The following guest blog post is from Mahwish Khan, who got to know, and corresponded with, with Troy Davis through her class at American University.
_______________
In the fall of 2007, in one of my first classes in the Public Communications program at American University, Professor Gemma Puglisi introduced me -- and 13 others -- to Troy Davis. She came to the class that first day, flummoxed, tired, slightly bleary-eyed as she gave us the background of his case. The next forty minutes were filled with details of a harrowing story of injustice. His case was rife with inconsistencies, rumors of police coercion, and witness recantations. Sadly, it ended with a guilty verdict and many appeals. For nearly twenty years, Troy Davis had been fighting for his life, with his mother and his sister, Martina Correia, loyally by his side.
For those of you who don't know the story, this is how it goes:
A little more than 20 years ago, Davis was convicted of the murder of police officer Mark MacPhail. The crime took place outside a Burger King, and no DNA or other physical evidence was found. Davis was convicted solely on the testimony of nine witnesses. But since the August 1989 shooting, seven of these witnesses have recanted. Several people have said that one of those who testified at Davis's trial, Sylvester "Redd" Coles, has admitted to them that he was the killer.When our professor finished telling us Davis' story, we were horrified. We decided that our goal for at least the next semester would be to get as much media attention as possible for Troy Davis. Like the dorks that we were (and many of us I’m sure still are – I know I am), we called ourselves “The Davis 14.”
The Washington Post came to do a story about us. The Atlanta Journal Constitution published my professor’s op-ed. Day in and day out, we were pitching stories and we were writing him letters. Being “international” I pitched a story to the International Herald Tribune, to no avail. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who failed. The truth is that nobody knew who Troy Davis was, and it seemed that not many cared for reasons that we’re all too well aware of – reasons that make me too sick to mention. "How is this different than any other story of a man claiming to be innocent on death row?" was probably what many reporters at the time thought.
For his birthday, we sent him a class photo, books, and a card that a friend and I had hand-made. A thank you note soon followed, as did more letters for each of us. He asked about our families, and gave us advice on how to live our lives. Forgiveness was a common theme. The semester ended with a surprise visit from Martina who thanked us for our work. Following is that year’s Christmas card, which I found Friday morning, in a frantic search for his letters:
Dear Mahwish,Martina is currently battling cancer, and Troy’s mother passed away earlier this year. Gemma, who I spoke with following Troy's execution, informed me that the coroner wouldn’t release his body until they determined cause of death.
May you, family and friends have a Blessed Holiday Season. I’m glad all of you had a chance to meet Martina.
Yes, I knew she would be there but I was sworn to secrecy. :p
Thank you for your card, prayers and support. Hopefully by this time next year I’ll be free to finally meet you and everyone else in Ms. Gemma’s class.
Please take care of yourself and thank you so much.
God Bless You!
Mr. Troy A. Davis
Disheartened, I wrote an email to many of the people I work with, asking them to take a moment of silence for Troy. A colleague soon responded, reminding me that there’s still a fight to be won.
“Don't lose heart,” she wrote, “that's what the bastards want us to do...”
That was the same sentiment in Troy's last letter to his supporters, in which he wrote:
There are so many more Troy Davises. 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. We need to dismantle this unjust system city by city, state by state and country by country.
I can’t wait to stand with you. No matter if that is in physical or spiritual form, I will one day be announcing, “I AM TROY DAVIS, and I AM FREE!”
Never stop fighting for justice and we will win!
From the San Francisco Bay View: To send his grieving family, who worked so hard for his freedom, your love and condolences, email troyanthonydavis@yahoo.com.
