[Ppnews] Rallies protest impending execution of Troy Davis

[Political Prisoner News]

Rallies protest impending execution of Troy Davis

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/10/23/troy_davis_rallies.html


By 
<http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/10/23/mailto:cboone@ajc.com>CHRISTIAN 
BOONE

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Rallies were held around the globe Thursday as 
part of a final push to save the life of death row inmate Troy Anthony Davis.

An hour north from where Monday’s scheduled 
execution is to occur, roughly 200 protesters ­ 
including Davis’s mother and sister ­ gathered at 
the state Capitol urging Gov. Sonny Perdue to intercede.

“The whole world is watching Georgia,” said Larry 
Cox, executive director of Amnesty International 
USA. “Nowhere in the world is there a more 
serious violation of human rights than what 
Georgia is about to do to Troy Davis.”

Davis, 40, was convicted of the Aug. 19, 1989 
murder of 27-year-old Savannah police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail.

Since his trial, seven of nine key prosecution 
witnesses have recanted their testimony.

“If it was only one witness, that would be 
understandable. But seven of nine? That’s a 
different story,” said Ytunde Orumgbeni, of 
Atlanta. Unlike most of the protesters, Orumgbeni 
said she is not opposed to the death penalty.

“We have to do something,” she said. “I feel they’re taking an innocent life.”

Davis’ case has mobilized unprecedented support 
for groups opposed to capital punishment, said 
Sara Totonchi, chair of Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.

“I’m used to being at vigils down at the prison 
with 10 other people,” Totonchi said. “I’ve never 
seen a turnout like this in Georgia.”

Totonchi’s group is holding a mock funeral 
procession in downtown Atlanta Friday morning and 
will deliver petitions signed by more than 
140,000 people to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Thursday’s event was organized by Amensty 
International, which coordinated similar rallies 
in 14 other American cities and across much of Europe.

The European Union issued a statement Wednesday 
opposing Davis’ execution, saying there is great 
risk of miscarriage of justice with irreparable consequences.”

Having already pursued a number of unsuccessful 
state and federal appeals, Davis’ lawyers on 
Wednesday asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stay his execution.

Despite long odds, some attending the Capitol 
protest said they believe Davis will be spared.

“We’re going to get justice for Troy Davis,” said 
Darryl Hunt, wrongfully convicted in North 
Carolina for rape and murder. He spent 19 years 
behind bars before DNA evidence exonerated him in 2003.

“No matter what happens, Troy Anthony Davis will 
get justice,” said his sister, Martina Correia. 
As they did throughout Thursday’s rally, the 
crowd responded in unison, “I am Troy Davis.




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