OntheWilderSide

From an NAACP e-mail action alert:

There isn’t much time.

This is truly a matter of life and death. Troy Davis could be executed as early as next month, even though seven of the nine witnesses recanted their statements and the alleged murder weapon still has not been found.

Last week, I sent the email below and asked the NAACP community to send a message to the Georgia Parole Board by signing our “name wall.” Already, nearly 20,000 concerned Americans have spoken out and are standing by Troy — will you join them?

http://action.naacp.org/Save-Troy-Davis

Innocent until proven guilty.

These four words helped establish our criminal justice system. But in a nation that prides itself on our belief in liberty and justice for all, why is Troy Davis — with an overwhelming body of evidence pointing to his innocence — facing execution?

Twenty years ago, Troy Davis was convicted of murdering a white police officer. Since then, seven of the nine witnesses recanted their statements, new witnesses have come forward identifying another man as the murderer, and the alleged murder weapon has still not been found.

Despite these new developments, the state of Georgia is putting Davis on track to be executed — perhaps as early as next month.

You can help save Troy Davis’ life today by standing up, adding your voice to our “name wall” and asking the Georgia Parole Board to commute his sentence:

http://action.naacp.org/Save-Troy-Davis

When the Supreme Court heard the evidence, they understood that there were many more questions to be answered. But instead of granting Troy Davis a trial where his peers could decide his fate, he was forced to face a single federal judge where the burden was on Troy to prove his innocence — the exact opposite presumption of a jury trial.

In hopes of exonerating Troy after 10 years of imprisonment, his lawyer submitted each piece of evidence at the hearing. And each piece of evidence was rejected by the judge. Despite noting that the case against Troy was not “ironclad,” he nevertheless refused to grant a new trial.

A jury trial would have made this issue moot. Reasonable doubt would have freed Troy Davis.

Now it’s up to you to put a stop to Troy Davis’ execution. You are his last hope, and time is running out. Tell the Georgia Parole Board not to execute a man with such an overwhelming body of evidence pointing to his innocence:

http://action.naacp.org/Save-Troy-Davis

As an American, I have faith in our justice system. But as President of the NAACP, I have seen how our justice system can fail. Sometimes even when it comes to life and death. It is up to us to right this wrong.

This is his last chance. Stand by Troy and stand up for liberty and justice for all.

Thanks,

Ben

Benjamin Todd Jealous
President and CEO
NAACP

Filed under: Action Alert!, activism, courts, News, politics, progressive politics, social & economic justice Tagged: | Constitutional Law, criminal justice system, Death Penalty, execution, NAACP, race issues, troy davis