By Benjamin Todd Jealous | With thanks to NewBlackMan (in Exile)
Sunday, 29 September 2013.
Two years ago last week, the state of Georgia ignored the facts, doubts and pleas of hundreds of thousands of people and killed Troy Anthony Davis. Today, on the anniversary of his execution, we rededicate ourselves to ending the immoral, biased and ineffective practice of capital punishment.
For 15 years, we fought alongside Troy to clear his name for the killing of Savannah Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail. Troy remained adamant about his innocence to his last breath. As explained in the new book I Am Troy Davis, by author Jen Marlowe and Troy’s sister, Martina Davis-Correia, the case against Troy lacked conclusive evidence after many of the key witnesses recanted testimony from the time of the original trial.
In the last weeks of Troy’s life, the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles received 663,000 petitions from people imploring the group to reconsider the execution given the sheer amount of doubt surrounding the case. World figures, including Pope Benedict XVI and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, human rights groups and commentators urged the execution to be halted — all to no avail.
In the hours before his death, the NAACP held a rally and lobbied the Department of Justice to intervene on the grounds of a civil rights violation. The glimpses of sadness and quiet resolve I saw on the faces of Troy’s family when his death became imminent will stay with me forever. The last time I saw Troy, he told me “This movement started before me, and it needs to continue, no matter what, until we destroy the machinery of death.”
While many of the supporters who stood in solidarity with Troy have put away their signs and returned home, the battle to end the shameful practice of capital punishment wages on in his name. Side by side with Troy’s family, we remain on the frontlines of this fight to abolish a system that is ineffective and steeped in racial bias.
Racial disparities pervade every component of the justice system. A report from Amnesty International concluded that 77 percent of people executed since 1977 were people convicted of crimes involving white victims, compared to only 15 percent of people executed for killing blacks. A full 42 percent of the 3,100 inmates on death row are people of color.
Furthermore, we know that the death penalty is a poor deterrent of crime. FBI data shows that all 14 states without capital punishment in 2008 had homicide rates at or below the national rate.
The only effective way to deter killings in our streets is to ensure justice is swift and certain. In order to do so, we must ensure both that we have police leadership that builds strong partnerships and trust with all communities and also that they have enough officers and detectives to ensure every homicide in every community is responded to with the requisite resources to find and catch killers quickly.
Since Troy’s death, we have made definitive strides in our effort to end the death penalty. We have worked with a diverse and multifaceted coalition of advocates including Amnesty International and the National Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty fix our nation’s broken justice system. Last year our work led to Connecticut repealing the death penalty. This year, Maryland became the first state south of the Mason-Dixon Line to do the same. Those two states now join New Jersey, New York, New Mexico and Illinois as the fifth and sixth state in six years, and the 17th and 18th in the nation to abolish the death penalty.
Our strategy is clear. Our strategy is simple. We will outlaw capital punishment in a majority of states, and then we will go to the United States Supreme Court and make the argument that the punishment is cruel by its very nature but also unusual because most states have passed laws against it.
“I Am Troy” reminds us that each year September 21 will serve as both a solemn anniversary and a call to action. It is and will continue to be an annual reminder that justice and common sense we end this brutal practice of capital punishment.
***
Benjamin Todd Jealous is the president and CEO of the national NAACP. This column was first published in USA TODAY.
Contact: Ben Wrobel 917-846-0658 bwrobel@naacpnet.org @NAACPPress
Thanks a lot for the post.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.
It’s exhausting to seek out educated folks on this matter, however you sound like you recognize what you’re talking about! Thanks
I’m now not sure where you’re getting your info, but great topic.I needs to spend some time learning more or workingout more. Thanks for wonderful information I used to be searching for thisinfo for my mission.
I needed to thank you for this fantastic read!! I certainly enjoyed every little bit of it. I have got you saved as a favorite to look at new stuff you postÖ
Im grateful for the blog article.Really looking forward to read more.
I cannot thank you enough for the post.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.
Im grateful for the blog article. Really Cool.
I appreciate you sharing this article post.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
It’s nice that you wanted to write such a long article. Where did you get the idea for it?
Looking forward to reading more. Great blog. Keep writing.
Thanks so much for the article.Thanks Again. Cool.
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post! It is the little changes that will make the largest changes. Thanks for sharing!
I wanted to thank you for this good read!! I absolutely loved every little bit of it.I’ve got you saved as a favorite to check out new things you post…
I am so grateful for your article post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
Thanks so much for the blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
generic vardenafil vs – canadian pharmacy sildenafil blue pill for ed
This is a very good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere. Short but very accurate information Many thanks for sharing this one. A must read article!
Great blog you’ve got here.. Itís difficult to find good quality writing like yours nowadays. I honestly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Many thanks for providing this information.
wow, awesome blog.Really thank you! Want more.
สล็อตออนไลน์ เราคือ ผู้ให้บริการเกมส์คาสิโนออนไลน์ สล็อตxo สล็อต ยิงปลา บาคาร่าหากใครที่ไม่รู้ว่าจะเริ่มเล่นสล็อตออนไลน์ของค่ายเกมไหนเราอยากขอแนะนำให้เล่นของ
Hey, thanks for the article.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Thanks, Lots of facts.key to writing a good essay essay grant writing service
I like the helpful information you supply in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and test once more here frequently. I am quite sure I will be informed many new stuff proper here! Good luck for the following!
