Occupy Atlanta "Renames" Woodruff Park To Troy Davis Park
Group decided on renaming Monday night
Photos
Nearly four days into their occupation of Woodruff Park, Occupy Atlanta has renamed the 6-acre Downtown greenspace "Troy Davis Park.
The renaming honors the Savannah man executed by the state Sept. 21 for the 1989 shooting death of Savannah Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail.
Davis' case drew worldwide attention and appeals for clemency because of doubt regarding his guilt in light of seven of nine witnesses who recanted or changed their original testimony.
On Friday, when Occupy Atlanta took over Woodruff Park, a handful of participants could be seen wearing "I Am Troy Davis" tee-shirts.
It's not likely the city's parks department will recognize the renaming, however.
A parks department spokeswoman did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Tuesday.
The park is named for Robert W. Woodruff, president of Coca-Cola Co. from 1923 to 1954.
A philanthropist, Woodruff donate the land to the city in 1971 and it was opened as a park two years later.
As for the occupation itself, the group's original permit was only for Friday.
The group said it met with Atlanta police officials and were warned Monday the department would begin enforcing ordinances.
But it's not clear if any arrests have been made as have occured in other Occupy rallies in other cities.
J
8:57 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Well there's stupid and then there's this. And Patch editors; I don't know why you want to soften it up, but most of us refer to a shooting death by it's proper term, MURDER. Troy Davis MURDERED Mark MacPhail.
Samantha Ross
10:33 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
GOD KNOW{J} and it will come out.
Joe Donut
3:07 am on Saturday, October 15, 2011
After doing quite a bit of reading and hearing some of the coerced statements that originally convicted Troy Davis I believe he was innocent, and wrongfully executed by the state.
Wouldn't you agree that it all seems highly improbable? What reason would 7 out of 9 "witnesses" have to recant their original statements?
Justin Ross Huggins
8:12 pm on Saturday, October 15, 2011
What reason would 7 out of 9 witnesses have to lie in the first place... they had more than statements. They also had bullets from a weapon that Troy owned. You can argue both sides... the point is judges in the United States aren't murders. They are put in their position because of their honesty and their promise to make the best decision in ANY court case, regardless of sex, race, etc. The judge that sent him to execution felt there was enough evidence to do so... If you feel you can do better, then go to law school and become a judge yourself. Until then, don't act like you can sit their from your sofa, on your laptop, and think that you could easily assume that he didn't do it because of some recanted stories. The judge had a man's life in his hands... he realized it was not a slap on the wrist.
Dixie Patriot
3:26 pm on Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Whatever the truth may be about a person CONVICTED of murder, a mob cannot arbitrarily rename any public property. The Occupy crowds are socialists and anarchists that condemn the system that gives them the opportunity to succeed. There are only self imposed limitations in America. These are whiny losers who want everything to be handed to them like a baby wanting a bottle.
Griddlebone
12:23 pm on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Yes, He was convicted. That does not mean that he did it. We don't know, but since there were retraction of statements and evidence pointing to the contrary, don't you think there is more of a reason to look into it?
The protectors are not anarchists and socialists. They are fed up with a system that doesnt work. Does it work for you? It worked for me for a while, now it's crap. We are so screw up in laws and loopholes and conspiracy that we may never get out. We need government, but we need public opinion and commentary to carry weight. Right now we don't mean squat. How do we get heard? Email a congressperson? Right, right. Their aid only categorizes it and that official never sees it. Thats how it works. It doesn't.