Troy Davis denied clemency execution due 7pm 21 Sept 2011

[brigadista]

they are going to kill him

http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2011-09-20/clemency-denial-not-stopping-troy-davis-supporters#.TnjCb3p9WRQ


http://action.naacp.org/page/s/petition-larry-chisolm?utm_medium=Twitter&utm_source=NAACP&utm_campaign=20110914troydavisDAtwt&source=20110914troydavisDAtwt

[The Vegan Marxist]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/299025_250607538317294_100001041497308_748428_9992 05648_n.jpg

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Another disgusting perversion of so-called "bourgeois democracy."

[Welshy]

My University is having a quick last minute event against his execution soon.

[Commissar Rykov]

Completely disgusting but it doesn't surprise me with Georgia they would kill a thousand African-Americans before they would ever admit the State made a mistake.

[socialistjustin]

Never should've expected different. Fucking horrible that this is going to happen.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Call me a bleeding heart liberal but the US policy of state-sanctioned murder with prejudice against blacks and poor people is, in my mind, one of the greatest injustices in this world.

Whether this bloke did it or not, he has been a prisoner on death row for 20 years. What is the point in that life? Who really gains from this sort of thing? It's abhorrent and it will make me mad even thinking about it and I don't feel well so i'm going to stop here.

[Le Socialiste]

This only serves to illustrate the level of barbarism within the so-called "justice" system. The cruel and brutal nature of American bourgeois democracy demands an even crueler legal/prison system.

In short, I'm not surprised by this.

[PhoenixAsh]

Well the supreme court halted an execution scheduled for tonight in Texas.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/20/cleve-foster-stay-of-execution


They are now hoping the SC will step in for Troy...but I think that will be a long shot at the very best.

[brigadista]

a state lynching

9WZUhITejfI

[The Vegan Marxist]

TAKE ACTION:
Call Larry Chisolm: 912-652-7308. Demand he vacate the death sentence for Troy Davis.

http://www.fightbacknews.org/sites/default/files/troy-davis-protest-chicago.jpg
Mark Clements leads chants against the scheduled execution of Troy Davis. (Fight Back! News/Staff)

Chicago protest demands: “Stop the Execution of Troy Davis”
By Staff | September 20, 2011

Chicago, IL - Death row prisoner Troy Davis was denied clemency today, Sept. 20, by the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. He is scheduled to be executed tomorrow night.

Emergency protests are being held around the country. In Chicago, Amnesty International, Students for a Democratic Society and other groups gathered in front of the national headquarters of President Obama’s re-election campaign.

Mark Clements of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty had just returned from Atlanta where he had been with supporters of Davis outside the Georgia State Capitol. He told Fight Back!, “Seven out of nine witnesses have recanted their testimonies. The parole board says that these witnesses are less than credible now, but they were credible enough to convict him. How could that be?”

Clements has first-hand knowledge of the racist justice system in the US. He served 28 years in prison after being tortured into making a false confession by Chicago police.

Last minute appeals are being directed to Chatham County District Attorney, Larry Chisolm. He has the power to withdraw the death warrant. Clements said that the struggle for Davis’s life will continue until the last minute.

Call Larry Chisolm: 912-652-7308. Demand he vacate the death sentence for Troy Davis.

http://www.fightbacknews.org/2011/9/20/chicago-protest-demands-stop-execution-troy-davis

[Welshy]

My University is having a quick last minute event against his execution soon.

I would like to correct this. The event is tomorrow, today (tuesday) was an organizing event for it. And already the university is trying to stop it because we aren't going through the proper bureaucratic channels despite most of the event taking place in the community.

[brigadista]

looks like they are going to do it .

[Revolutionair]

Any updates? :(

[KurtFF8]

He was denied a polygraph today. I believe his attorney's are going to attempt to do a last minute appeal

[brigadista]

LAST MINUTE ACTION ESP IF YOU ARE IN THE USA


http://blog.amnestyusa.org/deathpenalty/resisting-troy-execution/

[MattShizzle]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/299025_250607538317294_100001041497308_748428_9992 05648_n.jpg



What good is this supposed to do? It will burn innocent people out of their homes, have more working class people killed by the police, let them make more draconian laws for "security" and not change the racist way the death penalty is applied one bit. Makes even less sense in other states (which have no say in how Georgia does things) let alone other countries - (the death penalty is not usedd in the UK.)

