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INNOCENCE MATTERS!
FREE TROY DAVIS!
This is a message from Troy Anthony Davis
November 2008
I want to thank all of you for your efforts and dedication to Human
Rights and Human Kindness, in the past year I have experienced such
emotion, joy, sadness and never ending faith. It is because of all of
you that I am alive today, as I look at my sister Martina I am marveled
by the love she has for me and of course I worry about her and her
health, but as she tells me she is the eldest and she will not back down
from this fight to save my life and prove to the world that I am
innocent of this terrible crime.
As I look at my mail from across the globe, from places I have never
ever dreamed I would know about and people speaking languages and
expressing cultures and religions I could only hope to one day see first
hand. I am humbled by the emotion that fills my heart with overwhelming,
overflowing Joy. I can't even explain the insurgence of emotion I feel
when I try to express the strength I draw from you all, it compounds my
faith and it shows me yet again that this is not a case about the death
penalty, this is not a case about Troy Davis, this is a case about
Justice and the Human Spirit to see Justice prevail.
I cannot answer all of your letters but I do read them all, I cannot see
you all but I can imagine your faces, I cannot hear you speak but your
letters take me to the far reaches of the world, I cannot touch you
physically but I feel your warmth everyday I exist.
So Thank you and remember I am in a place where execution can only
destroy your physical form but because of my faith in God, my family and
all of you I have been spiritually free for some time and no matter
what happens in the days, weeks to come, this Movement to end the death
penalty, to seek true justice, to expose a system that fails to protect
the innocent must be accelerated. There are so many more Troy Davis'.
This fight to end the death penalty is not won or lost through me but
through our strength to move forward and save every innocent person in
captivity around the globe. I want you to know
that the trauma placed on me and my family as I have now faced execution
and the death chamber 3 times is more punishment than most can bare; yet
as I face this state santioned terror, I realize one constant, my faith
is unwavering, the love of my family and friends is massive and the
fight for justice and against injustice by activists world-wide has
ignited a fire that is raging for Human Rights and Human Dignity. You
inspire me, you honor me and as I pray for strength and guidance for my
family and loved ones, for the victims family and loved ones, I share
with you this struggle, I share with you our triumps, knowing that you
add to my strength, my courage and because of that, I share with you my
life.
We must Dismantle
this Unjust system city by city, state by state and country by country.
I can't wait to Stand with you, no matter if that is in physical or
spiritual form, I will one day be announcing,
" I AM TROY DAVIS, and I AM FREE!
Never Stop Fighting for Justice and We will Win!
Troy is still here but the Fight continues!
I just realized after talking to friend that
today is the 1 year anniversary of Troy's Clemency hearing before
the Georgia Parole Board. It was the second day that my family was
ready and prepared to beg for my brother's life. I cannot tell you
how sad and frightening that day was and how Amnesty International,
the ACLU, NAACP, SCHR, religious organizations and many others were
there to support my family, I know who you are but too many to name
individually, but I would like to acknowldge Ledra Sullivan-Russell,
Toshi Kazama and Robert Nave who went above and beyond to protect
and comfort my family. My main thought that day was that my brother
may only have 24 hours left and I was sitting in a room listening to
people talk about why he should not be killed knowing another group
was waiting to come in and say why he should be killed. I had hoped
that the courts would do the right thing because I never ever wanted
to have the emotions I tried so desperately to hide that day and to
look at my mother who I knew was in turmoil, my son who for the
first time was emotionally shaken.
Then there was my brother who was visiting with
family and friends he had not seen in 18 years that were there to
comfort and say goodbye to him. After visitation at 3pm we were
still at the Parole Board hearing listening to witnesses and Troy
who was that afternoon receiving an enema and physical, stripped of
all his belongings, to include clothing, given a brand new uniform
and flip flops and then placed in the death cell next to the
execution chamber.
A time had come that I had no control over, but
through it all I felt the warmth of Human Rights, love and prayers
from all over the world, later that evening at the hotel, around
8pm,
I received a phone call on my cell phone from a
reporter in New York, who simply said, " Martina how do you feel and
I said about what she said Troy has a 90 day Stay." before I could
reply my mother's cell phone rang it was Troy, the warden allowed
him to call from the prison because we could not see him that day,
who had no idea and I yelled throughout the room, "Troy got a up to
90 day Stay from Execution, the Parole board wants to have another
hearing to explore more witness information."
Upon telling Troy he had only a few words,
beautiful words, "Thank you God, Thank you God," then he began to
pray and cry. Upon telling the warden and once verified he
was immediately moved back to his cell and walking back on death row
the inmates were in tears and applauding, saying, "Maybe one of us
will get justice." Curtis Osborne was one of those death row inmates
and he was executed a few weeks ago.
So I feel like I'm in a state of De'javu, but I
realize that because of you all, human rights activists, advocates,
and just people who belive in human dignity and fairness, that my
family and my brother Troy we are all so much richer, blessed,
stronger and thankful to you all.
I have said it once and I will say it again, " We
Still have Fight in Us and we Will Never Give up!
Sincerly,
Martina Correia
Sister of Troy Anthony Davis
Georgia's Death Row
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