BY MARTINA CORREIA

Troy Anthony Davis is Prayer fully closer to his walk to Freedom!

September 25, 2008

My name is Martina Correia and I am on death row, because that is where, my brother lives. I am not convicted of murder- my only crime is of loving my brother Troy.

People congratulate me on being a wonderful sister and champion for my brother and they sometimes question why, and my answer is simply, “If you really knew Troy and could sit down with him for 30 minutes, you would know. Troy is the type of brother who makes your life so much richer, so much fuller, and so much easier and because he is on death row, awaiting execution, it also makes my life so much sadder.

Last year as many of you know, Troy came within 23 hours of execution, this past week he came within 90 minutes. It has been such a rollercoaster ride for my family, my siblings, my mother, my son and especially Troy. A ride I pray none of you ever experience, the last 48 hour visits, the saying goodbye, the charge you give the family for the future and the tears and fears of the pending state murder. 

My brother has been on death watch, isolated from his peers for weeks with a small television that provides him  two “hard to see”,  stations, a small radio and an occasional phone call to family and friends. It seems the more celebrity  and media support the Troy  Davis case garners the more he is punished by the prison. They constantly change the rules to discourage his spirit, yet he remains prayerful and in good spirits as if he were in a secret sacred place where God is with him.

 For example prisoners under death watch can call their friends and family as often as they would like. For Troy there is a special phone that is monitored. Instead of usually costing $5.50 per 15 minute call, the charge to our family and friends is almost $9.00 a minute with no explanation from the prison. For Troy most of his numbers to family and friends are being restricted or blocked. Then the rules changed again and in the last 48 hours they told Troy he could only use the phone twice a day for 15 minutes and that included attorney calls. The last 24 hours they took his witnesses to execution off his list saying they can be taken off at the discretion of the Department of Corrections, including the Clergy of his choice.  They have also threatened me that if I let the media or anyone other than family talk to Troy on the phone he will have no phone privileges at all. It is like physiological torture and they are angry because it has not penetrated his spirit, no his faith.  Through all of this and Troy remains unwavering, with no anger, still prayerful, still hopeful, still thankful.  

As I sit here on my bed, exhausted yet full of joy and uncertainty, feeling the effects of 7 ½ years of constant chemotherapy, I am reflecting on the day of September 23, 2008, as we entered the grounds of the Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison, where I wanted to cry but I could not, I wanted to yell but I could not, I wanted to leave but I could not.

Then I watched the expression on my son’s face- for the first time in his 14 years of visiting death row, he witnessed, more than 100 SWAT, Tactical Squad officers, corrections officers with dozens of dogs, shot guns in hand, all because the state of Georgia wants to kill his Uncle Troy. I have only seen such police force on television from the civil rights era. My first thought was be polite, follow directions and make sure we are safe. My second thought was how powerful this case has become and that  they fear Troy being kept alive will shake the judicial system and expose the truth and my final thought was full of worry as to how they must be treating my brother inside those prison walls.  As we enter the prison where the handicap elevator has not worked for almost a year, we have to practically carry two relatives up two flights of stairs. In visitation they allowed 5 people in at a time, we are all mindful of the clock. I am standing conducting the visits, praying no one asks me, “How are you doing, can I get you anything,”   then scanning the room looking away from any friend or relative that may be about to cry.

Well  visitation is over and we are rushed out at 3pm on the dot. I take my mom and family to the New Hope, a place where death row family members are embraced. I get into my car to head back to the prison to meet Rev. Al Sharpton - we enter the prison grounds to see an overwhelmingly large number of police-then there is the media waiting to pounce on us. Guards come over to slip in a shout out to Rev. Sharpton and then  we enter a roped off area meant for supporters for Troy.

 A complete stranger or so I thought, a small Caucasian women from Texas who has heard about Troy’s case,  asks “Are you Martina?” I replied, “Yes.” Then I realized it was a lady that sent me an email, that no matter what she has to do, she just wanted to be there for Troy. Meanwhile the press is running to capture our voices as a bus load of supporters are also entering the area.

Then  we learn about  the stay of execution from one of the attorneys.   We are so happy, excited, prayerful and now hopeful.  Troy’s last prayer began with a prayer for the McPhail family, and then our family and the people who have lied against him, after which he asked God to spare his life. 

As of now-the state is so ready to kill Troy they have already set up the time for his final visits- 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday and requested a new list for his final visitors.

This is a letter of thanks to all the activists, clergy, lawmakers, lay people and those who believe in human rights and human dignity. On behalf of my family, myself and most importantly my brother Troy we say thank you, but we know the fight is not over and we pray the United States Supreme Court votes to take Troy’s case, which will surely have national ramifications in protecting the Innocent in respect to the appellate process. My heart is filled with so many emotions as I see human kindness flourish on behalf of Troy and because of Troy. I cannot express the blessing you all have become to my family and to my brother Troy, who receives so many letters. He is overwhelmed and elated.

I guess you are all wondering why I am telling you this in a thank you letter. Well the fight we face is still so very real and your work is therefore needed even more, your voices to tell Troy’s story, your passion to fight for his liberation, your determination to understand that the case of Troy Anthony Davis is not an anti-death penalty movement. The case of Troy Anthony Davis is about Innocence, justice and challenging a government system in Georgia that is hateful, spiteful and defiant. When they cannot defeat us they attack Troy, and he is willing to face the attacks if we are willing to continue the fight!

Martina Correia