Rev. Paul Jakes: “Troy Davis’ death was a modern-day lynching”

Says the struggle for justice continues 

 

By Chinta Strausberg

 

The death of Troy Davis was a “slap in the face to all people of color and all people of good will,” Rev. Paul Jakes, Jr., pastor of the New Tabernacle of Faith Baptist Church said Thursday.

“It was a modern-day lynching that gives the smell of racism like that of the past when they used to hang blacks, when they killed Fred Hampton,” he said.

“The fight continues because it has ignited a consciousness among clergy to work hand-in-hand to impact change to the judicial system and to abolish the death penalty in the United States.”

Jakes said the Baptist General State Convention would convene a think tank to present our legislators with our collective demands to stop the psychological, spiritual and physical killings on death row inmates.”

While Troy Davis is dead, Jakes said the fight continues and that clergy will continue to pray for Davis’ family and the country “that the racism will be ended and the spirit of love will move across the breadth of this country.”

Jakes said the fight must continue because the death penalty is “flawed and should be abolished.” In the interim, Jakes is calling for a state-by-state review of the death penalty he believes is weighed heavily against black people.

“To killed Troy Davis is a miscarriage of justice and the shedding of innocent blood and that is why there should be a review nationwide of the death penalty.”

Once again, said Jakes, “We have a death penalty system that has stained the character of this nation. The blood of Troy Davis is on the hands of all of us and it will never be washed off until we bury this unjust and biased death penalty system.  And for the ones who are responsible for Troy Davis’ death they cannot be Pilot wash their hands from their decision. There must be repentance in the court system, in the legislative areas and across the board.”

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host.