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

He was denied a polygraph today. I believe his attorney's are going to attempt to do a last minute appeal

No one should use polygraphs though. He might as well have given positive result because polygraphs are a load of quack-shit science and they would have proceeded anyway, with no proof (polygraph is as trustworthy as numerology, astrology or dowsing rods).

[RedSonRising]

I believe the last-minute appeal was rejected. I am really distressed by the news.

[Threetune]

21.40 UK

I cant find out

What has happened?

[ВАЛТЕР]

Bourgeoisie "Justice"...:thumbdown:

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Any news?

[Hampton]

http://www.democracynow.org/

Amy Goodman broadcasting outside the prison. Basically saying only the Supreme Court can halt the execution. They (Supreme Court) should give word by 7, the prison usually waits to hear before they execute.

[brigadista]

georgia supreme ct rejected pleas

as hampton said now its last minute call- SCOTUS

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

democracynow.org

Amy Goodman special report.

[Hampton]

No execution no stay yet.

[RedAnarchist]

News is stay of execution has been issued.

Wonderful news! I'm watching BBC News and they're talking to an American who seems to be there.

[brigadista]

its a temporary stay to consider the merits not a stay of execution - feel for the family and troy davis - it could still happen..

[eric922]

I'll be honest here, we shouldn't get our hopes up too high. This is the most reactionary SCOTUS of the past 50 years or more. I hope they do the right thing, but I don't expect it from this court.

[brigadista]

I'll be honest here, we shouldn't get our hopes up too high. This is the most reactionary SCOTUS of the past 50 years or more. I hope they do the right thing, but I don't expect it from this court.

i know...

[RedAnarchist]

A live stream about Troy - http://www.livestream.com/democracynow.

[HEAD ICE]

I'll be honest here, we shouldn't get our hopes up too high. This is the most reactionary SCOTUS of the past 50 years or more. I hope they do the right thing, but I don't expect it from this court.

most of the 5-4 "liberal" SCOTUS decisions are death penalty related. anthony kennedy usually votes with the "liberal wing" on death penalty cases. however who knows what will happen.

[brigadista]

this is the 4th time for troy davis

[Hampton]

Word looks like the Supreme Court could decide any time tonight or in the next 7 days.

[RedAnarchist]

In Texas, a white supremacist was executed tonight. He was part of a group who murdered an African-American man, James Byrd Jr, and was not remorseful. However, even his victim's family opposed his execution. Even if this man, Lawrence Brewer, held atrocious views and committed an atrocious crime, his death doesn't help anyone.

State murder is state murder.

[Manic Impressive]

massive travesty of justice. Just a couple of comments from watching the live stream. What do people think about white people saying and wearing T-shirts saying I am Troy Davis? The racism in this case seems so apparent it seems patronizing to say "I am Troy Davis" when you would not face the same type of oppression yourself.
Secondly wow so much god talk is a shocking to me PRAISE JESUS AND IF THEY REVERSE THE DECISION THEN IT'LL BE DOWN TO THE LORD. wtf that seems completely alien to me. Is it really that bad in the states is this common? oh and the sister getting out of her chair like it's some kind of miracle p-lease, sorry but that's put me over my daily schmaltz allowance.

[Sasha]

maybe texan anti-death penalty activists should start printing t-shirts with " if god wanted this man dead he would have used a lightning bolt"

[Hampton]

massive travesty of justice. Just a couple of comments from watching the live stream. What do people think about white people saying and wearing T-shirts saying I am Troy Davis? The racism in this case seems so apparent it seems patronizing to say "I am Troy Davis" when you would not face the same type of oppression yourself.
Secondly wow so much god talk is a shocking to me PRAISE JESUS AND IF THEY REVERSE THE DECISION THEN IT'LL BE DOWN TO THE LORD. wtf that seems completely alien to me. Is it really that bad in the states is this common? oh and the sister getting out of her chair like it's some kind of miracle p-lease, sorry but that's put me over my daily schmaltz allowance.

