In 2007, as a student at Agnes Scott, Amnesty International wrote letters to Troy and on behalf of Troy to members of Congress, State Board of Pardons and Parole, and the governor.
By Christmas, I found a letter in my on-campus mail box postmarked Jackson, GA. Troy had personally written me (and Agnes Amnesty) back. He spoke of hope. He spoke of justice. His penmanship is excellent.
In 2008, Troy's case was up. He was set to be executed unless clemency occurred. I taught high school and I both beamed and grimaced as my juniors pulled out cell phones to barage the Board of Pardons and Parole with phone calls. They waited on hold and left messages, they told their friends and families to call too.
That day, 16 and 17-year-old (babies!) signed their names to official typed letters too. These children tasted activism at an age not much younger than Troy when he felt the bonds of conviction.
It's 2011 and those 16 and 17 year olds have lived freely longer than Troy did. An Amnesty Candle's light has been snuffed out. Thousands have posted, protested, called, marched, tweeted-- gotten involved. Black, white, young, old: Troy, you united us.
Tonight, two mothers weep for lost sons. An activism lesson has been taught and an exercise in justice has been witnessed.
I only wish this were a lesson we needed to learn.
