Sept. 21, 2011, marked a complete failure of the United States justice system as Troy Anthony Davis was put to death in Georgia, under an enormous cloud of doubt.

Davis was a black man who was charged and convicted of murdering a white police officer in 1989.

In the time after his trial, seven of the nine witnesses who testified withdrew their testimony.

Affidavits were signed by five of the nine witnesses saying they felt pressured and bullied by the police when they were asked for statements.

Three individuals came forward and told police another man had confessed to committing the crime.

As if these factors did not cast enough doubt on the case, the prosecution failed to produce a murder weapon, DNA or fingerprints.

Davis maintained his innocence for more than 20 years and never gave up in spite of the courts’ rejections of his appeals time and time again.
A petition, which received 1 million signatures and worldwide opposition, was not enough to save this man.

This case touched me very deeply, and I have not forgotten him.
What concerns me is the determination and tragic struggle of Davis will be forgotten.

What concerns me is the failures and flaws highlighted in our justice system will be forgotten.

What concerns me is the passion ignited in millions of people around the world for a single cause will be forgotten.

It is so easy to return to our superficial cares and worries of our day-to-day activities.

There are larger issues at stake. It is necessary we learn several lessons from the tragic case of Davis.

Racism is not dead. Discrimination is still very much alive today.

According to a report issued by the U.S. General Accounting Office, there is a “pattern of evidence indicating racial disparities in the charging, sentencing and imposition of the death penalty.”

This study found a defendant was more likely to receive the death penalty if the murder victim was white. Similar studies have corroborated these findings.

According to the American Bar Association, in the state of Georgia, those convicted of killing white victims are 4.5 times more likely to be sentenced to death than those convicted of killing black victims.

Senator Russ Feingold said it best in January 2003 when he proclaimed, “We simply cannot say we live in a country that offers equal justice to all Americans when racial disparities plague the system by which our society imposes the ultimate punishment.”

Sadly, the decision of those who are convicted — and possibly die — is decided by skin color or by the depth of ones pockets, not by justice.

Our country is engaged in hypocrisy of a lethal kind, no pun intended.

Our country has been so devoted to interjecting itself into the problems of other nations, encouraging them to mimic our “civil society” and culture.

This case illustrates the inadequacies of our human rights here at home.
How are we supposed to lead by example when we are executing presumably innocent human beings?

Isn’t this the sort of thing we heavily admonish other countries for?

Furthermore, how could President Barack Obama say it is not his place to intercede in the case of Davis — which is a state issue —when he obviously feels it is his place to intercede in the case of imprisoned individuals in Iran?

Why is he more frightened of stepping on the toes of a state government than a sovereign international one?

I support Obama, but in this instance, I felt terribly let down by him. He could have taken a stand against this injustice, but, instead, he stood by silently.

Martina Correira, the sister of Davis, relentlessly fought in support for her brother, even while wheelchair-bound and battling stage four breast cancer. In the time leading up to his execution she said, “We are the only country executing people while telling other countries how to handle civil and human rights.”

Now is the time to fight for an end to the death penalty. We must continue this fight with renewed passion.

The death penalty does not serve as a deterrent to crime. Rather, it is costly, unjust and racially biased.

Since the 1970s, 130 innocent individuals have been vindicated, many due to DNA evidence. Unfortunately, in the case of Davis, there was not any DNA evidence.

Sending even one innocent person to their death is a heartbreaking tragedy.

One of Davis’ last statements to his supporters summarized the need to continue the fight for justice, “The struggle for justice doesn’t end with me. This struggle is for all the Troy Davises who came before me and all the ones who will come after me. I’m prayerful and at peace. But I will not stop fighting until I’ve taken my last breath.”

By ANNIE MALKA

Profiles Editor

amalka@umail.iu.edu