Blog Conference

Today, thanks to the organizers over at Amnesty International, an historic first happened: A "press conference" for bloggers only about the Troy Anthony Davis case. Davis, the reader may recall, faces a July 17 execution date for a crime many of us believe he did not commit.

Here's the news advisory announcing the call (with some contact info deleted, for reasons of personal privacy)

New Media Release

Non-Traditional Media Advisory
Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Press Conference for Blog, Podcast, and New Media Journalists
Finality Over Fairness

Troy Anthony Davis, Unjustly Sentenced to Death, to be Executed Within Days

Washington, DC - Troy Anthony Davis may well be innocent. He was sentenced to death for the killing of a white police officer, and the state of Georgia has scheduled him for execution on July 17. Compelling evidence of his innocence has been uncovered, but, citing procedural bars, no court has ever held a hearing on this new evidence.

Troy Davis was convicted entirely by witness testimony. There was no forensic evidence, no murder weapon, no DNA evidence. Seven of the nine non-police witnesses who testified against him have since recanted or contradicted their trial testimony in sworn affidavits, many alleging police intimidation or coercion. One of the two witnesses who has not recanted has been implicated by several others as the real assailant.

Without most of their witnesses, the state of Georgia does not have much of a case. This raises grave doubts about Troy Davis’ guilt. But in our appeals courts, upholding procedural rules has become more important than addressing questions of innocence, and these doubts remain unresolved. Not only might an innocent man be executed on July 17th but he might be executed without ever having the chance to prove his innocence.

Join a telephonic Press Conference for non-traditional media journalists including bloggers, podcast producers, online radio stations, alternative media, etc.

Who: Professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., Harvard Law School, Founder and
Executive Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice

Martina Correia, sister of Troy Davis and anti-death penalty activist

Jason Ewart, attorney for Troy Davis, Arnold & Porter LLP

Moderator: Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn (Director – Amnesty International USA’s Program to Abolish the Death Penalty)

When: Thursday, July 5, 4:30 pm EDT
Where: via phone - call in number is 1-877-465-1385