Troy Davis

Video

On September 21st, 2011, the state of Georgia executed Troy Davis for the shooting death of off duty officer Mark Macphail, despite the fact there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime and 7 of 9 witnesses recanted their testimony. One year later, people still remember this travesty of justice. And many people still ask if they might someday find themselves victimized by this same "justice" system. On the one year anniversary of the Troy Davis execution, people in Atlanta marched from the park Occupy Atlanta renamed "Troy Davis Park" to the Martin Luther King Memorial and demanded an end to the death penalty, and an end to the prison industrial complex. This film brings you the speeches and the march the night of September 21st, 2012 in Atlanta. It runs 56 minutes.

Thousands were gathered in front of the Georgia State capitol building, many holding signs and wearing shirts, all were there for the most infuriating of occasions –   another black male had been senselessly murdered.  Community leaders and politicians vowed that it would never happen again.  The masses chanted repeatedly, “No justice, no peace!”  There was talk about changing laws, about voting, about the necessity of belonging to an organization.  Prayers were prayed and ‘We Shall Overcome’ was sung.  Reaffirmation was given to the “everyday people” in the crowd – Don’t worry, the Big Guys are on the case.  Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Derrick Boazman, Vincent Fort, and other local Atlanta Big Men are speaking out!  Measured warnings about staying focused and seeing things through were given: “We’ve got to get organized, we can’t let this happen again!”  and “Don’t let this be a moment; make it into a movement!”

I just got home from my first execution.  Tonight, the state of Georgia executed Troy Davis.  He was pronounced dead at 11:08 Pm EST.  Today, September 21st, is also "International Peace Day".  I usually produce  videos of events in Atlanta, and that will be forthcoming.  But what I saw happen today was a complete failure of the justice system.  I interviewed many people today, and all of them seem to feel that our system of courts, and appeals, and checks and balances, are failing to do what they are supposed to.  Instead, the justice system is now functioning to PREVENT any form of self examination, any determination of wrong decisions, any examination of new evidence or new witnesses.  In the Troy Davis case, the police coerce and intimidate witnesses, the D.A.