In Savannah, Georgia one of the most historic cities in America, Troy Anthony Davis was convicted and sentenced to death for the killing of an off duty law enforcement officer more than a decade ago. Despite a number of variables that would without a doubt provide justification for a new trial, Davis remains on Georgia’s Death row maintaining his innocence in the officers death.

One thing that angers me the most is that the Davis Case highlights the miscarriage of Justice for countless people nationwide particularly minority populations. Troy Davis, represents to me a familiar face that every African American and minority family can and should be able to relate to across the country. I would venture to say he is the personification of that usual suspect in the eyes of rural and urban local law enforcement agencies with a need to make an example out of somebody.

It remains, interestingly enough to me that Davis was convicted on the basis of eyewitness testimony. Be that as it may, there was no physical evidence found, nor a weapon used to commit the crime however he was convicted. Furthermore, following his trial, seven of the nine witnesses have recanted and or contradicted their original testimonies citing police coercion and intimidation. In rural Georgia, I would hasten without reservation to submit that such procedures are a matter of routine in practice, particularly with the usual suspects, with familiar faces.

Since the original trial there have been numerous requests for the courts to examine the aforementioned evidence in hopes for a new trial to no avail. In addition , numerous human rights organizations have lobbied the justice system strongly to grant Davis a new trial based upon new evidence and the unreliability of the original witnesses respective testimonies.

The unmoving peculiarity is that Troy Anthony Davis is a familiar face with which all of us can identify. Based upon all of the evidence, supporting documents, I am of the belief that Davis found himself in the wrong place clearly at the wrong time and maybe the wrong company and furthermore in the wrong law enforcement jurisdiction. Davis represents a father; brother; cousin; or friend at any given time and or place. A reflection of African American Families throughout the country irregardless of socio-economic status. He now has for the last twenty (20) years tried to prove his innocence and disprove his guilt.

Twenty years since that fateful date in South Georgia, it is my hope and prayer that Troy Anthony Davis in conjunction with clemency will be granted a new trial and will thus be exonerated. If given a new trial based upon all of the facts that have since surfaced I think will afford Davis the opportunity to be a voice for those in similar situations in which the usual familiar faces find themselves.

I am certain without a doubt that with public outcry and pressure placed upon local, state, and federal officials Davis will be granted a new trial, and given his exit from Georgia’s Death Row.

In the midst, I am further hopeful that the vigilante’ type procedures of law enforcement in both rural and urban American cities will be exposed and alleviated. When all has been said and done there are numerous people who sit confined in jails that look like you and who look like me! I am confident that Troy Anthony Davis, will with the help of the public, receive a new trial, be exonerated, and provide a voice for the voiceless. He will with a familiar face help us in answering the question, “am I my brother’s keeper?”

BlackCommentator.com Guest Commentator, The Reverend D. D. Prather, is a noted Civil/Social Justice Activist, and a native of Atlanta, GA. Click here to contact the Reverend Prather.

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