Photo by © Hermann Danzmayr | Dreamstime.com
(October 9, 1968 – September 21, 2011)
There were too many who took this cause on as if it was their own loved one whose life was hanging in the balance. There were too many who used the word "helpless" in the days leading up to and in the aftermath of Troy Davis' execution. There were too many who believed our common humanity would prevail but were quickly convinced that we would go on with business as usual. And I believe there are many more who are rocking their rage to sleep at night and praying that it will not be there to greet them in the morning.
On September 21, 2011, when Troy's execution seemed imminent, there were those on Twitter who asked me: "What do we need to do?" and "How long will they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look?" Knowing I could not answer these questions alone, I began reaching out to folks in order to create a project that would have a three-fold purpose: 1) To serve as a memorial to the life and loss of Troy Davis that compels us to never forget what has happened on American soil; 2) To offer strategies that challenge us to partake in ongoing social justice efforts regardless of what our spheres of influence may be; 3) To inspire us to make personal resolutions to think and act differently.
This 5-page tribute to Troy Davis is a collection of 40+ reflections from ministers, leading scholars, activists, artists, journalists, students and parents who have come together in solidarity, in love, in struggle, in faith and in hope that the loss of Troy Anthony Davis would not be in vain. As "voices crying from the wilderness" of injustice, we have sought to answer the difficult question of "where do we go from here," hoping to humbly lead from "chaos to community" in the same spirit of Dr. King and countless other freedom fighters. This is a public declaration of our personal desires to ensure the emotional, spiritual and psychological well-being of all those whose spirits may have been broken by what many will remember as a legalized modern-day American lynching.
Our unified vision is that this historical moment would birth many mini-movements throughout this country and throughout the world for generations to come. This is a collection of varying, individual manifestos and communal marching orders. But one thing that runs like a stream throughout this entire project is the belief that the death penalty must be abolished in the United States of America in order to ensure that no human being will ever pay the ultimate price for a crime they may not have committed.
Rise up. Think critically. Speak out. Offer hope. Love deeply. Live fully.
From a statement sent to NAACP supporters: Many have asked about contributions to the Davis family. Letters of condolence may be sent to "I am Troy Davis," P.O. Box 2105, Savannah, GA 31407. In lieu of flowers, donations may be mailed to: "I Am Troy Fund," Capitol City Bank, 339 MLK, Jr., Blvd. Savannah, Georgia 31401. If you have not yet already, please sign the petition in Troy's memory, calling for an end to the death penalty in the United States.
On wednesday mourning 10 am sept. 21 I boarded a bus from Atlanta for the 2 .5 hour trip to Jaskson Ga The scene where the of Ga murdered a man that 20 years 1 half of his on earth. At 7 pm we elated when the temporailly stay of exercution was granted we shouted a roar of praise to God, Then it annouced that the case going to the U.S surpreme court . A hush fell on us I knew then that it was over for our brother Troy Anthoy Davis. At 11:08p.m. the stopped to witness this horrific act of white surpremcy. The question what must we do. The answer simple we must not purchase any goods from the state Georgia, Nor visit the state Ga. Then we must cancel x-mass. Oct. 9 would have Troy 43rd birthday, on that day the family of Troy Davis would us to have black-out DO NOT BUY ANYTHING from those continue to oppress US we must began CO-OPERATE ECONOMICS!!!! We must STRAVE THE BEAST that is the only way out of this perdicament. Our ancestors left us with solution, It would be a shame to let them, us and future generations down. Now is time for us step our game up!!!
What bothers me even further, is the thought that the Death Penalty is faithful to the “Eye for an Eye” message found in the Old Testament (most would agree that it obviously doesn’t correlate to Jesus’ command to turn the other cheek). In the Ancient Near East, when wronged, people would multiply their “revenge” upon someone else. If someone stole one of your sheep, the typical response would be to steal the other person’s entire flock. When the OT law commands eye for an eye, it was actually a cultural corrective; it was a lessening of the revenge. How in the world, is the death penalty following THAT model today.
From Benjamin Todd Jealous, President and CEO of NAACP:
“To accommodate the worldwide demand to mark this moment together, as a global community, Troy’s family has generously allowed his funeral to be broadcast live on http://www.NAACP.org. Beginning at 11 a.m. tomorrow, you will be able to share the experience with the Davis family and Troy’s supporters and loved ones around the world.”
Troy Davis: A Celebration of Life
Saturday, October 1st, 2011 at 11 a.m.
Watch the service live at http://www.NAACP.org
“Where do we go from here?”
We can be sure that this question will continue to haunt, as clear solutions to social inequities, the world over, are ever eluding. Nevertheless, perhaps this is not such a bad thing after all, as it keeps us all where we ought to be, always on the “Cusp.” In truth, [Half a millennium of oppressive history cannot be wiped away so easily].
Perhaps, even more than another fleeting revolution, what we as human beings need now, more than ever before, is a spiritual evolution. This, indeed, appears to be the great demand of our age.
Certainly, in the concrete jungle in which we live, the “shit-stem” has us programmed to contend with our fellow at our every turn. The evil doctrine of “Divide and Rule,” apparently, the only political philosophy conducive to our broad egocentric needs, if we are not mindful, is poised, yet again, to transcend our generation. As such, though I am (in essence) a near spitting image of my brother/sister, our kindred spirits find it critically difficult to perceive our common humanity. Moreover, as we men try, ineffectively, to banish our moral infirmity, as one human family, we merely defer the evil infiltration to our points of greatest vulnerability. As evil resides in the spirit and not in the flesh, we are, in effect, fighting yet another losing battle.
