By Marcus Crawford
Beth Kelley Zorbanos, Deb Weiler and Nancy McNair stand at the arch with their signs.
(Photo/Marcus Crawford)
ATHENS, Ga. – While recent graduates grinned and posed in front of the historic arch, a dedicated few gathered to support a man with little to smile about.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, members of Amnesty International and the Athens, Ga., chapter of Women in Black, an anti-war group, braved the unseasonably cold weather in order hold a vigil for Troy Davis. Davis, a Georgia death row inmate, was convicted on Aug. 28, 1991 for murdering Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail.
The vigil, which lasted from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., coincided with a similar demonstration at the state capitol in Atlanta.
Charles Gardner, a local carpenter and a University alumnus, was among the Athenians who participated in the Global Day of Action for Troy Davis.
“I don’t know if this does any good, standing here with this sign,” Gardner said “But it maybe does more good than sitting at Starbucks, drinking coffee”.
Since Davis’ conviction, new evidence has surfaced that may prove his innocence. According to Amnesty International, seven of the nine eyewitnesses who testified in the Davis case have recanted their testimony and signed affidavits to that effect.
Due to a lack of physical evidence tying him to the crime, the grounds for Davis’ conviction lie almost entirely on eyewitness testimony.
The eyewitness recanted testimony, which came to light after Davis had been convicted, has not been presented before an appeals court. Under the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, it has become more difficult to introduce new evidence post-conviction. Thus the Georgia Supreme Court has refused to grant Davis a new trial.
The magnitude and circumstances of the case have garnered worldwide attention. From Baltimore to Brussels, thousands of people around the world participated in demonstrations decrying Davis’ death sentence.
For Laura Tate Kagel, an Amnesty International member and a State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator for Georgia, publicity is integral to saving Davis from his fourth execution date in two years.
“I think it’s going to be a huge embarrassment for Georgia if he’s executed with the world watching,” said Kagel.
Beth Kelley Zorbanos, a self proclaimed peacemaker and member of both Amnesty International and Women in Black, argued that the Davis case was symptomatic of larger societal issues. Like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, she believes that the death penalty is counter-productive to a healthy global community.
“It doesn’t fix anything, it doesn’t heal anything,” Zorbanos said. “It just snuffs out another life.”
The 30-day stay of execution issued to Davis by the 11th Circuit Court expired last week. His attorneys and supporters are currently attempting to file a final appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. Amnesty International is also organizing a petition campaign in Savannah, Ga. in order to voice public outcry to the incoming district attorney.
EDITED BY: Jordan Stepp
Beth Kelley Zorbanos, Deb Weiler and Nancy McNair stand at the arch with their signs.(Photo/Marcus Crawford)
ATHENS, Ga. – While recent graduates grinned and posed in front of the historic arch, a dedicated few gathered to support a man with little to smile about.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, members of Amnesty International and the Athens, Ga., chapter of Women in Black, an anti-war group, braved the unseasonably cold weather in order hold a vigil for Troy Davis. Davis, a Georgia death row inmate, was convicted on Aug. 28, 1991 for murdering Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail.
The vigil, which lasted from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., coincided with a similar demonstration at the state capitol in Atlanta.
Charles Gardner, a local carpenter and a University alumnus, was among the Athenians who participated in the Global Day of Action for Troy Davis.
“I don’t know if this does any good, standing here with this sign,” Gardner said “But it maybe does more good than sitting at Starbucks, drinking coffee”.
Since Davis’ conviction, new evidence has surfaced that may prove his innocence. According to Amnesty International, seven of the nine eyewitnesses who testified in the Davis case have recanted their testimony and signed affidavits to that effect.
Due to a lack of physical evidence tying him to the crime, the grounds for Davis’ conviction lie almost entirely on eyewitness testimony.
The eyewitness recanted testimony, which came to light after Davis had been convicted, has not been presented before an appeals court. Under the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, it has become more difficult to introduce new evidence post-conviction. Thus the Georgia Supreme Court has refused to grant Davis a new trial.
The magnitude and circumstances of the case have garnered worldwide attention. From Baltimore to Brussels, thousands of people around the world participated in demonstrations decrying Davis’ death sentence.
For Laura Tate Kagel, an Amnesty International member and a State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator for Georgia, publicity is integral to saving Davis from his fourth execution date in two years.
“I think it’s going to be a huge embarrassment for Georgia if he’s executed with the world watching,” said Kagel.
Beth Kelley Zorbanos, a self proclaimed peacemaker and member of both Amnesty International and Women in Black, argued that the Davis case was symptomatic of larger societal issues. Like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, she believes that the death penalty is counter-productive to a healthy global community.
“It doesn’t fix anything, it doesn’t heal anything,” Zorbanos said. “It just snuffs out another life.”
The 30-day stay of execution issued to Davis by the 11th Circuit Court expired last week. His attorneys and supporters are currently attempting to file a final appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. Amnesty International is also organizing a petition campaign in Savannah, Ga. in order to voice public outcry to the incoming district attorney.
EDITED BY: Jordan Stepp
Correction: Misspelled Charles Gardner's name on second reference.
Jordan, Marcus:
ReplyDeleteGreat change in this lead. Now we have a strong image, an interesting contrast and enough detail to hint at what the story's about. The second graph does what it needs, which is to come right in and give the facts behind the lead. The story flows well from there. If there is anyone who believes Davis is guilty -- the original prosecutor or someone -- that would be a good source to show the other side of the story.
The story's major flaw is a fatal factual error in a proper name. The name of Charles Gardner or Gardener is spelled two ways. That throws all the other facts in the story into question. The editor and reporter both have to make sure this doesn't happen.