The Case For and Against Death Row Inmate Troy Anthony Davis
I had been back in the United States for two years when 27-year-old police officer Mark Allen MacPhail was murdered in 1989, and then 20-year-old Troy Anthony Davis was later convicted and sentenced to death for the crime. I have from that time-frame a vague memory of a newspaper headline that screamed in huge bold letters: DEATH PENALTY.
I remember thinking, like the editor I had been in the U.S. Air Force, the size of the font was that usually reserved for declarations of war and other large-scale catastrophes impacting the lives of millions. In this case, it seemed the editor's or publisher's choice may have been at least partially motivated by the fact that the slain officer had been white and the man convicted for the murder black. I thought to myself: Wow, that is too tragic and too scary on too many levels.
The headline looked like the pronouncement of something indisputably final and I accepted it as such. Only it turned out to be anything but final. August 18, 2009, will mark the twentieth anniversary of Mark Allen MacPhail's death and also the second decade that now 40-year-old Troy Anthony Davis has managed to elude capital punishment for it. Davis, who along with thousands of supporters worldwide maintains he is innocent, has filed a number of appeals for a retrial and it is possible the U.S. Supreme Court will grant him one during its next term (have no doubt, many will watching for newly-appointed Justice Sonia Sotomayor's response to it). Other observers of the case, based on evidence that at best is inconclusive, believe Davis guilty and are calling for his execution.
Now imagine this: even though I stayed for the most part in Savannah after separating from the Air Force, I somehow remained ignorant of Davis' case after that huge unruly headline up until last year, 2008. That was when once again, with the help of dedicated family and allies, Davis managed to preserve his life. At that point, I was dealing with post traumatic stress issues of my own and would treat the idea of writing about Davis and MacPhail much like an annoying fly that I would swat away, but it then would come back even stronger and swat me right back.
There have been many loud cries of guilt and innocence, and of death and life, in the case of Troy Anthony Davis and Officer Mark Allen MacPhail--but far too few discussions perhaps regarding truth or justice. At this point, I haven't been granted the kind of useful access to information or individuals that might help establish some much-needed clarity, but my Savannah Talks Troy Anthony Davis series (of which this blog is a part) is a determined step in that direction. My only hope is that for all those concerned-including both families and their supporters involved this case-- it's not too little offered too late.
by Aberjhani
The process of writing evolves one's consciousness and transforms the aspiring writer into an individual that he or she never fully imagined becoming. ”
—Gale Contemporary Authors
About *
A native of Savannah, Georgia (USA) Aberjhani is a winner of the Thomas Jefferson Award for his journalism, the Choice Academic Title and Best History Book Awards for his historical writings, the Creative Loafing Critic’s Pick Best Savannah Author Award for...
Connections
Causes * Aberjhani Supports
I make contributions to a number of charities through my lenses on Squidoo but the following are a few that interest me the most:
...
*’s Favorite Books
My favorite books are pretty easy to tell because I generally write reviews about them and post and publish the reviews on in various magazines and websites,...
* is a fan of
Sensitive and Volatile
I recognize this is a very sensitive and volatile subject but it nevertheless is one that has to be dealt with, so I'm attempting to make my contribution to the conversation with the hope that voices worldwide will help bring the case to a resolution where true justice is served rather than bloodlust or trickery via technical loopholes. The only worthwhile trick here seems to be a willingness to listen and pay real attention to the various aspects of this very serious case.
Aberjhani
author of The American Poet Who Went Home Again
and Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Facts on File)
I am against the death
I am against the death penalty. I used to have no major objections to it, but now that I've seen more of life and the world, I believe it is not the job of a state to murder its own.
Capital Punishment
A fundamental objection to capital punishment itself seems to be the principle basis of support for Davis in countries like France, where it has been outlawed. There's also the painful fact that African-American men continue to make up a disproportionate 40% of those on death row even though African Americans in general only comprise roughly 12% of the U.S. population overall.
Aberjhani
author of The American Poet Who Went Home Again
and Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Facts on File)
Aberjhani, I think we are
Aberjhani, I think we are the only developed country that hasn't outlawed this practice. I'm ashamed.
And then there are the racial issues, as you point out, and the fact that we know we have already used capital punishment on people we've later discovered to be innocent. No, can't have that.
the DNA factor
The DNA testing factor is also strong one where this case is concerned because others have been identified as likely suspects, and whereas no physical evidence has been linked to Davis, it is possible some might be connected via testing to one of the other suspects.
Aberjhani
author of The American Poet Who Went Home Again
and Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Facts on File)
I wonder?
How many deaths Troy might have already died while waiting to be heard? Will Justice be called truly justice, later when acquitted?
That's a great point to contemplate Sumathi
To listen to Davis speak in his YouTube videos he certainly seems to have undergone a kind of death and rebirth, in many ways removing himself from the situation that has so completely absorbed his life and speaking of it as an occasion or event from which others may learn valuable lessons about family and faith.
Aberjhani
author of The American Poet Who Went Home Again
and Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Facts on File)
The legal system the world
The legal system the world over is notorious for procrastination and this example only shows the plight of undertrial prisoners. I do not understand why we still have capital punishment because that is not going to do away with crime. It is often the innocent who have to pay the price or those lower down the rung in crime syndicates. And in your part of the world the figures you quote show the disparities clearly along race lines.
By highlighting the case of Troy you will in fact reach out to the larger issues for everybody involved and suffering. Thanks, Aberjhani, for the steadfastness and perseverance.
~F
thank you Farzana for the encouragement
While I definitely hope my writings provide some assistance to both families involved in this case, I do as well tackle some of those larger issues to which you allude because it seems to me that if we get bold enough to start confronting them, then some of that "suffering" just might be alleviated.
Aberjhani
author of The American Poet Who Went Home Again
and Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Facts on File)