There's nothing wrong with white people wearing "I am Troy Davis" shirts. Why would there be? While race may play a part in the case, if you are poor and lack resources you may be in the same position as he is in.

With the God talk, they are spiritual black folk, as is Troy, what's the problem with it?

That "sister" is Troy's sister who has had cancer for the last ten years. While the getting up out of the chair was a bit of a show, shouldn't we be more concerned about making sure he gets his stay and then a trial to get him out of prison and the man who shot the cop in jail?

[Iraultzaile Ezkerreko]

News from comrades at the prison:

800-1000 people, police in riot gear firing tear gas to provoke crowd, convoys of state troopers joining riot police, no news of actual clashes yet, comrades out of contact and unreachable at this point.

[Art Vandelay]

News from comrades at the prison:

800-1000 people, police in riot gear firing tear gas to provoke crowd, convoys of state troopers joining riot police, no news of actual clashes yet, comrades out of contact and unreachable at this point.

Any updates would be appreciated comrade. Those helicopters and police cars that have been showing up are not good signs. Fuck the pigs! Free Troy Davis!

[Iraultzaile Ezkerreko]

Yeah. I'll give an update when I have news.

[Manic Impressive]

Thanks for your response.

There's nothing wrong with white people wearing "I am Troy Davis" shirts. Why would there be? While race may play a part in the case, if you are poor and lack resources you may be in the same position as he is in.
Certainly it seems as one of the baptist ministers said that class plays a big part in this case as in many legal cases. It does also seem to me, although I'm not overly knowledgeable about the case that systemic racism has been a massive factor in how the case has been handled. Is it not a little patronizing for people who will never know that type of oppression to say that they are in the same boat as him? Or am I misunderstanding the symbolism? I'm happy to be wrong, just asking for opinions.


With the God talk, they are spiritual black folk, as is Troy, what's the problem with it?yeah man it's fucking shocking to see that level of religious zeal. I take it hearing that kind of stuff is normal?


That "sister" is Troy's sister who has had cancer for the last ten years. While the getting up out of the chair was a bit of a show, shouldn't we be more concerned about making sure he gets his stay and then a trial to get him out of prison and the man who shot the cop in jail?
I didn't mean sister in that way, I had realised it was his sister. To me that looked a bit like something you would see on the X factor or one of those types of shows. Saying "look at me and my suffering feel something!!!". That seems to me to trivialize the matter at hand, which as you say is getting the execution called off and getting the man a fair trial which will ultimately lead to his freedom.

[Mythbuster]

This is sad and absolutely repulsing. It is clear that he is innocent. Revolt! Abolition of the death penalty!

[Iraultzaile Ezkerreko]

Off duty police officers counterprotesting at prison. Officers in cars continuously parading to provoke protesters. Off duty officers in vests spraying mace into the air to provoke protesters. 100 protesters being allowed at the prison gates while police counter protesters are allowed to roam freely and do as they please. LIVE. FEED FROM PRISON ON DEMOCRACY NOW

[eric922]

This is sad and absolutely repulsing. It is clear that he is innocent. Revolt! Abolition of the death penalty!
Even if he was clearly beyond all doubt guilty, we should still oppose the death penalty. It is state sanctioned murder, nothing more. Even a murderer can possibly be reformed and make amends for his crimes. A dead man can't.

[Mythbuster]

Even if he was clearly beyond all doubt guilty, we should still oppose the death penalty. It is state sanctioned murder, nothing more. Even a murderer can possibly be reformed and make amends for his crimes. A dead man can't.

Agreed 100%!

[PhoenixAsh]

SCOTUS just denied a stay.

The execution will go ahead and they are going to murder him.

[Iraultzaile Ezkerreko]

They're murdering him!

[Dunk]

I wish the people could just crush the police and break him out of there. That would be justice. Not this.

