Troy Davis (10/9/68-9/21/11) | R.I.P.

Following the controversial execution of Troy Davis, a 2010 art piece that depicted Davis as an inmate has gained new meaning. The piece is a collaboration between anonymous German street art collective Mentalgassi and Amnesty International. The project, titled 'Making The Invisible Visible,' is a series of installations across central London completed with the help of british design duo, Brother and Sisters. The project uses lenticular fence posters at three different sites to illustrate the often inhumane public perception of inmates.

Troy Davis' portrait adorns different fences around the city, but only from certain angles are the portraits visible. The portraits are only visible to those who are approaching the fence from farther away. As you walk closer to the fence, the portrait becomes obscured until finally, it is invisible to those standing right in front of it. When passerby approach the portrait and realize it has disappeared, they are greeted with a link from Amnesty International that will take them to a petition for the now-deceased Davis. View the video for the project below and see more here.

Mentalgassi + Amnesty International for Troy Davis from Mntl Gassi on Vimeo.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/troy-davis-street-art-by-_n_978145.html

Troy Davis: "I am innocent."

If there was anything I learned from yesterday's tragedy it is that the death penalty MUST be abolished. As such, I have decided to be more active in that cause. In addition to taking the Amnesty International "Not In My Name" pledge, I have also signed up with NCADP, who was quite active on Troy's behalf.

I submit the following for your consideration:

Official NCADP Statement:

The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty expresses it's deep condolences to the family of Troy Anthony Davis.

They have suffered immeasurably throughout this terrible process.

We can scarcely imagine what the family must be going through: to have the government to which they pay taxes so unjustly and unfairly take the life of someone they so dearly loved. We commend the family on the struggle they waged to bring the injustice in this case to light and to keep Troy Davis alive.

Today the state of Georgia denied the humanity of Troy Anthony Davis. The state of Georgia also denied the humanity of his family, whose grief and loss is real and worthy of recognition. Georgia also denied the humanity of millions of people in Georgia, across the country and the world. This execution being done in the name of the people of Georgia, indeed, in the name of all of us bound by the laws of the U.S. Constitution was done without our agreement and over our vigorous and sustained objection.

The effort to save the life of Troy Davis ends today but the campaign to end the death penalty begins anew, in earnest. If the people cannot control their government, if what is done in our name is done despite our objection, it is our solemn duty to work with the people of Georgia to make it right. Government must be responsible and accountable to the people - all the people equally.

We pledge to follow the example set by the Davis Family and Troy, to continue the fight, upholding the dignity and humanity of every person - if this is not the last execution in Georgia, it will be among the last.

Today, the state of Georgia has demonstrated the extreme degree to which its system of justice is broken. It cannot be sustained. We call on all who have worked so tirelessly in Georgia to prevent this travesty of justice to work equally hard with us to end the death penalty Georgia, and everywhere so that no family will again have to suffer what Troy Davis's family has suffered today.

Take Action!

Death Be Not Cheap

(Harvard Law and Policy Review - September 20,2011)

Death is in the news! Hot on the heels of Rick Perry’s avowed affection for the death penalty, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal of Duane Buck, a Texas man so close to execution he had already eaten his last meal. Buck does not dispute his conviction, but rather disputes his death sentence. During the sentencing phase of his trial, a prosecution expert told the jury that death, and not life in prison, was appropriate because black people are more likely to commit future violent crimes.

If that seems excessive, keep in mind that it’s only one example of the strained calculus that goes into death sentences. Here’s another one: juries for trials in which death is a sentencing option are already biased because jurors who could not sentence someone to death are excused with cause.

California was all set to join the sixteen other states that have abolished the death penalty, but last month, the California Senate killed a bill that would have put death penalty abolition on the November 2012 ballot for voters to approve through our state’s wacky initiative process.

In place of the initiative comes Taxpayers for Justice, which has a new angle when it comes to outlawing the death penalty. In these days of austerity, cash-strapped states might want to consider something even more radical than legalizing marijuana to make ends meet: outlawing executions. The death penalty is many times more expensive than even incarceration for life. In Texas, for example, the average death penalty case costs the state $2.3 million, about three times more than it costs to imprison a single person for 40 years. That’s thanks to the high cost of appeals, which death row inmates are graciously afforded. It’s also attributed to the death penalty being a poor man’s game; very, very rarely are wealthy or even middle-class people sentenced to death, meaning that the state is paying for their defense.

Since 1978, when the state’s death penalty statute was altered to make the death penalty constitutional, California has executed only thirteen people. Total cost? Possibly $4 billion, according to a study published over the summer by Ninth Circuit Judge Arthur L. Alarcon and Loyola Law School Professor Paula M. Mitchell. That’s given an estimate of $308 million in security costs and legal fees for each of the thirteen executions. The cost for death row itself is possibly $184 million each year (or, in other words, over three million new school textbooks. Just sayin’).

The strained explanations, massive spending, and doublethink on the death penalty reflect what Occam knew only too well: we just shouldn’t have a death penalty. How odd, as Slate contributor Dalia Lithwick points out, that conservatives like Gov. Perry don’t trust the government to build a freeway correctly but possess unequivocal confidence in its ability to end the life of the right guy, every time. Want to cut some state budgets? End the death penalty. It’s moral and pragmatic!

Stop Troy Davis 9/21 Execution!

7 of 9 Witnesses Say My Brother Is Innocent. Stop Troy Davis' Execution on Sep. 21st!

My brother, Troy Davis, has been on Georgia's death row for 20 years despite strong evidence of his innocence. His execution date is now scheduled for Wed, Sept 21. He has a hearing in front of the GA Board of Pardons & Parole two days beforehand.We need to tell the Board strongly and clearly: There's too much doubt to execute Troy Davis!

The case against my brother Troy consisted entirely of witness testimony which contained inconsistencies even at the time of the trial. Since then, seven out of nine 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 by police into testifying or signing statements against Troy Davis. Here is what one had to say:

“I got tired of them harassing me, and they made it clear that the only way they would leave me alone is if I told them what they wanted to hear. I told them that Troy told me he did it, but it wasn’t true."

We need to tell the Board strongly and clearly: There's too much doubt to execute Troy Davis!

PLEASE SIGN HERE!