The name of Troy Davis is known to most of us, largely because of media coverage.
But the details of his epic struggle, and the denial of the courts (state and federal) to seriously hear his claims are a lot lesser known.
Now, a recent book on the case, entitled, “I Am Troy Davis”, focuses on the Davis family, and reveals how the denial of justice tore the family apart.
It is a tale of misplaced vengeance, of political opportunism, judicial cowardice, and relentless struggle. It is the tale of courage against great adversity, tragedy and political betrayals (like the black DA elected by Savannah, who echoed his white predecessors).
When Troy Davis was arrested on August 23, 1989, it was because he turned himself in (after being told about the case by his sister), certain that he would be cleared of the murder of a Savannah, Georgia cop.
But the City, using threats and fear, assembled an ignoble chorus of night people to sell their version of the events, and he was speedily convicted and sent to Georgia’s Death Row.
His sister, Martina Davis-Correla fought, virtually alone, to bring light to her younger brother’s innocence, and to find qualified lawyers to take the case, for long hard years.
When a team of lawyers took the case, it was in shambles, and it took digging to find the truth: that Troy Davis was indeed innocent, and police had forced people to testify falsely, or they would face charges of accomplices to the killing.
Nonetheless, almost all the witnesses recanted, casting serious doubt on the conviction, telling of the threats they received at the station.
A turning point came on Aug. 17, 2009, when the U.S. Supreme Court, in a rare ruling, sent the case back to Georgia’s federal court for an evidentiary hearing. At last, the evidence came in: mass recantations, including new witnesses attesting to Davis’s innocence.
Alas, it was not enough, for a Georgia federal judge, William Moore, tossed out most of the evidence, finding recanted testimony ‘unworthy of belief’.
The ups and downs of judicial fortune raised the hopes of his mother, Virginia, a deeply spiritual, prayerful woman, his sister, Martina, and the rest of the family, only to dash them against the rocks of despair.
On April 12, 2011, Virginia Davis passed away.
On Sept. 21, 2011, Troy Anthony Davis was killed by the State of Georgia.
On Dec. 1, 2011, Martina Davis-Correla died after a decade-long fight against cancer.
Virginia and Martina died of broken hearts.
Troy Davis died from a broken judicial system.
Read”I Am Troy Davis”, by Jen Marlow, Martina Davis-Correla and Troy Anthony Davis; from Haymarket Books.
![Prison Radio is sharing an abbreviated version of a press release covering recent racist incidents at SCI Rockview in PA and the organizing to demand accountability. We are reaching out to people incarcerated at Rockview as well as recently transferred folks, inviting them to call, in hopes of hearing commentaries from them.
Benner Township, PA.-
On November 24th, 2023, imprisoned people at SCI Rockview found two nooses hanging in the CO’s office, displayed visibly for many prisoners to see. When the prisoners asked the staff why the nooses were hung, they were told it was a joke.
By December 4th, prisoners filed a grievance to document what they saw, noting that the hanging of the nooses was “unethical, racially motivated, hateful, [a] deliberate debasement of black inmates" and “unsafe for inmates, staff, [and] the whole prison in general.” In the grievance, they demanded that Sgt. Mosser and CO Richard be fired and investigated for a hate crime, and for CO Kirchner to get therapy. Captain Andrews, the head of security, denied the grievance.
The sergeant and COs are still working in the prison to this day, with no repercussions...
As of March 10th, prisoners have reached out to Pennsylvania officials at the Dept. of Corrections in a letter campaign, sending 100 copies of the grievance. Copies of the letter also were mailed to Governor Shapiro, Senator Fetterman, Senator Street, and various advocacy groups. The demands for relief in the original grievance have now become the platform of demands for this campaign. About 20 of the 100 letters were withheld by the prison.
Activists on the outside are joining forces with prisoners to elevate their demands, flooding the phone lines of DOC offices, assisting with outreach to media, and circulating the stories of prisoners who have found unity in opposition to the facility's virulent institutional racism.
In any other workplace, hanging a noose would be grounds for immediate termination. However, Nicki Paul, the superintendent's assistant and "grievance coordinator" informed the public that they self-investigated their staff and found they did nothing wrong.
Read the full article at i
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