I sit numb and try to recall the day’s events. All week youth from all races, religions and backgrounds stood together in solidarity for Troy Davis.
I would like to share with you the events I experienced on the day he died.
I rode the bus from Atlanta to Jackson, Georgia, where members of National Action Network, NAACP, Amnesty
International and other groups went to show support and lift our voices in the name of Justice.
The crowd was full of hope. I heard people saying, “There is no way they would kill an innocent man.” And”Justice will prevail.”
Officers dressed in combat gear and police with dogs surrounded us. I could not help but to be afraid.
That did not scare me, but the thought of our justice system failing us did. I tried to sing the songs without feeling like I was just going through the motions.
I tried to keep my spirits up by talking with my mentor. Then it happen, the first appeal was denied by Georgia’s Superior Court. My heart dropped and I was trying not to show my tears.
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I received Facebook messages from teens across the globe telling me the world was watching America. How could the government not see that other countries were shaking their heads at us in disbelief?
The United States super power blatantly ignores its people. How can we give advice or aid to other countries and kill our own? How can we fail to admit when we are wrong and correct the mistake however large, just to save face?
Now the time was coming up to the 7 pm hour when Troy Davis was to be executed and everyone was silent. Then at 7:04 someone yelled the news that he going to live.
People yelled and cheered only to find out that they were wrong, it was only temporary from the U.S. Supreme Court and he still could die. The waiting and pacing was a lot for everyone.
Then we heard he had exhausted all appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court had decided not to stop Troy Davis’ execution.
It was no longer a matter of if he was going to die, but when the mood changed from hope to anger disappointment.
Soon after 11 pm Troy Davis was put to sleep.
Tears flowed down my face but I was unable to cry out. It was like the kind of pain when it hurts so bad that no noise will came out. The last time I felt hurt like that my friend died.
Yesterday America died. I think I grew up yesterday. I no longer will see things the same.
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” – Elie Wiesel