[La Peur Rouge]

Can't say I didn't expect it... another innocent killed by the state.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44592285/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/#.TnqdTezQqSo

NBC News and news services

updated less than 1 minute ago
ATLANTA (http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&where1=ATLANTA&sty=h&form=msdate) — The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a stay of execution for convicted killer Troy Davis late Wednesday, hours after he filed an eleventh-hour plea.
The decision came three hours after the 7 p.m. ET scheduled execution time passed. State officials had waited for a response from the Supreme Court, which had no deadline for a decision.
There was no immediate indication from the state when the execution would take place.

[redhotpoker]

From CNN;

[Updated at 10:21 p.m.] The U.S. Supreme Court has denied Davis' motion for a stay of execution.
Word of the Supreme Court's decision comes more than three hours after Davis was scheduled to be executed, and more than four hours after Davis' attorneys had filed the motion.
With the ruling, Georgia is expected to proceed with Davis' execution.

[Martin Blank]

The SCOTUS decision was unanimous. Remind liberals of that the next time they start talking about the importance of a Democrat appointing SCOTUS justices.

[Metacomet]

forgive them, for they know not what they do(Luke 23:34)

[TheGodlessUtopian]

forgive them, for they know not what they do(Luke 23:34)

I'm pretty sure they are knowing what they are doing though.

[RedSonRising]

This is so tragic and infuriating.

[MattShizzle]

Any expert rifle shooters who live near the Supreme Court? Not advocating anything, just asking...

[PhoenixAsh]

He is being executed right now.

edit: time of death is 11:08 ET

[redhotpoker]

Time of death 11:08

[MattShizzle]

Racist fucks murdered him. No justice no peace!

[Metacomet]

This makes me literally sick to my stomach.

[PhoenixAsh]

In his last words he maintained his innocence and told the Macphail family that he was not the one who took their son/father and brother.

Witnesses say the macphail family smiled after the execution.

[MattShizzle]

Meanwhile whoever did it walks free. No wonder when the A & E channel a few years back had a tv show called "American Justice" my first reaction was to say that's an oxymoron. Fuck Uncle Sam up his stripy pants ass with a chainsaw!

[ComradeGrant]

I want to puke. This is so deeply disgusting.

[The Stalinator]

21.40 UK

I cant find out

What has happened?

He died about 30 minutes ago. 11:08 PM ET. Fucking hell I'm angry.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Something needs to happen, but what?

[Metacomet]

Something needs to happen, but what?
Stay strapped.

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

Witnesses say the macphail family smiled after the execution.

Nothing like sociopathic revenge fantasy to make the macfail family smile.

[puking smiley]

[brigadista]

Troy davis - lynched by the state of georgia

RIP

Im disgusted

Had it not been for slavery, the death penalty would have likely been abolished in America. Slavery became a haven for the death penalty.

Angela Davis

[Hexen]

This execution is proof that racism is still alive and well.

[Red Commissar]

I'll be honest here- I never heard of Troy Davis's case until a week and a half ago when this all began to heat up and was commonly discussed in places I frequent.

I read up on the material pertaining to the case. I'm very rigidly opposed to the Death Penalty- in my younger years I used to buy in to the "victims" card often played, but that isn't the case any longer. I guess another factor pertaining to the case was how it was a good representation of the botched legal system in this country, where something as heavy as a death sentence can be handed down with out any direct physical evidence tying the suspect to the scene of the crime.

These last few days, with the rushed attempts to get another stay and hopes of another trial being held by many people, only to be dashed by this execution itself. I suppose this wasn't a surprise, but just the sudden nature of it all. Seemed like the boys in Georgia already had him ready to get executed and just waited for the "all clear" as it were...

Here in Texas, the state with the most amount of executions, one that the politicians brag about, another execution also took place. This involved a white supremacist, Lawrence Russell Brewer, who killed James Byrd, Jr. by dragging him around in his pickup truck with two other white supremacists, and mutilated him afterwards. Essentially a lynching. Unlike the Davis case, Brewer was proud of what he did and maintained that until his execution today.

