Support in Heidelburg for Troy Anthony Davis
This
evening around 6pm more than 350 death penalty opponents of all walks of
life gathered in the German city of Heidelberg to demonstrate their
support for US death row inmate Troy Anthony Davis. Together they
occupied the widely known "Old Bridge" in the historic centre of the
town to shape a human chain, holding Troy Davis’ face in front of their
own faces or above their head.
The call for action came from the German-American Institute, the locally well-known group „Freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal“ and the student branch of Amnesty International.
The opening speech criticized the death penalty in general and drew the connection to individual cases like the one of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Kenneth Foster, and others. The speaker expressed deep concern for the serious situation of Mumia Abu-Jamal, too. He might receive a rein station of the death sentence very soon and is once again in great danger.
The focus of this action, though, was clearly on Troy Davis’ outrageous ordeal. Davis was the one whose incredible situation had drawn the attention of elementary and high-school youth from eight school in Heidelberg, of students from many faculties, from peace activists, artists and just ordinary interested people.
To the surprise of the activists more than just a few of the many tourists that cross the bridge with the lovely view in the thousands every day spontaneously joined the human chain and wanted to be a part of it.
The local press covered the event and will report it with big photos in the paper. The organizers as well as the attendants were very happy with what they felt was a huge success. They send their greetings to all other rallies and actions on this worldwide day of action to save Troy Davis.
Freiheit für Mumia Abu-Jamal Heidelberg e.V. - Netzwerk gegen die Todesstrafe
www.InPrisonMyWholeLife.com - www.StimmenfuerMumia.de - www.mumia-hoerbuch.de
Annette Schiffmann · Michael Schiffmann
mobil: 0172-77 40 333
Moselbrunnenweg 2a - 69118 Heidelberg