Live from Death Row on July 14

Live from Death Row

Update on Troy Davis Case, Live Call from Vernon Evans, & more

on Criminal Justice Activism in Baltimore!

 

Troy Davis was sentenced to death for the murder of a police officer at a Burger King in Savannah in 1991. 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 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 against Troy, but because of the way the

appeals process has been restricted for capital cases, this new evidence has never been heard in court. Troy has

already faced three execution dates and come within hours of being murdered by the state of Georgia. The US

Supreme Court just delayed deciding whether or not to hear his final appeal until the fall. It will be up to we the people –

including Troy and his family – to build a movement for justice in the coming months.

 

Come, participate and engage in a discussion with the following criminal injustice activists and more

community members about fighting for Troy & related activism here in Baltimore City:

Vernon Evans: currently imprisoned on MDs death row, he will be calling in live. Vernon has always maintained

his innocence and was already serving a life sentence when sentenced to death. Vernon has faced execution

before and is fighting with activists for justice in his case and everyone else’s on death row.

Gary Proctor: defense attorney for numerous capital cases, from Maryland to the deep South. While defending

a death row inmate in Georgia, Gary met Troy Davis and the two men forged a lasting friendship

Walter Lomax: served 39 years for a crime he did not commit and has witnessed the dismal conditions of the

MD Criminal Justice system. He is now the director of the Maryland Restorative Justice Initiative, advocating

humane and sensible sentencing polices for those sentenced to long terms in MD prisons.

 

Troy’s case highlights many of the incurable problems with the death penalty, and we see his struggle as part of the

wider movement to end the death penalty and carry on the historic work of fighting racism in this country. Unfortunately,

here in Maryland, Gov. O’ Malley’s administration just took a step toward resuming executions after failing earlier this

year to persuade the General Assembly to outlaw the unjust, racist death penalty. Help us build the movement to win

abolition in MD and beyond!

 

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 7:00 PM

First Unitarian Church, Baltimore

Charles & Franklin Streets (ring buzzer on the Hamilton St side)

 

Call 443-386-8097 or email BCADP@comcast.net for more details

 

Cosponsored by: Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility, Restorative Justice Initiative, International Socialist Organization

 

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