Romans 12:19-21 - "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' 20 To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Previous news...The U.S. made a final ruling, and Troy Davis will be dead in a few minutes. They waited until darkness had enveloped the prison to deny his last appeal. While police presence expanded, fears loomed that this was a foreboding of a negative judgment. Through it all, Davis maintained his innocence. May God rest his soul.
After the 7:00 p.m. execution time, it was announced that the United States Supreme Court issued a reprieve. Immediately when the announcement was heard, WGST-AM radio talk show hosts ranted in anger over the news, that Troy Davis was not dead.
On Prison Boulevard in Middle Georgia, a world rally against the death penalty is unfolding. At guard are police and state troopers dressed in riot gear. Across the street are hundreds of peaceful protesters holding signs, cellphones, and hopes for a miracle. Inside the prison awaits Troy Davis, convicted murder, who is awaiting final word on whether he will die or be granted a 5th chance by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Troy Davis' pastor, Dr. Raphael Warnock, said this is a "watershed moment." He said as with previous execution dates, Davis declined to eat a last meal because he did not believe he was eating his last meal. Warnock, who leads Atlanta's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called home, said he believes Davis is innocent.
Warnock said the question should not be whether Troy Davis is innocent, but whether he is guilty. Also at question is the civil and human rights of those given the death penalty. A spokesman for Amnesty International talked to reporters about the inhumanity of the U.S. death penalty outside the prison gates.
Davis, 42, was convicted of the 1989 murder of Police Officer Mark MacPhail in Savannah, Ga. Savannah was a major slave port in Georgia and has a history of racial tension. Davis has been on death row for 20 years.
Over 60,000 people have signed a petition to the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles calling for the commutation of his death sentence. Those signing the petition include Pope Benedict XVI, Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, representatives for the European Parliament, and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
©2011 Tomi Johnson. All rights reserved.
I was impressed by your compassionate concern in this matter... You really outlined the story well. For the state of georgia to ignore all of the people's support to spare this man's life raises some serious questions about georgia's political mindset. I guess any state that pride's itself in flying the confederate flag over it's capitol, a sign of the 'civil war,' is still worshiping the barbaric mistreatment of our ancestors!!
ReplyDeleteIt's appalling that our ppl in key positions to make a difference have forgotten that we all were forced into this 'strange land' with nothing but the clothes on our backs (if that!). Our situation in the US has never been normal and the 'criminals' that have always controlled this country want ppl to believe that everything we see is normal, which is another one of the biggest 'lies' they ever told!!!