LONDON — The execution of Troy Davis may have taken him away from this earth, but the movement to kill the death penalty across the world is picking up steam.
The state of Georgia made Troy Davis the poster boy for the global movement to end the death penalty after many considered him to be unjustly executed due to a lack of evidence.
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World figures, including Pope Benedict XVI and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, human groups and commentators urged the execution to be halted — but to no avail. On Wednesday, Davis was put to death by lethal injection for the 1989 killing of off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail despite doubts being raised over the conviction.
While there weren’t riots in the surrounding area of the execution site, many across the country were in tears and anguish over the execution.
The execution sparked angry reactions and protests in European capitals — as well as outrage on social media. “We strongly deplore that the numerous appeals for clemency were not heeded,” the French foreign ministry said.
“There are still serious doubts about his guilt,” said Germany’s junior minister for human rights Markus Loening. “An execution is irreversible — a judicial error can never be repaired.”
The European Union expressed “deep regret” over the execution and repeated its call for a universal moratorium on capital punishment.
