South Cobbers Show Support of Troy Davis

Troy Davis was to be executed by lethal injection at 7 p.m. on Wednesday for the 1989 murder of Savannah officer Mark MacPhail.  After granting a temporary reprieve, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a stay of execution.

Many people have spoken out against this because seven of the nine eyewitnesses linking Davis to the murder have now reversed their testimony. These people include: President Jimmy Carter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bob Barr and Al Sharpton.

Here’s what people in South Cobb have to say:

• Rich Pellegrino, director of Cobb Immigrant Alliance: "This is the ultimate extreme of taking a blind eye to justice... Our society has degenerated into targeting the vulnerable and taking our revenge...It's just a travesty."

• Rep. Alisha Morgan (D-Austell): "It is unfathomable, unthinkable, unexplicable to try to understand and articulate how anyone can feel (in Davis' position.)...In my heart of hearts, I believe that he is innocent. I'm heartbroken today. It's all I've been thinking about...I'm having a hard time having faith in the Georgia justice system knowing this man could die tonight, but I'm a woman of faith and I'm continuing to pray all day that God is going to work this out. At 6:58, I'll be praying. At 6:59, I'll be praying...The world is looking at Georgia. Either we do right by Troy or we'll have to deal with serious problems in our justice system. (Troy's case) should sound an alarm."

• In an email, Cynthia McGarity, founder of Rehoboth Family and Community Services Inc. for parents of incarcerated children, wrote:  I have captured a quote I heard from Joyce Meyer, a highly acclaimed Christian leader...Joyce simply said, "WE CAN BE PITIFUL OR POWERFUL BUT WE CANNOT BE BOTH." I feel as everyone else (does).  However there is a lot to be said as well as learned from Troy Davis. If Troy's life is not spared, it will be memorialized.  His cause will be a catalyst for change (note the word will) His name will be an thorn  in death penalty history for the state of Georgia. For Troy and his family, my heart has been heavy; I have signed every petition. My hope is in knowing that change can come...  If there is doubt, the ominous value and dignity of life should be preserved. I cannot understand how his death, under any circumstances, brings peace to the officer's family. I understand the violent loss of a loved one; however many have experienced the loss of life of a loved one and forgave.  I have found that those who show no mercy somewhere in life need to receive mercy...We can be pitiful or powerful, but we cannot be both.