The reason why I bring this is up is the way local media has covered this issue in my area, at least in regards to the Troy Davis issue. Essentially, they've pit these two cases together and put the question out there- why no 'demonstrations' for Brewer while there is large ones for Davis? Basically, with out directly saying it, they brought up race and played the ever popular 'political correctness' card, or at least the way conservatives see it.

Again, I am opposed to the death sentence, but the way the media in my neck of the woods handled it is disgusting. There was a world of difference between these two cases that can't be compared.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I'll be honest here- I never heard of Troy Davis's case until a week and a half ago when this all began to heat up and was commonly discussed in places I frequent.

I read up on the material pertaining to the case. I'm very rigidly opposed to the Death Penalty- in my younger years I used to buy in to the "victims" card often played, but that isn't the case any longer. I guess another factor pertaining to the case was how it was a good representation of the botched legal system in this country, where something as heavy as a death sentence can be handed down with out any direct physical evidence tying the suspect to the scene of the crime.

These last few days, with the rushed attempts to get another stay and hopes of another trial being held by many people, only to be dashed by this execution itself. I suppose this wasn't a surprise, but just the sudden nature of it all. Seemed like the boys in Georgia already had him ready to get executed and just waited for the "all clear" as it were...

Here in Texas, the state with the most amount of executions, one that the politicians brag about, another execution also took place. This involved a white supremacist, Lawrence Russell Brewer, who killed James Byrd, Jr. by dragging him around in his pickup truck with two other white supremacists, and mutilated him afterwards. Essentially a lynching. Unlike the Davis case, Brewer was proud of what he did and maintained that until his execution today.

The reason why I bring this is up is the way local media has covered this issue in my area, at least in regards to the Troy Davis issue. Essentially, they've pit these two cases together and put the question out there- why no 'demonstrations' for Brewer while there is large ones for Davis? Basically, with out directly saying it, they brought up race and played the ever popular 'political correctness' card, or at least the way conservatives see it.

Again, I am opposed to the death sentence, but the way the media in my neck of the woods handled it is disgusting. There was a world of difference between these two cases that can't be compared.
They did the same thing all the way out here in California...

[Hexen]

The Death Penalty is also state sanctioned hypocrisy.

[Zostrianos]

The Death Penalty is also state sanctioned hypocrisy.

The same people who support the death penalty in the US also tend to support America's overseas wars. They also oppose abortion saying that they're defending life - apparently Iraqi civilians don't count, they're just collateral damage.
The American [Christian] right is the epitome of hypocrisy

[Commissar Rykov]

Well I am glad Hegemonic White Bourgeois Justice carried the day.:rolleyes:

[Hexen]

The same people who support the death penalty in the US also tend to support America's overseas wars. They also oppose abortion saying that they're defending life - apparently Iraqi civilians don't count, they're just collateral damage.
The American [Christian] right is the epitome of hypocrisy

Rather it's class society itself that's the main source of hypocrisy and double standards (the bourgeoisie are truly free while the lower classes at the other hand suffer vice versa because the bourgiouse control the means of production and we're nothing more than slaves treated accordingly which is how the system functions).

[RebelDog]

The same people who support the death penalty in the US also tend to support America's overseas wars. They also oppose abortion saying that they're defending life - apparently Iraqi civilians don't count, they're just collateral damage.
The American [Christian] right is the epitome of hypocrisy

And their all busy waiting for the 'second coming'. I almost wish Jesus was real, because surely any self-respecting 'son of god' would have nothing to do with these lunatics.

[~Spectre]

The banality of evil: http://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/092111.zr.pdf

[Threetune]

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 No, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Hypocrites verse 1

[Per Levy]

i havnt heard of this case until a couple of days ago, then i read it up and was shocked. how can they murder someone on these shaky grounds, in the end only 2 wittneses are there as a "proof"(the other 7 repealed their testimony), no photos, no murder weapon, no dna of davis only 2 witnesses and nothing else. this is disgusting, its murder of an innocent man.

