by Terrie Rodello, AIUSA Oregon State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator

In 2011, after three stays of execution and a final appeal to the Supreme Court, Troy Anthony Davis, who was convicted of the 1989 murder of a police officer in Savannah, was executed by the state of Georgia, despite a compelling case of innocence. Prominent human rights advocates, fifty-one members of Congress, and many civil rights and peace and justice organizations, including Amnesty International, NAACP, and National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, had joined his family in a twenty-year fight to prevent his execution and reveal evidence that pointed to Troy’s innocence.

On Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 PM in the First United Methodist Church Fireside Room (1838 SW Jefferson St, Portland), Seattle-based human rights activist, writer, and filmmaker Jen Marlowe will talk about the story of Troy Davis and his family and the human impact of the death penalty detailed in her book, I Am Troy Davis which she co-authored with Davis’ older sister Martina Davis-Correia. Marlowe will be joined by Kimberly Davis, the surviving sister of Troy Davis. They will be introduced by Dr. Audrey Terrell, President of the NAACP Portland Chapter.

When he was facing execution in 2008, Troy wrote in a letter “…. No matter what happens in the days, weeks to come, this Movement to end the death penalty, to seek true justice, to expose a system that fails to protect the innocent, must be accelerated.”

“There are so many more Troy Davis’ across our nation. This fight to end the death penalty is not won or lost through me but through our strength to move forward and save every innocent person in captivity around the globe.”

The legacy of Troy Davis lives on as the movement to end the death penalty in Oregon grows. Join us on April 10th.

Books will be available for purchase at the event. Jen Marlowe and Kimberly Davis will be available for signatures.

This event is co-sponsored by Amnesty International Portland Group 48, Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (OADP), and Kol Shalom Community for Humanistic Judaism. It is free and open to the public. Due to limited space, please RSVP to oregonabolition@gmail.com.

For more information contact Terrie Rodello at tarodello@igc.org.