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On Aug. 17, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that condemned death row inmate Troy Davis deserves a chance to present new evidence in his case. Attorneys have long argued that Davis didn’t kill Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail in 1989 and that key witnesses have recanted testimony.

“The substantial risk of putting an innocent man to death, clearly provides an adequate justification for holding an evidentiary hearing.”
— U.S. Justice John Paul Stevens, writing for the majority Aug. 17

“We should be prepared to go to the moon and back in order to avoid executing an innocent man. Every stone must be turned, every possibility fully explored, every alternative narrative put to rest to the extent possible. Justice demands no less of us.”
— From an Aug. 19 Augusta Chronicle editorial

“He should have been dead two years ago … Every delay is awful for us every time. I’m not saying Davis’ family isn’t suffering either. But Davis had a choice. Mark didn’t … I want it to be over.”
— Anneliese MacPhail, mother of the murdered police officer, in the Aug. 19 New York Times

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This just in, from Amnesty International’s media relations director, Wende Gozan Brown: The country’s highest court has postponed its decision on whether to hear the appeal of Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis, whose innocence claims have caused an international outcry.

Although a decision was expected today, the U.S. Supreme Court has opted to wait until it reconvenes in September — which will ward off a death warrant for Davis.

Davis already has had three execution dates set over the past three years, and once came within hours of execution before a last-minute stay was granted.

We’ll be updating this as the story develops. Stay tuned.

Here’s a statement we just received from Amnesty International:

“This delay is an indication that the Supreme Court is concerned by the gravity of Troy Davis’  innocence claims,” said Laura Moye, director of Amnesty International USA’s Death Penalty Abolition Campaign.  ”We will continue to call on all authorities, including the Supreme Court, to finally hear the evidence that has motivated hundreds of thousands of people worldwide to raise their voices and demand justice.”

(Photo courtesy Georgia Department of Corrections)

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Residents will return to the streets of Atlanta all this weekend to voice their support for Iranian democracy.

Locations for this weekend’s protests, which are supported by Amnesty International and the American Friends Service Committee:

Friday (today), June 26, 6:30 p.m.
Lenox Mall on Peachtree Street

Saturday, June 27, 6 p.m.
Roswell Rd. NE & Johnson Ferry Rd. NE, Sandy Springs

Sunday, June 28, 4 p.m.
CNN Center, Marietta Street at Centennial Park Drive

Last Saturday, nearly 200 residents gathered at the CNN Center in dowtown Atlanta to voice outrage over the violent crackdown on Iranians who contested the controversial re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. CL captured photos and video of the rally.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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Despite key witnesses recanting their testimony, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on April 16 rejected longtime death row inmate Troy Davis’ request for a new trial — the latest and possibly last in a lengthy series of appeals.

“Davis has not presented us with a showing of innocence so compelling that we would be obligated to act today.”

— Judges Joel Dubina and Stanley Marcus, writing for the majority in their rejection of Davis’ request

“To execute Davis, in the face of a significant amount of proffered evidence that may establish his actual innocence, is unconscionable and unconstitutional.”

— Judge Rosemary Barkett, writing for the dissent

“I am disgusted, I am saddened by it, but I’m not deterred in my determination to fight for my brother.”

— Davis’ sister Martina Correia in an April 16 WTOCTV.com article

“We believe that justice will be served and the courts will do what they’ve done for the past twenty years and deny him.”

— Mark MacPhail Jr., the son of the police officer whom Davis was convicted of killing, quoted in the same WTOC-TV story

“You have to plan your own funeral: saying goodbye, your last meal, what to do with your body, who will be there to witness it.”

— Davis, describing his reaction to being read a death sentence in an April 14 conference call with his supporters, as reported in the Emory Wheel

(Photo courtesy Georgia Dept. of Corrections)

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Troy Davis

The tumultuous case of death row inmate Troy Davis — whose execution date has thrice been postponed due to innocence claims — has been mostly quiet since last fall.

That’s about to change.

According to an e-mail I just got from Wende Gozan Brown at Amnesty International:

Indie rock band State Radio has become active on the Troy Davis case. They play Atlanta tomorrow night, and they’re holding a rally for Troy at Little 5 Points at noon tomorrow (Findley Plaza, 1160 Euclid Ave NE). Chad, lead singer, will play acoustic and perform the song he wrote for Davis — Jared Feuer, our southern regional director, will speak, as will William Montrose and Sara Tatonchi of Southern Center for Human Rights. Then their show that night will basically be dedicated to Troy.

State Radio’s video for the abovementioned song, “State of Georgia,” provides a pretty compelling summation of the newly discovered evidence in the case, including the recantations of seven of nine trial witnesses.

State Radio plays the Variety Playhouse tomorrow, Feb. 13.

(Photo courtesy Georgia Department of Corrections)

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Troy Anthony Davis, the Georgia man convicted of murdering a Savannah police officer in 1989, is scheduled to be executed Monday, Oct. 27, on 7 p.m. While Davis has no appeals left and no impediments stand in the way of his execution, Amnesty International and other groups are planning demonstrations and marches over the next few days to protest the imposition of the death penalty in a case that’s attracted international attention.

First up, in a little less than two hours, a rally will begin (PDF) on the steps of the state Capitol that’s expected to last from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Originally, the Rev. Al Sharpton was scheduled to be the featured speaker, but the Amnesty folks just told us they can’t confirm he’ll be there.

Next, at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning, death-penalty activists will march in a funeral procession from Underground Atlanta to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, which is located in GSU’s twin towers on the northeast corner of Piedmont and MLK Boulevard across from the Capitol. The group will carry a casket filled with more than 140,000 Amnesty International petitions from people opposed to Davis’ execution. Participants are asked to wear black.

To keep up with events over the weekend, go to the Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty website.

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What was planned as a vigil instead became a celebration.

This evening, less than two hours before he was scheduled to be executed by the state of Georgia, longtime death row inmate Troy Davis was granted a stay of execution by the U.S. Supreme Court. To celebrate the eleventh hour decision, Davis supporters gathered on the western steps of the state Capitol.

“I was stunned,” says Laura Moye, deputy director of Amnesty International USA’s Southern regional office. Moye learned of the court’s decision while she was taping a radio interview. “We’d hoped for it all day. I was prepared for the worst, but I’d hoped for the best.”

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court’s justices are scheduled to decide whether or not to hear Davis’ case. If they refuse to hear it, the stay will end.

“The struggle is not over,” Moye says. “We at least have a little more time. Every day is a gift. We will celebrate today, we will organize tomorrow.”

(Photo by Thomas Wheatley)

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