Troy Davis Story: Al Sharpton Among Christian Leaders Speaking Out Against Execution
Troy Davis' death sentence, scheduled for Wednesday evening, has garnered support from thousands worldwide. The Georgia inmate was denied clemency Tuesday - a decision that critics have called "unconscionable" - and has many Christian leaders speaking out.
"This is America's justice system," said Rev. Al Sharpton, Baptist minister and talk show host. "But is it justice?"
Davis' pending execution will be "a bleak day for anyone who cares about justice in this country," Sharpton mused on his MSNBC news show Tuesday.
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The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied the condemned man's request for clemency, following last-minute testimony in a convened hearing Tuesday.
Davis was found guilty of the 1989 killing of Mark MacPhail, a Savannah, Ga., police officer who was shot dead when he attempted to help a homeless man who was being attacked.
Pastor David Wright, CEO of DOersTV, a free online Christian TV network, believes the company a person keeps could be the difference between "life or death."
Wright told The Christian Post (CP), "It's unfortunate [Davis' death sentence] but the Word of God teaches us 'have no fellowship with the darkness of the world.' Sometimes you reap what you sow by association."
According to Wright, he was not debating Davis' innocence, however, he added, "We're not talking about a saint here."
"I believe the death penalty is justifiable - whether it's administered correctly is another question," he added.
Tree of Life Christian Ministries Pastor James Robinson stated that having seven witnesses from the nine whose testimonies aided in Davis's conviction recant their testimonies is something people cannot "just ignore and kill a man."
"In spite of what the verdict may have been," Robinson told CP, "the execution should be delayed in light of the fact that we may be killing an innocent man."
"What does it mean if he lives another six months or year while we try to iron out [the details]," he added.
According to Robinson, in some cases the death penalty is deserved, but in others it is not warranted.
"We've got a lot of work to do on the justice system in this country and Troy Davis' case is a perfect example of that," he said.
