tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29488869.post1473200716102817447..comments2023-09-06T01:36:44.050-07:00Comments on Journey of Hope...From Violence to Healing Blog: NOTE on REGGIE - TROY Davis' LegacyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29488869.post-87649244381831227092011-10-06T11:09:16.954-07:002011-10-06T11:09:16.954-07:00The state of Georgia shocked the world when it end...The state of Georgia shocked the world when it ended Troy Davis' life on September 21, 2011. In the face of significant doubts, Georgia proceeded with the execution of someone who may well have been innocent.<br /><br />But in the midst of this horrible tragedy, we have seen an unprecedented surge of energy to end the death penalty. Troy Davis put a face on the death penalty in the U.S. -- making it painfully clear why this flawed and horrific system must be abolished at once.<br /><br />It was Troy's final wish for us to keep fighting for all of the other Troy Davises on death row. And on Monday, October 10 -- World Day against the Death Penalty -- we'll use our renewed energy and passion to take aim at doing just that.<br /><br />We believe the next Troy Davis could be Reggie Clemons in Missouri.<br /><br />Elements of Reggie's case may sound familiar: <br /><br />No physical evidence linking Clemons to the crime <br />Two highly questionable witnesses - both of whom were suspects in the crime <br />Alleged police coercion <br />Racial bias - evidenced by the jury selection where blacks were disproportionately dismissed <br />But the biggest similarity between the cases of Troy Davis and Reggie Clemons -- overwhelming doubt! .<br /><br />Call on Missouri to stop the execution of Reggie Clemons now!<br /><br />Supporters worldwide will mark World Day against the Death Penalty by holding events, teach-ins, rallies, demonstrations and taking other powerful actions to call attention to the case of Reggie Clemons and advance the ever-growing movement against the death penalty. You can also bring the fight to end the death penalty home to your community by hosting a teach-in on the death penalty through the lens of the Davis and Clemons cases. Download our teach-in kit for valuable information and organizing tips. <br /><br />The state of Georgia may have taken the life of Troy Davis, but it did not stop our struggle to create a country and world where human dignity and human life are respected. <br /><br />Thank you for being part of this movement for human rights!<br /><br />In Solidarity,<br /><br />Laura Moye<br />Death Penalty Abolition Campaign Director<br />Amnesty International USA <br /><br />Plz go to Amnesty I-USA "Take Action" page for more infoCNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10877484524704475807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29488869.post-32000246839627575302011-10-03T16:50:32.480-07:002011-10-03T16:50:32.480-07:00Yesterday Troy Davis was laid to rest.
Thousands ...Yesterday Troy Davis was laid to rest.<br /><br />Thousands joined in to celebrate his life at the Jonesville Baptist Church, and tens of thousands more joined online through the webstream. The power of our global community—united to honor, to stand on convictions and to show respect–was palpable inside the church.<br /><br />There was little talk of sadness, little mention of grief. The Davis family, compelled by their deep faith, chose to celebrate Troy’s spirit, to honor his life, and to continue to move his mission to abolish the death penalty.<br /><br />Their strength mirrors Troy’s own. Half of his life was spent behind bars, a captive of a system designed to crush even the mightiest of spirits. But Troy never lost hope. He never lost his faith in God or in his higher purpose.<br /><br />In the execution room, Troy used his last words to proclaim his innocence one final time. He then made a call for his movement—all of our movement—to bring about to end of the death penalty for good. And then, in his final breath, he asked God’s mercy upon those about to kill him.<br /><br />Even in his darkest hour Troy Davis saw light. In the face of death he showed compassion, resolution and conviction—a bravery that will forever be remembered.<br /><br />So together, we will honor Troy’s memory and work to end the terror of state sponsored execution. It was a goal of Fredrick Douglass, Ida B Wells, and Thurgood Marshall. And it is a goal that the NAACP will carry forward in the weeks and months ahead.<br /><br />A punishment reserved almost exclusively for poor people of all colors, and especially for those like Troy who are of color, is not a punishment. It’s the most irreversible and violent act of discrimination, and the ultimate violation of human rights.<br /><br />The way that each of us can ensure the end of capital punishment comes as soon as possible is to shift from rallies where we shout the slogan I am Troy Davis, to a sustained campaign where we practice the faith of Troy Davis. If our movement is going to be successful, then we must focus on three types of action:<br /><br />First, we must target the death penalty for elimination in ten more states.<br /><br />Second, we must approach every sitting District Attorney and candidate for District Attorney and let them know that they will no longer get our votes unless they stop sending people to death row.<br /><br />Finally, we all must vote. We are more powerful than those who would do wrong in this world. But only through our collective voice will we achieve our goal.<br /><br />The time has come for us all to come together and finish what our foremothers and forefathers started. We will end the death penalty, and we will do it in honor of Troy Davis.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Ben<br /><br />Benjamin Todd Jealous<br />President and CEO<br />NAACP<br /><br />PS: If you have not yet signed the petition to end the death penalty of the United States, please do so now, and ask your friends and colleagues to do the same. http://action.naacp.org/EndTheDPCNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10877484524704475807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29488869.post-84642577167790666662011-10-01T23:44:25.473-07:002011-10-01T23:44:25.473-07:00From Troy Davis:
