Stop the imminent execution of Troy Davis

[Joseph]

Dear Friends,

Georgia is getting ready to execute people again. There are two executions that have just been scheduled for later this month. The use of death as a tool in this way is always wrong, but one of the men scheduled to be executed in our names is Troy Davis, who has the strongest innocence claim to come up in a long time. 7 of the 9 witnesses whose testimony formed the basis of his conviction have recanted their testimony and some have stated that there was police coercion. 

We just found out that Troy Davis' Parole Board hearing is scheduled for a week from today, next Friday, Sept. 12. Please take a minute to write to them on his behalf. The Supreme Court is unlikely to step in, so this is probably his last hope. The Pope and the European Union have both urged this execution to not go forward and Amnesty International has made his case its most prominent in the country reminding people that while executions are always a violation of our most basic human rights, innocence matters! You can click on the link below to send an email and a regular letter. 

Also, Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty is planning a big rally draw attention to this case in Atlanta. Since everything is happening so quickly they do not have the time or place yet, but when that is known I will send out another email.

Thanks for all you do.

pax,

Joseph

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Amnesty International USA" <ale...@takeaction.amnestyusa.org>

Date: September 4, 2008 12:14:04 PM EDT

To: "Joseph Shippen" <fr.josep...@gmail.com>

Subject: Stop the imminent execution of Troy Davis

Reply-To: <ale...@takeaction.amnestyusa.org>

Troy Davis is scheduled to be executed on September 23. Justice matters, stop the imminent execution of Troy Davis!

Dear Joseph,  Troy Davis is scheduled to be executed by the state of Georgia on September 23, even though his serious claims of innocence havenever been heard in court.  Take action right now to stop this execution!  Troy Davis was convicted of murder solely on the basis of witness testimony, and seven of the nine non-police witnesses have since recanted or changed their testimony, several citing police coercion. Others have signed affidavits implicating one of the remaining two witnesses as the actual killer. But due to an increasingly restrictive appeals process, none of this new evidence has ever been heard in court.  Take action and then forward this action to ten friends! On July 16, 2007, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles stayed Troy Davis’ execution, stating that it would “not allow an execution to proceed in this State unless and until its members are convinced that there is no doubt as to the guilt of the accused” (emphasis added). The failure of courts to hear the compelling evidence of innocence in this case means that massive doubts about Troy Davis’ guilt will remain unresolved.  Urge the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to be true to its words and prevent this execution from proceeding!   In solidarity, Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn Director, Death Penalty Abolition Campaign Amnesty International USA  Take action for Troy Davis. Troy Davis was sentenced to death despite a tainted case and serious claims of innocence. © Georgia Department of Corrections DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. Messages sent to this email address are not read. If you have a question or comment, please use our interactive online help system. Subscribe to our RSS feeds.  © Copyright 2008 | Amnesty International USA | 5 Penn Plaza | New York, NY 10001 | 212.807.8400

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