Press Releases

Statement from Rev. Sharpton Regarding Delay in Execution of Troy Davis

National Action Network is optimistic that the United States Supreme Court granted a delay in the execution of Troy Davis in order for the Judge to review more testimony and we strongly feel that Mr. Davis will be exonerated. I visited Troy Davis on death row and National Action Network has organized several support efforts on his behalf.

Since his 1991 conviction, seven of the nine witnesses against him have recanted their testimony and no physical evidence was presented linking Davis to the killing of the policeman. As Justice John Paul Stevens has cited, ‘it would be an atrocious violation of our Constitution and the principles upon which it is based to execute an innocent man.’ Troy Davis’ sister, Martina Correia was on my nationally syndicated radio show today and National Action will continue to fight until Troy Davis is granted a new trial. We are especially happy because this is the first time in a half of a century that the Supreme Court has said that innocence outweighs procedure in one of these cases. It was outrageous to National Action Network and to Troy Davis’ sister Martina Correia, that they would risk the execution of an innocent man in the name of procedure.