“Thank you and remember I am in ...From Troy Davis:<br /><br />“Thank you and remember I am in a place where execution can only destroy your physical form but because of my faith in God, my family and all of you I have been spiritually free for some time and no matter what happens in the days, weeks to come, this movement to end the death penalty, to seek true justice, to expose a system that fails to protect the innocent must be accelerated. There are so many more Troy Davis’…. We need to dismantle this unjust system city by city, state by state and country by country. I can’t wait to stand with you, no matter if that is in physical or spiritual form.”connie nashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18431611328255592047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29488869.post-11286791942663940722011-10-01T23:42:27.078-07:002011-10-01T23:42:27.078-07:00Here is the 2nd half of a report from Steve Dear w...Here is the 2nd half of a report from Steve Dear who's been the visionary & sustainer for years of The PFADP and who was a leader in collecting signatures from faith leaders in an heroic attempt to halt Troy Davis' execution. This is after the nonviolent protest the night of the xecution took place - in police reaction to a strong statement of disapproval by Steve and others...<br /><br />"...They screamed at my face and grabbed me. <br /><br />"We are nonviolent. We are unarmed. We mean you no harm, officers." <br /><br />'We were handcuffed tightly behind our backs, and yelled at again. (More than a week later, my wrists are still bruised, and I still cannot feel my left thumb from the heavy plastic ties left on for one hour.) We were placed in a police van with three young men, fellow nonviolent protesters. Two more new friends, a father and son from a Georgia church, would join us.<br /><br />'We did not know Troy's fate until we were released in the morning. That same night Lawrence Brewer was executed in Texas. <br /><br />'I was sure that the most appropriate place for me to be that night was sharing a small cell with four other men, two of us having to lie on the floor at the Butts County Jail. One of the guards taunted and insulted some of my friends as if to provoke them into an angry reaction.<br /><br />'Charged with disorderly conduct, we go to court on November 17. <br /><br />'I could not not take that action to stop the execution.<br /><br />'I am asking you now to discern where you stand and what you are willing to do to help make sure executions are stopped forever in our country.<br /><br />'I had been in Georgia the week before to deliver the letter organized by People of Faith Against the Death Penalty and signed by more than 3,500 religious leaders from across the country and beyond. CNN and other media reported our finding that no such letter in modern history was thought to have as many endorsements from religious leaders. More than 1 million people signed petitions for Troy.<br /><br />'In light of the massive mobilization that you helped bring about, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles did more than seal Troy's fate with their failure to grant clemency. <br /><br />'They triggered a new wave of the abolition movement. <br /><br />'They have challenged the consciences of clergy and laity to become involved in new ways. <br /><br />'Thanks to you our movement will never be the same. <br /><br />'Please sign PFADP's Pledge for Abolition and forward it to your family, your friends, your colleagues, your pastoral leaders, your mayor, and even your district attorney, police chief and sheriff.<br /><br />'As Troy is soon laid to rest, let us take this sad moment and transform it from despair into hope and action. <br /><br />'Let us pledge to rise up and unbind our souls, our country, and our world from the death penalty. <br /><br />'Stand with me and say, "I am here to stop the execution of the next Troy Davis – and every single person living on death row."<br /><br />======<br />Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.<br /><br />People of Faith Against the Death Penalty<br />www.pfadp.org<br />110 W. Main St., Suite 2-G, Carrboro NC 27510<br />(919) 933-7567connie nashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18431611328255592047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29488869.post-74412951117991864642011-10-01T23:32:08.114-07:002011-10-01T23:32:08.114-07:00In Troy's Name: A Message from Stephen Dear
T...In Troy's Name: A Message from Stephen Dear<br /><br />Tomorrow (when this comment posted Saturday)<br />I will be an honorary pallbearer at Troy Davis's funeral in Savannah, Ga. Troy empowered millions of people and that is how I will remember him. <br /><br />He asked everyone to pledge to work to end the death penalty and that is what I am writing to you about today.A few minutes before Troy was scheduled to be poisoned to death in Jackson, Ga. last week I made the sign of the cross, took a deep breath, and with my friend Kurt calmly crossed the street into a phalanx of heavily armed police and SWAT officers at the gates of the Georgia Diagnostic Prison. <br /><br />We were surrounded."I am here to stop the execution of Troy Davis," I said.They screamed at me to leave.At that moment, with a thousand people standing behind us watching and cheering, I knew things would never be the same in our movement. There were too many new faces in the crowd. I am writing you now on Troy's behalf to ask you to pledge to take another step with me, to pray and act to expand the circle of abolitionists. Please sign People of Faith Against the Death Penalty's Pledge for Abolition.<br /><br />GO http://pfadp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=521&Itemid=1connie nashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18431611328255592047noreply@blogger.com