Though we can be assured of the eventual triumph of good over evil, unfortunately, historical events such as this grave travesty are essential to elevating the collective consciousness that must ultimately spur the heavenly forces into hastening this victory. While it may not be exactly clear where we go from here, it is evident that unless we progress in one heedful accord, we will be going nowhere, effectually.
I use to feel so strongly about the death penalty because I kept telling myself that if someone killed someone that I love I’d want an eye for an eye too but he older that I’ve gotten I realize that there are many ppl still living on death row that have not been put to death as of yet for thier crime (crimes). They’re still getting to live thier lives regardless if it’s behind bars in jail when the ones that they’ve killed were taken away from thier loved ones, friends and families. I don’t feel that it’s fair for the murders to be able to continue living and breathing when the innocent ppl are not!!
We the ppl need to join in unity to fix what is so wrong with our system to correct all that is messed up with it by voicing our truthful opinions to the ppl that we elect to fight for us in the system legally and not by jeopardizing ourselves by doing another wrong to fix the wrong that has already occurred. The fact is that (2) wrongs never make it right so “WE MUST FIND A WAY TO SAVE THE INNOCENT AND MAKE THE GUILTY PAY FOR THE CRIMES THAT THEY KNOWING DO”
Our heavenly father (GOD) is the only one that can judge when he takes us from this earth just as he was the one that decided on our birth onto and into this world. Not us the ppl!!! Yes, I’ve changed my mind from what it use to be about taking a life for a life but it doesn’t remove the pain that it felt for the ones that have been taken away from thier loved ones.
Why can’t the system take all of the ppl on deathrow and send them over to those other countries to fight a war that isn’t even our WAR instead of taking ppl that are working so hard to provide for thier families here!!! They need to find away to keep those murders out of the United States once they’re sent to fight in the wars. they seem to get a joy out of killing let them go over there and do it and get thier jollies off….Leave the ppl here that want to work and live freely and happily to do as they can to do so. Lets clean up the mess that has been put before us by the system and make it better by joining together not seperating and pointing fingers at the one (OBAMA) that is trying so hard to clean and fix it…Where do we go from here???? Open our eyes and look at the facts, hopefully we’ll go up and not any further down towards the devils dome…
I am going to support every effort I can find that is devoted to ending the death penalty — which is racist and classist (only poor and minority people are executed), uneconomical (it costs more to kill someone than to keep them in jail for life), ineffectual in preventing murder (states with the death penalty often have higher murder rates), and functions on the lowest level of human sensibility and motivation (an eye for an eye). It is an act of revenge that has no social or human value. Most countries know this. Most grievously, it often kills innocent people–or at least people who have not been proven to be guilty–as we have just seen. It must be ended!
Rise up. Think critically. Speak out. Offer hope. Love deeply. Live fully. – Rahiel Tesfamariam
Yes!
And as I said to sis Pam Iverson last night, “I have resolved to stop being a (kinda) docile, polite woman on the sidelines and speak truth to power wherever and however I can, no matter how uncomfortable it might be for others.” Join me…it’s a small resolution, but it just might help shift things in the right direction.
I woke up today wondering what will today bring, after the unjust execution of Troy Davis. I searched myself and wondered did others do the same. What could be done different in this contemptuous society that persecutes people based on hearsay rather than facts? What can we do to change a justice system that only seems to provide justice for the ones that they see fit for justice? How can we bring about a change to a corrupt legal system that has so often operated with the mentality of a lynch mob, rather than a place that we can go to and find justice? The answer that came to mind was …… Pray and then Act. Take our concerns to the pulpit, polls and partnerships we have with merchants! Clarence Thomas a Supreme Court Justice and fellow African American, that persevered because of the efforts of the Civil Rights era to the position of Supreme Court Justice, sat back and favored a corrupt ‘Jim Crow” legal system, over a presumably innocents man life. And the other elected officials that set back silently and allowed this to take place SHOULD NOT be allowed to represent us as a people because they do not speak for the people, when the people have spoken (great point Charles Atkins). We need to allocate our resources to better fit our agenda and provide a voice that will be nonbiased against tyranny and oppression. We need to take our resources to businesses that will back OUR choice in voices (another great point Sharita Lewis). We can’t allow the movement to die with Troy Davis. We have to carry on the fight so that the death of Troy Davis will not be in vein. We have to work hard to bring about a change in this nation that gives prison more financial backing than schools (ty Andrea Richardson). We have to do it!!!! We can’t depend on anyone else to do it for us. If we have never known this to be true, let the wrongful execution, wrongful prosecution and wrongful denial of every mans right to a fair and just trial, serve as a reminder. Keep Praying and Keep Fighting……
As I reflect on the events that really moved a generation to speak up for someone who needed others to speak up for him, i cannot be anything but challenged and motivated to do my part to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again. However, in the next 24 hours after the murder of Troy Davis, we witnessed an admitted murderer being commuted from the same death penalty by the same officials that refused to commute Troy Davis’ death penalty. This is truly the manifestation of the rulers of darkness, principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places. If EVER there has been revelation of the cloaked enemy that we face, then this is it. I truly feel sorry for those who had authority and an opportunity to do what is goods and what is right but chose not to because their actions or inactions will require judgement in the court of the Creator of us all.
But I am inspired by the strength and grace of Troy Davis, who while facing ther ultimate of human fate, displayed a compassion that not even his perpetrators could deny. I pray that I can display that same strength and grace as I challenge an unjust system of so-called justice to live up to its own creed…
~Shalom Aleichem