What if, is a question we asked ourselves when we think of the past.

As of 11:08 PM Wednesday, September 21, 2011, Troy Davis, the former death row prisoner, has been executed by lethal injection.

August 19, 1989 was the beginning of the end for Davis. Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail was murdered. Davis was charged with this crime, later convicted and set to be executed.

Troy Davis, claiming to be innocent, ducked and dodged death as he got his execution postponed multiple times. Davis tried appeal after appeal in a case in which there was no physical evidence. Recently 7 of the 9 key witnesses recanted their statements saying that they were pressured or coerced by the police to testify. And one of the two remaining witnesses was Sylvester “Red” Coles who many say admitted to killing MacPhail.

Those details caused a massive outcry from the public. Protests were carried out, petitions were signed, and support was garnered from the Pope to former US President Jimmy Carter.  Even the NAACP supported his innocence, launching the I AM TROY campaign.

According to the US Constitution, it is “WE THE PEOPLE” but if that were true, then the government wouldn’t ignore the People’s idea to review the case once more. It is a shame our government condemns murderers and then turns around and does the same thing.

What if the Death Penalty in Georgia were rescinded? What if Troy Davis was White or Mark MacPhail was Black? What if the justice system realized by killing Davis it is only hurting another family- Davis's- and not solving the bigger issue- the lack of evidence? What if the witnesses would’ve told the truth earlier? What if Troy Davis is innocent?

On the day of the execution, Troy Davis stated “The struggle for justice doesn’t end with me. This struggle is for all the Troy Davises who came before me and all the ones who will come after me. I’m in good spirits and I’m prayerful and at peace. But I will not stop fighting until I’ve taken my last breath. Georgia is prepared to snuff out the life of an innocent man.”

Strapped to a gurney, awaiting lethal injection, lifting his head looking at the Macphail family, Davis said “I did not personally kill your son, father and brother.I am innocent.” And to the prison officials he said, “may God have mercy on your souls. May God bless your souls”. 

Davis blinked his eyes rapidly. He squeezed them tight. The curtains closed.