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Dear VADP members,
The state of Georgia has issued a death warrant for Troy Davis to
commence
on Sept 23, which will likely be the date of the scheduled
execution This
despite evidence that Davis may be innocent.
Davis was
sentenced to death for the murder of Police Officer Mark MacPhail
in
Savannah, Georgia. According to Amnesty International, the case against
him
consisted entirely of witness testimony that contained inconsistencies,
even
at trial. Since then, all but two of the state's nine non-police
witnesses
from the trial have recanted or contradicted their testimony. Many of
these
witnesses have stated in sworn affidavits that they were pressured
or
coerced into testifying or signing statements.
Amnesty
International, the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty,
and
others have asked for our help as they seek to convince the Georgia Board
of
Pardons and Paroles to act so that the State of Georgia does not carry
out
this execution. The Board has scheduled the clemency hearing for
September
12 so time is of the essence. Please go to this web site to take
this
urgent action today:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=11223
As
always as you take this action, please keep the family of the
victim,
Officer MacPhail, in your thoughts and prayers.
You can read
more about the Davis case here:
http://www.ajc.com/gwinnett/content/metro/stories/2008/09/03/savannah_police_killing.html
Although Virginia is blessedly
free of execution dates at the moment, we have seen the very real risk of
executing an innocent man here in our state. On our journey to end state
killing in Virginia and across the
country, it is crucial for us to provide our support and take action today to
stop the execution of a man who may be innocent.
Thank you for your continued
support.
In Peace,
Beth
Beth Panilaitis, MSW
Executive Director
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
(434) 960-7779
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www.VADP.org
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