Campaign to End the Death Penalty

Day of action for Troy Davis

September 26, 2008

On Monday, September 29, the Campaign to End the Death Penalty is calling on people to make calls, send faxes and hold demonstrations to stop the execution of Troy Davis.

THANKS TO you, Troy's family, and the tens of thousands of people around the country who have taken time out of their lives to write a letter, sign a petition or attend a demonstration, Troy Davis lives today.

When the U.S. Supreme Court decided to stay his execution on September 23 until they could decide whether to look at the case, it was a recognition that people's eyes were on this case from around the country and around the world. But now, Troy could face another execution date very soon, and we need you to spring into action again.

On September 29, the Supreme Court will be meeting to decide whether to hear Troy's case. No gun, no DNA, no fingerprints, and no physical evidence of any kind were used to convict him. Seven of the nine witnesses in his case have recanted their trial testimony, and several have said that they were pressured by police.

In effect, what the Supreme Court justices will be deciding is whether it's okay to allow the execution of an innocent man if his appeals have expired. We think this is a no-brainer. If they look at the facts and make the right call, Troy lives. If they decline to hear the case, Troy could be executed that night, or the day after, or in the weeks to come, if Georgia sets a new execution date.

What you can do

Several rallies and other actions are planned for September 29.

These include rallies in Chicago at Noon at Federal Plaza, Adams and Dearborn Streets; in New York City at Noon at 26 Federal Plaza; in San Francisco at Noon at the Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate Ave.; and in Washington, D.C., at 11 a.m. at the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, First Street and Maryland Avenue, NE. Please send any additional information about upcoming actions to [email protected].

Find out more about Troy's case and how you can get involved at the Troy Anthony Davis Web site.

Marlene Martin's "Anatomy of a frameup," published in the new issue of the International Socialist Review, documents the long history of injustices in Troy's case. Troy's sister, Martina Correia, was interviewed in the New Abolitionist, newsletter of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, in an article titled "The fight for my brother Troy."

For more information about the fight against the death penalty nationwide, visit the Web site of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty.

But the Supreme Court Justices aren't the only ones with a decision to make. Thurbert Baker, the attorney general of Georgia, and Spencer Lawton, the district attorney of Chatham County, both have the power to rescind Troy Davis's execution warrant, and Baker can reopen an investigation into the case. The members of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles could reconsider their shameful decision to deny Troy clemency, but have refused to do so. All of these public officials need to be held accountable!

The attention on Troy's case is the reason he lives today. On Monday, September 29, the Campaign to End the Death Penalty is calling for a coordinated day of demonstrations, petitioning, phone and fax campaigns to draw attention to the injustices of his case and to call for his clemency. Justice for Troy Davis!

Further Reading

From the archives