Editor, It was announced today that Troy Davis was denied clemency and will be put to death by lethal injection on
Wednesday, September 21, 2011.
Members of the Liberty NAACP are dismayed by this news. Many may have not known this, but Troy Davis became a member of the Liberty County Branch of the NAACP in 2010.
As the Liberty County branch's president, I know I speak for all the members when I say that this is a sad day for everyone personally touched by this case.
I realize it is a fact that someone shot Officer Mark MacPhail and I truly believe his family deserves justice and peace, but we, as a branch, feel there is no evidence, beyond doubt, enough to kill the one convicted of the crime.
Two wrongs do not make a right. We feel that due to the amount of doubt agreed upon, a sentence change should have been voted upon by the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole. The death penalty is an irreversible punishment and should be utilized with extreme caution and clarity.
As a branch, we feel that this case does not have enough evidence and/or clarity to say the correct person will be put to death.
Once again, our prayers go out to the Officer's family and Troy Davis's family. May God continue heal the hearts of all involved in this case.
Our justice system may have just gotten a black eye!
I believe we must use this event as an opportunity to continue to educate and unite our community so we have less cases of this nature, less of a need for such a sentence option and less of need to do what only God has the power to do, take a life.

Dwight Newbould,
President of the Liberty County NAACP