[RedAnarchist]

I just woke up to this news and I am angry at this, very angry and I'm going to try and contain it so I don't say something I regret (believe me, if it wasn't classist, I would be using some very classist words to describe the murderers responsible), and it's not just the Georgian authorities who strapped a most likely innocent man to a gurney and obliterated his entire existence that I'm angry at, it's the sociopathic McPhail family too, who seem unable to care about their dead loved one and more about getting to see someone, anyone, murdered for killing McPhail. Not to mention the degenerates in the Supreme Court, who seem to have no idea of what justice actually is.

How does someone wilfully murder another human being like that? They must have dehumanised Troy Davis in their mind, must have considered him less than human because he was African-American. Either that, or the people who murdered him are psychopaths, and you would think that psychopaths would not be allowed to work as state murderers.

[Zostrianos]

And their all busy waiting for the 'second coming'. I almost wish Jesus was real, because surely any self-respecting 'son of god' would have nothing to do with these lunatics.

"The last true Christian died on the cross" - Nietzche

[Iraultzaile Ezkerreko]

I'll give a reportback fo the night in Atlanta when I have time and am at a computer.

[Princess Luna]

Not one fucking mention of this on "Good Morning America".........

[RedAnarchist]

Not one fucking mention of this on "Good Morning America".........

I'm sure they had more important things to talk about, such as a celebrity doing something stupid again. I mean, why would they want to talk about something as yucky as a miscarriage of justice? Why, that would just ruin the morning for everyone!

[brigadista]

[QUOTE=RedAnarchist;2239832]I just woke up to this news and I am angry at this, very angry and I'm going to try and contain it so I don't say something I regret (believe me, if it wasn't classist, I would be using some very classist words to describe the murderers responsible), and it's not just the Georgian authorities who strapped a most likely innocent man to a gurney and obliterated his entire existence that I'm angry at, it's the sociopathic McPhail family too, who seem unable to care about their dead loved one and more about getting to see someone, anyone, murdered for killing McPhail. Not to mention the degenerates in the Supreme Court, who seem to have no idea of what justice actually is.

How does someone wilfully murder another human being like that? They must have dehumanised Troy Davis in their mind, must have considered him less than human because he was African-American. Either that, or the people who murdered him are psychopaths, and you would think that psychopaths would not be allowed to work as state murderers.[/QUOTE

racism

[Bronco]

September 11th 2011: "10 years on from the 9/11 attacks, we must never again allow innocent Americans to be killed on home soil."

September 22nd 2011: "Except for Troy Davis."

[KurtFF8]

Was anyone at the NYC demo/march? That was quite intense.

[KurtFF8]

QdbZRpw62eU

smFipAMzqy0

Some video of the NYC march yesterday, and the police response.

[Olentzero]

Two days on and I am still mad as hell. And I've just learned something that makes this case even more sickening in its hypocrisy: in 2008, the Georgia Parole board stayed the execution (http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/05/22/us-usa-execution-idUSN2250765020080522) of a white man who confessed to committing a murder and was convicted on stronger evidence than Troy Davis ever had.

If this doesn't illustrate how irreparably broken the death penalty is, I don't know what does. And hell if this isn't the perfect answer to those right-wing idiots who wonder why we didn't demonstrate in Texas: Why was Samuel Crowe spared and Troy Davis not?

[RedAnarchist]

Two days on and I am still mad as hell. And I've just learned something that makes this case even more sickening in its hypocrisy: in 2008, the Georgia Parole board stayed the execution (http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/05/22/us-usa-execution-idUSN2250765020080522) of a white man who confessed to committing a murder and was convicted on stronger evidence than Troy Davis ever had.

If this doesn't illustrate how irreparably broken the death penalty is, I don't know what does. And hell if this isn't the perfect answer to those right-wing idiots who wonder why we didn't demonstrate in Texas: Why was Samuel Crowe spared and Troy Davis not?

The surname is apt, I see.

[Olentzero]

Not entirely sure I follow. Someone supposed to be eating crow, or something else?

[RedAnarchist]

Not entirely sure I follow. Someone supposed to be eating crow, or something else?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws

(I'm not saying that Crowe himself is a racist, but rather that the state of Georgia is).

