

Read the press releases:

 

    * Supreme Court's Death Penalty Ruling in Troy Davis Case Reveals 'Catastrophic Flaws in the U.S.

    Death Penalty Machine'

    http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=    ENGUSA20070625001

 

    * Religious Leaders, Members of Congress, Entertainers, Civil Rights Leaders Lead Worldwide

    Clemency Call for Troy Davis

    http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=    ENGUSA20070710001

 

    * Amnesty International USA Applauds Stay of Execution for Troy Davis

    http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=    ENGUSA20070717001

 

    * Amnesty International USA Applauds Georgia Supreme Court Action in Troy Davis Case

    http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=    ENGUSA20070803001

 

    * Amnesty International USA Calls Georgia Supreme Court Hearing on Troy Davis Case 'Essential,'

    Saying 'the Original Case Has No Legs'

    http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=    ENGUSA20071113001

 

    * Amnesty International USA Decries Ruling in Troy Davis Case

    http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=    ENGUSA20080317001&lang=e

 

    * Amnesty International Condemns Parole Board Decision to Allow the Execution of Troy Davis

    http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=    ENGUSA20080912002&lang=e

 

    * Amnesty International Praises Stay of Execution for Troy Davis

    http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=    ENGUSA20080923002

 

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.net

 

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs