Standing vigil with Troy Davis on the night of his execution outside the US Embassy in London © Ben Smith
20 years after being put on death row in Georgia, USA, Troy Anthony Davis was strapped to a gurney and injected with a lethal pentobarbital cocktail in the early hours of this morning – needlessly, outrageously, and absolutely unjustifiably.
Having campaigned for justice for Troy and to prevent his execution for years, we in the Amnesty office are mourning. Denied justice, denied clemency, yesterday even denied a polygraph test, Troy has been denied his human right to life (Article 3 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights), and his right not to be tortured or subject to any cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment (Article 5).
There is no consolation we can take from Troy’s execution.
The process of death by injection is not as clinical as it sounds. It will have taken place in an isolated room, most likely administered by someone who isn’t a medical professional; the majority of American medical bodies outright deny the medicalisation of execution processes.
Like Monday’s clemency hearing, the killing was conducted in front of a select audience, behind closed doors – perpetuating the theatrical nature of the cruel exhibition of execution in the US – Troy’s 20 preceding years being permeated by a tortuous process of waiting and almost-dying.
As per Georgia law, the family of Mark MacPhail (the man whom Troy is convicted of murdering) was permitted to attend the execution; Troy’s family was not. Three journalists were obliged to bear witness to the event. Troy’s lawyers were also present.
The barbarous, staged nature of the process was reemphasised by the last-minute temporary pause on Troy’s execution.
Hopeful until the very end, around 500 of us held vigil outside the US embassy in London, in order bear witness to Troy’s death and mark our opposition to his impending execution.
Just before midnight UK time (7pm in Georgia), we silently turned to face the embassy building, with Troy on our minds. At midnight, we heard cheers from our colleagues stationed outside Troy’s prison in Jackson, Georgia, via our phones and computers. Utterly confused, we tried to decipher the message. “The Supreme Court has issued a stay.” At the time Troy’s death was due to take place we were cheering, hugging and weeping: Troy was still alive.
It quickly emerged that the Supreme Court had issued a reprieve two minutes before Troy was scheduled to die. We waited (#theworldiswatching). Unfortunately this was only another four hour shift in a twenty year waiting game; the Supreme Court announced it would not stay the execution, and that lethal drugs would be administered to Troy within the following half hour.
Troy died at 11.08pm in Georgia, 4.08am UK time.
The three media witnesses described the death to the waiting world.
If anything is to come out of this week, it is surely that there is widespread international recognition of Troy Davis’ name. #troydavis, and then ‘who is Troy Davis‘, were trending around the world on Twitter throughout the day yesterday, along with this campaign’s #toomuchdoubt slogan. Today it is #RIPTroyDavis.
On grounds of the doubt surrounding Troy’s case, there has been international condemnation of the decision to deny Troy clemency – even from those who support the death penalty, like former FBI Director William Sessions – but Georgia did not listen.
When clemency was denied on Tuesday, we asked you to email the Parole Board. When the Board blocked all emails coming from Amnesty, we asked you to email from your personal accounts. Your support speaks volumes. An absolutely unprecedented 64,000 of you emailed the state Parole Board in 24 hours yesterday. When the Board switched off all incoming public emails, you faxed and called their office.
It could seem that we were not listened to. But blocking emails, unhooking the phone, switching off the fax machine cannot work forever. The state of Georgia must acknowledge the astounding international pressure to review their death penalty policy.
Troy said yesterday:
“The struggle for justice doesn’t end with me. This struggle is for all the Troy Davises who came before me and all the ones who will come after me.
I’m in good spirits and I’m prayerful and at peace. But I will not stop fighting until I’ve taken my last breath.”
Troy is one of three men who were executed in one day – teenager Alireza Molla-Soltani in Iran and Pakistani Zahid Husain Shah in China were also killed.
While this is a dark day, Troy’s name has meaning. And Troy represents thousands who die by execution every year around the globe. In America alone, there are currently over 3,200 people locked in the theatrical waiting game on death row – an embarrassment of hitches indeed. Troy Davis could be anyone. And this movement won’t end with Troy.
We will continue to campaign for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide. We will not stop fighting although Troy has taken his last breath.
RIP Troy Davis
Yesterday I was a huge admirer of the United States and all that it stood for. Today I don’t know how it can have the gall to describe itself as a civilised nation.
A single pebble can start a landslide – surely the US in general (and the State of Georgia in particular) can’t continue to close their eyes and block their ears to the depth of feeling and revulsion decent people everywhere feel at the barbarous act of judicial murder.
Troy is at peace now – my thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Andy
I find what has happened is deeply inhumane and I gave my support to try to prevent this. Executions should have no place in the modern world!! I’m very sorry we did not succeed and I send my deepest sympathy to Troy’s family.
When i wrote my personal letter to the court, I told them that the vcery same lips that sentence death will be the lips kissing their own children for goodnight, hoping for a better world for them.
And I asked them how will a better world come when they use the eye-for-an-eye? It crushes humanity… And we will never evoluate or live in peace until we stop killing,
But they did. And yes, I know they never read my email. But even if they did, obviously they wouldn’t care. And now they kiss their children with the very same lips that sentenced the deadth of Troy.
Could it get any wronger…?
This horrific, callous crime will go down as one of the most shocking executions, for in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary and despite Troy being denied a polygraph test this barbaric act was carried out with the maximum of cruelty to Troy and his family.
The state of Georgia ought to be ashamed, the people of Georgia should be furious at this inhumane act carried out in their name. The public condemnation and the number of calls, faxes and tens of thousands of emails did nothing to bend their resolve to murder a man who had been on Death Row for 20 long years and who almost certainly was innocent.
This vile act will continue to be used to help in the fight to end the death penalty. Troy Davis will not be forgotten.
May he rest in the arms of Jesus Christ – his Lord and Saviour
Lyn
I believe death penalty is ok when it’s a confession or an open shut case, and where the crime is towards children.
However the evidence must be absolutely 100% not like Troy’s case. RIP
I was outraged by Troy’s execution. This was a barbaric act carried out under the guise of state law.
This was the kind of execution that is carried out in less civilized countries of the world and condemed by us. This act was carried out by what is considered to be one of the most powerful and civilized nations on this earth.
People of America stand up for what is right stand up for your constitution and finally abolish the barbaric Death Penalty.
I am British and if this had happened in my country I would be lobbying parliament.
Thankfully for us we have abolished the death penalty and saved many innocent lives.
Troy may you rest in peace.
Psalm 103, 15 -16:
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
Not Troy. His name will shine on in the darkness, until God’s light extinguishes that darkness for good. May his family stand proud and may he rest in eternal peace X
This is a blatant failure of justice, by corrupt and arrogant men, and a denial of the most basic human rights in a highly, highly questionable case. International law should be brought to bear on this incident, which is quite plainly nothing but state-sanctioned murder. It is therefore hypocrisy of the highest order, and it will never ever be forgotten.
One of my most hated sayings is “charity begins at home” – we are all Troy Davies. Let’s face it America is a joke, the land of the free, come on wake up America and understand why many people don’t particulary like you………
May God rest the soul of this man, our brother in humanity, Troy Davis.
Troy was murdered and the State of Georgia Parole Board should face a murder charge. When the police, judiciary and law enforcement are corrupt, this alone is a strong reason not to have the death penalty. I strongly feel if Troy was white they would not have executed him.
America is a nation that tortures, kills and acts unjustly in its own nation and across the world, it spreads its murder under the lies of “freedom and democracy”.
We should boycott the USA for this crime against Troy and for all of humanity.
Freedom is NOT free and evil, unjust men do great criminal acts under the lies and guise that it is for freedom, justice and “democracy”.
May we all have the strength to fight against this tyranny.
Rest in Peace Troy – you will not be forgotten and this world is so temporary you will have your justice.
The fact that I am teaching ‘The Crucible’ to my 5th years just now and have been able to draw a parallel between the ‘judiciary system’ in Salem in the 1690s and Georgia today speaks volumes. Just as Judge Hathorne and Deputy Governer Danforth would not accept evidence which proved the condemned “witches” as innocent because it would embarrass the court and force them to admit they were wrong, so did the authorities in Georgia choose to murder an innocent man rather than lose face. It is an obvious case of being unable to admit mistakes had been made at best; a terrifying example of apathy at worst – could they simply not be bothered re-opening the investigation in order to find the real killer?
I take no comfort in any religion and offer no trite, pithy claims that he is with God , but I do send my deepest sympathies to Troy’s family, who have suffered, along with Troy, in an inhumane way that nobody should ever have to. We only have what is in this earthly world of ours, and when we stop the fight against the loss of our humanity through executions (legal or otherwise) then we really are lost. Amnesty, you do amazing work and long may you continue. I wholeheartedly support your campaigns, especially this one against capital punishment.
I am utterly appalled that in these times we still act upon barbaric disciplines such as that of the death penalty. Not only does it contradict the whole purpose of punishment (in my view), but it is also morally incorrect. Inflicting capital punishment on anyone is simply wrong.
Also as a Christian I believe in the sanctity of life, that no-one has the right to take away someones life whatever the circumstances. Rest in peace Troy.
My greatest hope is that Amnesty and Troy Davis’ supporters will continue the fight to clear his name. If it can be eventually proven that Georgia and the USA murdered an innocent man, surely this would do something to shake them out of their bloodlust?
One despairs and in despairing can lose hope and faith. Let us come together in solidarity and love and friendship to end such barbarity xx
I always knew there was somthing wrong with the usa.But i did not think that in georgia they would be so racist, so evil, that they would kil an innocent man just because he looks different. For everyone still fighting the fight to ban the death penalty in the usa i have a bible verse, Deutronomny 31:6 it says:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Psalm 53 4 says
“Do all these evildoers (georgia) know nothing?
They devour (kill) my people as though eating bread;
they never call on God.”
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” (Coach Carter, 2005).
I believe this quote to be significant to the case of Troy Davis and how his life was significantly shortened by the incompetence of the criminal justice system. The sheer power that the criminal justice system has to be able to make a life or death decision for an individual is ridiculous no matter what their conviction outcome is. Troy Davis ‘allowed his own light to shine’ which encouraged so many supporters and followers to help in his campaign and fight for his liberation and life. It is a sad conclusion to such an inspirational individual’s life. The inhumane punishment that Troy has been subjected to which ended his life is something that is not uncommon in the Criminal Justice System. It is important that all of us who followed Troy and supported him to encourage others to join the campaign to fight Capital Punishment and Death Row and eventually see an end to their alien presence within contemporary society.
I send my condolences to Troys family. This Miscarriage of Justice should not be forgotten as it is too similar to past cases; to name a few Earl Washington and Edward Earl Johnson both who were innocent but were wrongly convicted. Sadly Edward Earl Johnson suffered the same outcome as Troy Davis has; if Death Row was non-existent then Edward Earl Johnson would be alive today as would Troy. Earl Washington was lucky enough to escape the Death Row fate that so many others have suffered.
My brother, Calen, has hit the nail on the head. There is no space in todays ‘civilised’ societies for Capital Punishment .. and those that believe by removing a second/third/fourth life for the death of another, have a miserable misconception of what that ‘revenge’ will help them to achieve in healing.
Earl Washington was lucky to have the backing of thousands, our Father included, and was granted the justice he deserved when he was released to live his life as normally as possible after what he unjustly suffered. Sadly for the family of Troy, he suffered a tremendous injustice, served by Georgias’ Parole Board: a decision that has knocked the trust that millions cross the world had in the American Criminal ‘JUSTICE’ System.
Our thoughts are with the Davis’ family and, speaking on behalf of thousands, we will continue to fight in Troys name to ensure this happens to fewer and fewer innocent people as the years pass.
Thoughts are still with Troy Davies, i hadn’t heard of this until yesterday, had i’d known i would have emailed the parole board along with those who have. This was an act of injustice, inhumanity and vile!
HI my name is Bernadette king.i am speaking about Troy Davis.i strongly believe that they kill an innocent man.there is no justice for black people in this place.all that man family was concern about is that someone had to pay for the death of their son.is an eye for eye with now they think that they get justice that is not so cause he ws not the one.but thse people are very wicked.it is sad too see how they did not investigate this case in the the right way.and they just put him to death what do they care is just another black man.how can these people sleep at night when they give someone a letal injection knowing that they are innocent.how do they black people have to stand up and sat enought is enought.to much unjust has been done too us.if it were someone else they would never off done that.what ashame the way how they treat us.may God have mercy on their soul.
I have found it difficult to deal with Troy’s death as well as others that have been tortured in this way… I must not stay quiet any longer for fear of repraisal.
It’s not a matter of “doubt” or guilt. It’s a matter of evolution. Do we continue to be barbaric, and apply brutality that resolves nothing or do we move ahead, take responsibility and form better solutions that increase the efficacy of the justice system. I mourn for all who are victims of this barbarism…
I mourn for the human race.
Oh yah, before I forget… DON’T vote or support any of these bozos who are not acting justifiably. Try to have them kicked out of their office. Think about it. Could they possibly ever look out for your best interests?
AMERICA DISGUSTS ME!
TROY WAS MY LIFE. I DIDNT EVEN KNOW HIM, BUT I MISS HIM EACH AND EVERY DAY.
THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A JOKE!
i love you troy, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I AM TROY, I AM TROY, I AM TROY.
You sick sick sick country.
The whole justice system should be put on death row.
RIP TROY BABY.
I didn’t know about Troy Davis until now and i didn’t know America has this kind of inhumane law,but i wish governments and peoples would recognise that man does not give life and therefore has no right to take it no matter the crime. It is not in our place as humans to avenge the death of another. May God grant Troy’s family comfort and the fortitude to forgive this act against them.
To all the Troy Davis’s in the world….we will not stop tellling all the countries of the world that the death penalty is inhumane, it is not just and it must end ….now.
As we get on with our lives we will think of you …as we speak to our friends and families …we will talk of you…..as we meet people whose beliefs may be different from ours…we will talk of the injustice that has been done ……and ofyour dignity to the last
Rest in peace and our thoughts are with you every day Troy and with your family…..
Nikki Rabjohns
My sincere hope is that Troy will have died in vain. Let his case be one that lights the fire of revulsion against this barbaric practice which, by its very nature allows no scope for correction of blatant miscarriages of justice. Yes, the U.S.A., particularly in the Deep South, has a judicial system araising not only from the world view of the puritan fathers but also from the legacy of slavery, the Civil War and innate racism. One has only to look at the ethnicity of most people put to death in this manner over many years in order to discern a picture emerging.
However, before we cast to many stones across the Atlantic, let us recall that an e-petition to number 10 seeking reintroduction of capital punishment in the U.K. gathered thousands of signatures. In many former colonies of the Empire capital punishment is still on the statute book. Led by the Daily Mail and its ilk we still have a large number of would-be hangers, floggers and repatriators in our midst, but not quite as vocal as previously perhaps. Let us keep up our guard.
No mortal should take the Seat of God by judging another person not worthy of living. It’s blasphemous.
bo0ring
I’ve studied the death penalty in school and i’ve watched the film “the life of David Gale” and I dont think the death penalty should be allowed to exist. Many innocent people can be executed every day. The death penalty is almost a way out for criminals because they dont have to live with what they have done and it isnt fair to put the criminals family in pain aswel as the victims, prisions should be worse and strict because thats the only way people will learn is to be punished for what they have done and not killed.
Like it says in the bible “An eye for an eye”
But think about it Ghandi said “An eye for an eye would leave the whole world blind”
I think people should consider that when they are thinking about their opinion on the death penalty, because for the victim to get proper justice it would be best for the criminals to be locked in a cell with nothing.
I know it sounds stupid to say that the criminals should get psycological help but with that help it would prevent many criminals re-commiting a crime.
This is only my opinion but i believe its right….
R.I.P Troy<3 xx
RIP Troy. Yet again the American “justice system” is shown to be deeply flawed. I understand many of the arguments for the death penalty, and I honestly don’t know how I’d feel if it was a member of my family who was murdered, but I know that I would never want an innocent person put to death in the name of any of my family or friends. This makes a mockery of the victim’s family as well who have not received true justice for their family member who was murdered. How on earth they could watch, I don’t know. This is what happens when a society gets more hung up on revenge than justice.
Good, Troy Davis: the fight goes on Protect The Human.
I am a single mother of three and two are young teenage males ,I feel that the death penalty should be abolished because the bible teaches”Thy shall not kill”.Who are we GOD now!In this case cried so much doubt and wrong doing by our SAVANNAH ,GEORGIA justice system I mean JUST-US for them not US . Troy from day one kelp the same story no change in this man story but we saw change in him to give of his life for a bigger cause , a man dies yet he is innocent that is MURDER….I live in GEORGIA SAVANNAH I am a tax paying citizen and I AM TROY DAVIS. This must stop and needs to start now ,Troy DAVIS will not be in vain….Time for the good ole boy mentality to STOP IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA and around the world.This case like so many others will pull the covers off GEORGIA once and for all….The fight will continue and I will be in this fight until I take my last breath…
Dear Troy Anthony Davis:
Little did I know that you would be the one to remind people of your big brother Jesus. You were also crucified. When I look at your golden graduation picture, it is a confirmation of your angelic outfit. I never know that there would be one like you Troy. Little did I know that your mom was giving birth to a holy son. The woman who cried while I was at your going away service, who says she is the one who gave you your name. She was dressed in white, but now I wonder was she a real person. Why did I Just happen to meet her, was she an angel or was she was human. Regardless of what it is, Troy Anthony A Davis, she was an angel too. She was your angel. You are now at a land where only spirit can go. Heaven does not consist of humans, only spirits. You will have peace forever more with the three Spirits. God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit. You couldn’t even trust some of the people who look like you. I saw most of the people that came and look for you in that confinement place rotate their time 24/7. Didnt those Roman Soldiers knew that it would not prevent God from coming there and look for you. The Roman Soldiers were not even looking as if they were sad. They were mean and ready to kill us if they could, but Vizion Jones kept the mourners together. Dearest Troy you are God’s prince. You can get to dance with Jesus because you have both being through similar torture. The gentleman in the wheel Chair, when he saw the Roman Soldiers coming out in their army, he said – quote- it is not looking good. I know it was not looking good either when I saw the Roman Soldiers. Oh when Mr. Ben Jealous said they were injecting you right at the moment, I felt something ran in my bone. It was burning. It was hard to believe that men can be so cruel. Who do I really trust. Money talks dear brother and that is what you were sold for. Blood money. Like Jesus, like you. Please talk to Him in Heaven and intercede on our behalf of what we are doing on earth. We need to make a change and together we stand. One mind, one hope, one spirit, and most of all, we who stand with you, we stand with one love all the way. Peace Perfect Peace Troy Anthony Davis. You were God’s baby from the beginning. You are His beloved son, in whom He is well pleased. You were not meant to be with us for long on earth. You follow the same footsteps of Jesus. The good thing is that God kept you for His perfection, so you could find peace with him, because you were already ordained to be in Heaven. I hope I will remember this each time I attempt to mourn, nevertheless I will do all I can do to get justice for you dear.
This so called justice system we have needs to do better. Troy Davis has been saying he was innocent since the first day he was arrested. Doubt floating all in the air and yet and still they murdered this man and in the same breath let a man like Charles Manson sit in prison eating up all our tax money. This man killed all those people and still right now today this lunatic says if he ever get out of prison he will kill again. Something to think about.
The very integrity of the United States of America’s Judicial System was undermined and degraded by the execution of Troy Anthony Davis. Throughout the world people are wondering how such a profound miscarriage of justice could occur, especially, with the whole world watching. America is a society still very much steeped in the challenges of racism, prejudice, bigotry, discrimination, sexism, etc. and no one can honestly say that none of these social ill do not play a role in the judicial decision making process. Under these circumstance who can the American government justify capital punishment. The need to abolish this barbaric practice is long over due and the Troy Anthony Davis case only proves the need to put it behind us and to take a step toward a more human society and world. God bless America.
RIP Troy
” WHY DO WE KILL PEOPLE THAT KILL PEOPLE TO SHOW THAT KILLING IS WRONG?”
Troy should not have been executed at all and i think everyone in the world should know that