Troy Davis has written a letter of thanks to all of us.

I also want to say how much I feel for you who have cared and helped out with this. I can think of nothing on earth that is more important. We spend a lot of time on this forum regarding subjects that revolve around justice.





To all,

I want to thank all of you for your efforts and dedication to Human Rights and Human Kindness, in the past year I have experienced such emotion, joy, sadness and never ending faith.

It is because of all of you that I am alive today, as I look at my sister Martina I am marveled by the love she has for me and of course I worry about her and her health, but as she tells me she is the eldest and she will not back down from this fight to save my life and prove to the world that I am innocent of this terrible crime.

As I look at my mail from across the globe, from places I have never ever dreamed I would know about and people speaking languages and expressing cultures and religions I could only hope to one day see first hand. I am humbled by the emotion that fills my heart with overwhelming, overflowing Joy.

I can't even explain the insurgence of emotion I feel when I try to express the strength I draw from you all, it compounds my faith and it shows me yet again that this is not a case about the death penalty, this is not a case about Troy Davis, this is a case about Justice and the Human Spirit to see Justice prevail.

I cannot answer all of your letters but I do read them all, I cannot see you all but I can imagine your faces, I cannot hear you speak but your letters take me to the far reaches of the world, I cannot touch you physically but I feel your warmth everyday I exist.

So Thank you and remember I am in a place where execution can only destroy your physical form but because of my faith in God, my family and all of you I have been spiritually free for some time and no matter what happens in the days, weeks to come, this Movement to end the death penalty, to seek true justice, to expose a system that fails to protect the innocent must be accelerated.

There are so many more Troy Davis'. This fight to end the death penalty is not won or lost through me but through our strength to move forward and save every innocent person in captivity around the globe. We need to dismantle this Unjust system city by city, state by state and country by country.

I can't wait to Stand with you, no matter if that is in physical or spiritual form, I will one day be announcing, "I AM TROY DAVIS, and I AM FREE!"

Never Stop Fighting for Justice and We will Win!

-- Troy Davis

I would like to thank you, Gregorian.

Right here.

Right now.

Tom

from Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

(updated: 10/1/08; 2pm)


Latest news: The US Supreme Court granted a stay of execution on Tuesday, Sept. 23 evening less than two hours before the scheduled execution. As of Oct. 1, the Court has not issued a decision; therefore, stay of execution is still in place. There is no longer a current execution warrant. The Court can decide to grant or deny the cert petition (the appeal Davis filed in July). They may release their decision Monday, Oct. 6, 2008. If they accept his petition, the stay will continue through the hearing of that case. If they reject his petition, the Chatham County Superior Court will likely issue a new execution warrant, which could lead to a new execution date in October. Please stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Take Action:

Thanks for your continued efforts to save Troy Davis.

The stage we are at right now in Troy's case is very delicate, and it is important that we have a strategic approach that works to save Troy's life. On that note, we respectfully ask you to not contact the US Supreme Court on this case because it could be detrimental to Troy. We have also stopped sending letters to the Parole Board, Governor or Attorney General because we don't believe these would be productive at this time; however, we may turn our focus to these targets at another time.


Here are some actions you can take:

1. Join us for a daily vigil
at the state capitol (front steps on Washington St.) at 7pm Monday, Sept. 29-Friday Oct. 3

2. Please continue to collect petitions and send letters for Troy.
We want to collect an abundance of letters for distribution at the appropriate time. Write your own letters and fax them to 404/876-2276, or email them to troyactions@yahoo.com, or use the online action at http://www.amnestyusa.org/troydavis (AI is collecting them for delivery at a later time).

3 .Write letters to the editor
We’d like to have a steady stream of people writing letters to the editor. If you would be willing to write one, please email Laura Kagel – laura.kagel@gmail.com – who will be keeping track of our grassroots media outreach. It’s ok if you’ve never written one before - we can provide guidance/models!

4. People of Faith: Individual and Congrational Prayers

Here is a model for use. We encourage you to bring this to your community of worship

INTERFAITH PRAYER FOR HEALING AND JUSTICE

Leader: Creator God, we gather together in community. We gather as people of conscience and as people of faith. We gather from different corners of this state bringing together the diversity of your people in one place: different cultures, ages, genders, and life experiences. But we gather here tonight in one spirit and with one purpose.

People: We join our hearts, our spirits and our minds.

Leader: Almighty God, we come with troubled hearts. We are perplexed and we are disturbed. We are anxious and we are concerned. We are carrying heavy burdens and we know we need the strength that only you can give.

People: We lift up our burdens and ask for strength.

Leader: We pray for the MacPhail and Davis families. While we cannot fathom the depth of their anger and sorrow, we lift them up in prayer and ask that your healing powers continue to work in their hearts.

People: We ask for healing and justice on their behalf.

Leader: Comforter God, we pray also for the people of Savannah, asking for your continued presence with them, amidst their pain and division.

People: We ask for restoration.

Leader: Miracle-working God, we continue to put our faith in your love for creation and in your divine justice. We ask for your peace, which passes all understanding and we pray that your justice, which surpasses human imperfection, be done on earth.

People: We long for your peace and justice.

Leader: Omnipotent God, we know that all things are possible for you. We know that a way can always be made for your love and your justice. We know that you can make the sun to cast out the darkness at any time.

People: We pray that your light will shine on us and cast out the darkness of this world.

Leader: Gracious God, we acknowledge the imperfection of human judgment. We acknowledge that we make mistakes. We acknowledge that our highest institutions, in which we put our confidence, are fallible, just as we as individuals are fallible. We acknowledge that you are the ultimate source of all justice.

People: We ask for humility and grace.

Leader: Creator God, we pray for all who govern and all who are invested with power to make decisions for our community.

People: Give them strength and courage to seek your truth and your justice.

Leader: God of all life, you value all human life and command us to do likewise.

People: Help us to honor life as you do.

Leader: History-changing God, just as the modern-day prophet, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called on the words of the ancient prophet Amos, we ask that “justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Sustain the MacPhail family and the Davis family. Spark human action to prevent human injustice. Bless us and our efforts to do your work of peacemaking and justice. Strengthen us to be instruments of your love, your peace and your justice.
ALL: Amen, Ameen, Ashé, so be it.

Thanks for your efforts on this, G.

...who were against the Davis execution?

I'm a death penalty supporter in the case of heinous crimes and certainty of culpability, but this execution does not meet the certainty requirement. As a general rule, I think DP supporter need to speak up more when a tainted case goes forward.