Death row inmate isn’t getting justice in Georgia

Today could be a very difficult day for me and thousands of others. That’s because my wonderful and dear friend Troy Anthony Davis may die. Troy is on Georgia’s death row, and is scheduled to be executed for a murder he has always said he did not commit. I believe him. Many others have asked the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to stay Davis’ execution, including His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, former President Jimmy Carter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sister Helen Prejean and Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr.

I saw Troy weekend before last and he is still hopeful and prays that the U.S. Supreme Court will intervene and give him justice. We talked for nearly 5 1/2 hours, and he said to me, “You know, I have had a pretty good life — even though most of it has been in prison.” Here is a man who has been denied the chance to prove his innocence, robbed of his youth, and he is telling me about life and how grateful he is.

And all this time, Troy has always mentioned the MacPhails, the family of slain officer Mark Allen MacPhail. How they aren’t getting justice and how this must be so difficult for them.

He spoke about his family, his friends and that the first thing he will do when he gets out of prison is to find someone he wants to share his life with. He wants to work with kids who have taken the wrong path in life, and help them. He doesn’t want them to make mistakes that could cost them their lives.

Troy turns 40 years old on Oct. 9 and I constantly tell him that his 40s will be his best decade ever.

Troy also spoke about the Bible, and talked about a passage referring to Jerusalem and Judgment Day. He mentioned something about how we will all come back and our souls will take on different appearances. However, we will still have a connection to others. I told him to look for me then — and hope he will remember who I was. I know that I will spot Troy a mile away. He’ll be the man smiling, helping others and believing that the just will be rewarded. Sadly, it won’t be in the state of Georgia.

Gemma Puglisi is an assistant professor in the School of Communication at American University in Washington.