Local Protesters Join Crusade to Stop Execution

September 22, 2011

Diane Peel of Newport, and Kate Castle and Bob Castle of Holland stand outside the State Office Building in Newport in opposition to the Georgia execution of Troy Davis. Photo by Christopher Roy

NEWPORT - Members of the Newport Peace and Justice Group, who can usually be found protesting America’s involvement in war, joined protesters from around the world last night to voice their opposition to the execution of Georgia inmate Troy Davis.
Davis was due to be executed last night for a murder that was committed 17 years ago, but civil rights groups around the country have argued that the evidence that he committed the crime was circumstantial and that a jury today would find him innocent. The ACLU and other organizations have stated that his execution is the result of racial prejudice rather than justice.
Others opposing the execution include President Jimmy Carter and Pope Benedict XVI.
See AP wire for more of this story.