I read in the article that his victim's family were devastated at the news, and that's something I just can't comprehend. Why would you want the consequence of your loved one's murder to be another murder? What makes one intentional killing of a human being any better or worse than another intentional killing of a human being?

[Martin Blank]

Why was Samuel Crowe spared and Troy Davis not?

Because Crowe, a white man, was convicted of killing Joseph Pala, a South Asian store manager, and Troy Davis, a Black man, was convicted of killing Mark MacPhail, a white cop.

[MarxSchmarx]

I think that although it is an inescapable certainty that had Davis been white he would not have been executed, bringing race into how we respond to this is problematic for a few reasons.

First, it risks being seen as "black person's issue" by people who would otherwise be sympathetic. I worry very seriously that this is what has happened to Mumia - this approach emphasizing racism might work in some communities, but with lingering racism still strong in many communities (white, hispanic, black, etc...) this is a very serious risk.

Second, there are some real issues about the merit of the prosecution's case. I think if Troy Davis were white or Asian say, this wouldn't be any less of an abhorrent execution.

Third, I think that the issue of racism in the death penalty has always been a bit troubling because it suggests that absent racism, the death penalty (or even executing the innocent once in awhile) would be OK. I cannot emphasize enough that I understand that this is not LOGICALLY the case, but in terms of how people actually think about these things, if we couch our main objection as primarily one of race, rather than the barbarism of the capitalist state, we end up implicitly legitimizing many things we'd rather not.

Now, I have no doubt that racism was a factor in what happened - and I agree with those that speculate that had Troy Davis been white the movement to stop his execution might have actually succeeded.

I've argued on this board several times that racism among the white electorate is probably the main reason why America is, by almost any measure, the most reactionary and repressive of first world countries. But for this particular issue, I don't think bringing race into the discussion helps.

[RedSonRising]

I think that although it is an inescapable certainty that had Davis been white he would not have been executed, bringing race into how we respond to this is problematic for a few reasons.

First, it risks being seen as "black person's issue" by people who would otherwise be sympathetic. I worry very seriously that this is what has happened to Mumia - this approach emphasizing racism might work in some communities, but with lingering racism still strong in many communities (white, hispanic, black, etc...) this is a very serious risk.

Second, there are some real issues about the merit of the prosecution's case. I think if Troy Davis were white or Asian say, this wouldn't be any less of an abhorrent execution.

Third, I think that the issue of racism in the death penalty has always been a bit troubling because it suggests that absent racism, the death penalty (or even executing the innocent once in awhile) would be OK. I cannot emphasize enough that I understand that this is not LOGICALLY the case, but in terms of how people actually think about these things, if we couch our main objection as primarily one of race, rather than the barbarism of the capitalist state, we end up implicitly legitimizing many things we'd rather not.

Now, I have no doubt that racism was a factor in what happened - and I agree with those that speculate that had Troy Davis been white the movement to stop his execution might have actually succeeded.

I've argued on this board several times that racism among the white electorate is probably the main reason why America is, by almost any measure, the most reactionary and repressive of first world countries. But for this particular issue, I don't think bringing race into the discussion helps.

Separating race from the discussion would be even worse, though. Race is a social structure that exists whether we acknowledge it or not, and exists within every individual in terms of their relation to society. Recognizing how Troy Davis' case highlights issues present in the history of the black community isn't "bringing race into the discussion", but simply identifying a reality, which you have said yourself you can identify and agree with as an important aspect. We can't shy away from identifying factors of race from cases like this in order to accommodate a potentially racist or "race-blind" social base; I see your points, but saying this is wrong because of anti-black racism doesn't mean we can't say that it's just plain wrong regardless of who it is behind bars or under the threat of a needle.

[brigadista]

Race is a huge issue in the criminal justice system in the us also in the UK

Disproportionate representation in prison numbers and lack of access to legal representation or only access to inadequate representation leading to disproportionate numbers of black prisoners on death row .

Also the state of Georgia's history is very relevant to the issue surely?

Added to these factors is also the policing of black communities.

