We have to do something about the plight of death row inmates who aren't getting the help they need. The latest high-profile case is Troy Davis in Georgia. You can get involved. Get online and go to www.aclu.org for a link to send a letter or sign a petition. You can also call legislators. Your actions could save a life. If you aren't familiar with the story, here is a quick breakdown of the situation:- Troy Davis was convicted of murder based solely on witness testimony with no other evidence.
- Seven out of 10 of those witnesses have recanted their statements and a few have indicated another suspect.
- Georgia's judicial system has so far failed to consider the compelling new evidence of Mr. Davis's innocence and either exonerate him or at least grant him a new trial and let a jury decide if he is guilty or innocent.
- The Troy Davis case also is an example of a less obvious problem with our criminal justice system - that the ever-increasing number of procedural hurdles erected by courts and legislators to deny death-row inmates relief and expedite their executions has seriously eroded the system's ability to correct its mistakes.
- Had Troy Davis had adequate resources to defend himself, this miscarriage of justice might not have occurred. Like virtually everyone else on death row in this country, Troy Davis is indigent. There are no millionaires on death row.
Please take a few moments and help give inmates like Troy a chance at freedom, innocence and life.
