Speak Out Against The Murder of Troy Davis
Thursday 3:30-4:30
At the corner of Washington Square Park East and 4th Street
(across from Starbucks)
Stand up and let your voice be heard!
Fellow Students and Community Members,
A man was murdered last night. His name: Troy Davis.
Mr. Davis was convicted of murdering Mark MacPhail, a Savannah police officer, 22 years ago. The case against him consisted entirely of witness testimony, which contained inconsistencies even at the time of trial.
Since then, all but two of the state’s non-police 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.
One of the two witnesses who has not recanted his testimony is Sylvester “Red” Coles — the principle alternative suspect, according to the defense, against whom there is new evidence implicating him as the gunman. Nine individuals have signed affidavits implicating Sylvester Coles.
Even with all of that, Troy Davis was murdered by the state of Georgia. As he lay strapped to a gurney in the death chamber, the 42-year-old told relatives of Mark MacPhail that he was not responsible for his 1989 slaying.
”I am innocent. The incident that happened that night is not my fault. I did not have a gun,” he insisted. “All I can ask … is that you look deeper into this case so that you really can finally see the truth,” he said.
Davis was declared dead at 11:08 p.m. The lethal injection began about 15 minutes earlier, after the Supreme Court rejected an 11th-hour request for a stay.
In lieu of this horrendous occasion, we ask that you come out, as students, as humanitarians, as activists, as lovers of people to speak out against the injustice done to Troy Davis.
We will be meeting on Thursday, September 22 at the corner of Washington Square East and West 4th Street across from Starbucks from 3:30-4:30pm. There will be a forum for you to speak if you choose. Poster board and markers will also be provided for individuals interested in making signs.
After the event, groups of students will be going to either a rally in Harlem or a rally at Union Square. Details regarding those two events will be available at the speakout. For more information about the Day of Outrage at Union Square, visit https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=233049320077434.
“Be a lover, not a fighter, unless of course you’re fighting for social justice” –Anonymous
