Activism works: Troy Davis lives another day
Matt Gratz, Political Fail Blog
In 1989 Mark Macphail, an off duty police officer, went to the aid of a homeless man who was being attacked. During his heroic actions to save a man he did not know, he was shot and killed. The murder sparked a heated trial which pinned the responsibility on Troy Davis. After seven of the nine witnesses recanted their testimonies, the court of public opinion has shifted in the favor of Troy Davis as millions of people around the world came together in a final push to spare the death row inmate’s life today.
There was a great effort from activists from around the world today to save the life of an innocent man. People from across the world tweeted and posted updates on their Facebook pages, stood out side government buildings with signs reading, “I am Troy Davis,” and called local officials and urged them to do the right thing today, rather than apologize for their actions years from now.
Troy Davis was scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection today at 7:00PM EST, but thanks to the hard working attorneys and loving activists, the supreme court stepped in during the final minutes to offer a reprieve for the deserving inmate. As I watched Democracy Now’s live coverage from outside the death row prison in Jackson Georgia, I jumped up out of my seat when I heard the thousands of protesters erupt in cheers and hugs as the news arrived that Troy will live another day.
The supreme court of the United States will have to make the decision on whether or not to spare Davis’ life over the next seven days. The decision can come tonight, or in true American theatrics, at the very last moment at the end of the week.
The White House has remained silent on the issue saying, “It is not appropriate for the president of the United States to weigh in on specific cases.”
Troy lives on to maintain his innocence another day. Even though he faces death at the hands of his government, his spirits have remained high. He says he feels that he is being used for something greater than him, and I think he could be right. Today millions of people from around the world came out against the death penalty. We are not a truly civilized society when we continue to put humans to death.
Protests continue across the globe into the night for Troy Davis. A spontaneous march to the Supreme Court in Washington DC has just been formed. Like us on Facebook for updates.
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