Troy Davis was executed in Georgia at 11:08 p.m. Wednesday. He was denied a stay by the Supreme Court, despite serious doubts about his case.

Let me give a brief synopsis: Troy Davis’ is no ordinary case. He was convicted in 1991 of murdering a police officer in Georgia. There was no physical evidence, no weapon ever found. There were only nine witnesses leading to this man’s future in prison. He was sentenced to death row, a place already fraught with claims of racism and arbitrariness.

Then the case against him collapsed as seven of the nine witnesses came forward with changed stories and claims of police coercion. They recanted their testimonies, but the judge determined that these witnesses were “unreliable” and declined to review the case against Troy Davis.

This is where we stand. Years later, we are still holding rallies in his support all over the world. This time, things didn’t work out. He has been given four execution dates, all of which were stayed — until Wednesday. Our criminal justice system is hardly doing justice by executing an innocent man. Is the death penalty worth it?

The Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty will be held Oct. 22 at the Capitol.

— Anne Kuhnen
President, Texas Amnesty