Sure race is a social construct but the effect of racism is very real indeed

[MarxSchmarx]

Separating race from the discussion would be even worse, though. Race is a social structure that exists whether we acknowledge it or not, and exists within every individual in terms of their relation to society. Recognizing how Troy Davis' case highlights issues present in the history of the black community isn't "bringing race into the discussion", but simply identifying a reality, which you have said yourself you can identify and agree with as an important aspect. We can't shy away from identifying factors of race from cases like this in order to accommodate a potentially racist or "race-blind" social base; I see your points, but saying this is wrong because of anti-black racism doesn't mean we can't say that it's just plain wrong regardless of who it is behind bars or under the threat of a needle.

I agree with you 99%. As a question of fact and as a matter of analysis, there is in my mind little doubt that racism played a significant part in Troy Davis's execution. So absolutely, it is incumbent upon "the conscience of the left" as it were to emphasize the racism of Troy Davis's execution. And this is important to get the analysis of the situation correct, especially if we are in circles where the death penalty already is despised.


I guess I just feel strongly enough that executing Troy Davis was so egregious and offensive that it may be a very real moment when there is a rare opening to challenge the death penalty as such in America. I think many on this board assume that adding the (rather justified) critique of racism to the repulsiveness of Davis's killing would garner more support, or at least won't harm the argument. I worry that the opposite may be the case, that some times speaking this particular piece of truth to power might, in this very messed up context, not help.

But if we want to emphasize the injustice of Troy Davis's killing to (non-black) people who might otherwise be sympathetic to the death penalty, which unfortunately describes a large fraction if not a plurality of the American public, then as a tactical matter I worry (and I should emphasize that word) about bringing race into it and, were I in a position to discuss this among, say, American whites who had been on the fence about the death penalty, would be reluctant to do so.

[Olentzero]

Because Crowe, a white man, was convicted of killing Joseph Pala, a South Asian store manager, and Troy Davis, a Black man, was convicted of killing Mark MacPhail, a white cop.Just for clarity's sake, I wasn't asking that question of the board (although Mr. Pala's ethnic origin is a useful bit of information in this context). It was a rhetorical question to be fired back at right-wing idiots who smugly ask why we protested Troy Davis' execution but not Brewer's in TX.

[Olentzero]

I read in the article that his victim's family were devastated at the news, and that's something I just can't comprehend. Why would you want the consequence of your loved one's murder to be another murder? What makes one intentional killing of a human being any better or worse than another intentional killing of a human being?My guess is when you lose a loved one in such a sudden, unexpected, and brutal manner, you want revenge and try to disguise it as a cry for justice.

[Zostrianos]

I have a creepy feeling that the only reason they didn't stop the execution, is because of all the paperwork it would entail. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the real reason: some redneck Judge probably thought "I ain't got time for no clemency paperwork, I got my baptist revival church meetin' to go to, so just get this execution over with"

[MarxSchmarx]

I have a creepy feeling that the only reason they didn't stop the execution, is because of all the paperwork it would entail. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the real reason: some redneck Judge probably thought "I ain't got time for no clemency paperwork, I got my baptist revival church meetin' to go to, so just get this execution over with"

Well one related, but not quite similar, concern, is the fact that many judges are elected. Indeed, I bet "some redneck Judge" or other official in Georgia probably understood that granting Troy Davis clemency, or even voting or it, would ruin their electoral career.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Part of it has to do with race, yes, but part of it also has to do with the general "ethic" of execution in the USA, and in general the punitive nature of criminal justice here. It gets to a point where DA's and cops would prefer to execute someone who's probably innocent rather than reveal their case to be a sham, as sick as that is. Hence jailhouse snitches, fraudulent/coerced confessions, etc. I mean, Randall Adams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randall_Dale_Adams) was white as the driven snow, and he was ramrodded through the Texas justice system on little-to-no evidence, put on death row, and was only released after someone else came out and admitted to the crime.

[MattShizzle]

Notice the same people who are really pro-death penalty also tend to be anti-abortion and against pulling the plug on the brain dead. My idea is they identify so much with fetuses and the brain dead because they have a similar level of intelligence. George Carlin put it pretty well when he talked about them not being "pro-life" but "anti-woman."