HUNDREDS OF NEW YORKERS PROTEST IMPENDING EXECUTION ON GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION FOR GEORGIA INMATE TROY DAVIS
----
Union Square Rally Is One of Dozens of Events That Amnesty International Members Will Hold Worldwide on May 19^th

Contact: Wende Gozan at 212-633-4247, wgozan@aiusa.org, or Thenjiwe McHarris at 646-696-6537.

(New York City) – Amnesty International activists, along with members of the New York NAACP, National Lawyers Guild, National Conference of Black Lawyers, Campaign to End the Death Penalty, New Yorkers for an Alternative to the Death Penalty,  M1 of the hip hop group Dead Prez, death-row exoneree Lawrence Hayes and Riverside Church Senior Minister Brad Braxton will protest the impending execution of Georgia death-row inmate Troy Anthony Davis on Amnesty International’s Global Day of Action on May 19^th.  

The rally will be held at Union Square, between 15^th and 16^th Streets, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Emceed by Amnesty International USA’s Rosa Clemente, it is one of more than 100 events occurring in most every U.S. state and around the world that day.  At the event, Clemente will read a statement from author Alice Walker, and the event will include musical performances by Welfare Poets, Rebel Diaz, and Oscar-nominated group Impact.

Despite a strong case of innocence, to date Davis’ appeals have been denied at all levels of the government based on technicalities; most recently the 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals denied Davis’ request for a new trial or evidentiary hearing.  Those who have spoken out against the execution include Bob Barr, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, William Sessions and Pope Benedict XVI.  Davis, whose stay of execution was lifted on May 16^th, has already been scheduled for execution three times -- once coming within an hour and a half of his death.

When Davis was convicted of murdering Savannah police officer Mark Allen MacPhail, there was no physical evidence, such as a murder weapon, linking him to the case.   Following the conviction, seven out of nine original state witnesses recanted in sworn affidavits or changed their original testimonies, several citing police coercion.  Nine people have alleged that one of the original witnesses is the actual killer, but authorities have never followed up on the lead.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT:        Rally at Union Square; part of Amnesty International’s Global Day of Action for Georgia death-row inmate Troy Anthony Davis

WHO:        Hundreds of protestors and speakers from Amnesty International USA, New York NAACP, Campaign to End the Death Penalty, National Conference of Black Lawyers, New Yorkers for an Alternative to the Death Penalty, and National Lawyers’ Guild of New York, the Rev. Brad Braxton, senior minister of Riverside Church. Rosa Clemente, Amnesty International spokesperson and former Green Party vice presidential candidate, will emcee.  

WHEN:        Tuesday, May 19^th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

WHERE:        Union Square between 15^th Street and 16^th Street, NYC

For more information, please visit www.amnestyusa.org/troydavis

Sign the petition! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/17/investigate-the-injustice

Reply

Forward