Really no matter if someone doesn’t know afterward its upto other viewers that they will help, so here it takes place.
Appreciate you sharing, great post.Really thank you! Really Cool.
Enjoyed every bit of your blog post. Really Great.
Looking forward to reading more. Great blog.Much thanks again. Really Great.
Thank you for your article post.Much thanks again. Want more.
Appreciate you sharing, great article.Thanks Again. Much obliged.
Im grateful for the blog post.Really thank you! Really Great.
I really like and appreciate your article post.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.
I read this piece of writing fully concerning the comparison of newest and previous technologies, it’s remarkable article.
Major thanks for the blog article.Much thanks again.
I am so grateful for your post. Want more.
Say, you got a nice blog article.Really thank you! Great.
Thanks a lot for the post.Really thank you!
Say, you got a nice article post.Thanks Again. Will read on…
Thanks a lot for the blog.Thanks Again. Great.
I am so grateful for your post.Thanks Again. Want more.
I think this is a real great post.
I loved your post.Really looking forward to read more. Great.
Thanks so much for the post.Really thank you! Fantastic.
I think this is a real great blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Fantastic.
Whats Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely useful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & assist other customers like its helped me. Great job.
I value the blog.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
Thanks-a-mundo for the post.Much thanks again. Much obliged.
Incredible! This blog looks just like my old one!It’s on a completely different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Superb choice of colors!
I value the post.Thanks Again. Really Great.
Great blog article.Thanks Again. Really Great.
Really appreciate you sharing this post.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.
This is one awesome blog.Much thanks again. Much obliged.
Very neat article post.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
This is one awesome blog article. Fantastic.
Hi there are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and setup my own. Do you need any coding knowledge to make your own blog?Any help would be really appreciated!
Im obliged for the blog article.Much thanks again. Cool.
Thanks for the article post.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
Thanks so much for the article post. Cool.
I really like and appreciate your article.Much thanks again. Will read on…
Enjoyed every bit of your article.Really looking forward to read more. Will read on…
Hello! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the fantastic work!
What’s up colleagues, its enormous article concerning teachingand fully explained, keep it up all the time.Also visit my blog post: clubriders.men
Im obliged for the article.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged.
Heya i’m for the primary time here. I found this board and Ifind It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to offerone thing again and aid others like you aided me.
Enjoyed every bit of your post.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
Thanks so much for the post.Thanks Again. Much obliged.
I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They’re very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are very short for novices. Could you please extend them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic blog article.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
Really informative article post. Want more.
Major thankies for the blog post. Really Cool.
Muchos Gracias for your blog article. Great.
Awesome post.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
If you would like to take a great deal from this post then you have to apply such methods to your won blog.
Very informative and well-written, thanks!
Well I truly liked reading it. This article offered by you is very constructive for correct planning.
Im obliged for the article. Really Cool.
Thank you ever so for you article.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
It’s nearly impossible to find knowledgeablepeople on this topic, however, you seem like you know what you’re talking about!Thanks
I loved your article.Really thank you! Want more.
It’s really a great and useful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
A big thank you for your blog post.Much thanks again. Want more.
I really like and appreciate your article post.Much thanks again. Will read on…
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic article post. Keep writing.
Hey! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
What’s up, its nice piece of writing concerning media print,we all be familiar with media is a wonderful source of information.
This is one awesome article.Much thanks again. Great.
ivermectin 3 ivermectin stromectol tablets – ivermectin 12
Thank you for your article post.Really thank you!
Thanks-a-mundo for the post.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
A round of applause for your post.Really thank you! Awesome.
Leveling up in Pokemon Go is an extremely slow and tiring process.It was distinctive again while in the Nintendo days; you could Participate in forseveral hours.free pokemon go accounts 2021 Account Free Listfree pokemon go accounts
Aw, this was a very nice post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to generate a good articleÖ but what can I sayÖ I put things off a lot and never seem to get nearly anything done.
I am so grateful for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Will read on…
wow, awesome blog. Awesome.
I value the blog.Really thank you! Fantastic.
What’s up, yup this submit is really good and I’ve figured out lot of things from it regarding blogging. many thanks
Thank you ever so for you post.Really looking forward to read more. Great.
Really informative blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged.
Thank you ever so for you post.Much thanks again.
Im grateful for the post. Great.
I am so grateful for your article.Much thanks again. Cool.
I am curious to find out what blog platform you have been using?I’m having some minor security issues with my latest blog and I’dlike to find something more risk-free. Do you have any solutions?
I cannot thank you enough for the article post. Really Great.
I am so grateful for your blog.Thanks Again. Great.
Awesome blog post.Thanks Again. Want more.
I think this is a real great blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Want more.
Im thankful for the blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
It’s enormous that you are getting ideas from this post as wellas from our argument made here.
Thanks again for the blog post.Much thanks again. Awesome.
This is one awesome blog article.Much thanks again. Fantastic.
Fantastic post.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
I appreciate you sharing this blog.Much thanks again. Awesome.
Muchos Gracias for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.
Thanks-a-mundo for the blog post.Thanks Again. Really Great.
chloroquine hydrochloride hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic blog.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
Great blog post.Much thanks again. Awesome.
Enjoyed every bit of your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.
Hey! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing a few months of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any methods to prevent hackers?
This particular blog is really entertaining and besides informative. I have picked a lot of helpful advices out of this amazing blog. I ad love to return again and again. Thanks a bunch!