I am Troy Davis

1. I am Troy Davis 

I am Troy Davis. I am Troy Davis. 
I am Troy Davis!

These words still haunt me. These words were my first real insight into digital activism (although at the time I had no idea what it was or meant).  I am Troy Davis started appearing in my newsfeeds on Facebook. At first I turned a blind eye, after all this was just another of the many ‘trendy’ gimmicks that people all over the net were partaking in, like a short and thankfully brief stage, where everyone seemed to be saying on Facebook that they were a goat (and I still don’t understand that one).

I am Troy Davis was different, it persisted, it gained momentum. My interest was tweaked and I decided to see what all the fuss was about. 

I am Troy Davis stemmed from an Amnesty International campaign to abolish the death penalty. The case was highlighted by the impending execution of Troy Davis who despite a magnitude of doubts about his guilt (including recantations from witnesses) was executed by the State of Georgia USA on September 21, 2011.

People all over the world began wearing ‘I am Troy Davis’ t-shirts and uploading I am Troy Davis videos and messages to the Internet. These simple words were profound, not only did they highlight an event that was occurring on the other side of the world but they hit home – I am Troy Davis – this could be me – this miscarriage of justice could happen to anyone.

I made the conscious decision to join the movement. I ‘liked’ Amnesty Internationals Facebook page. I signed the Not in My Name pledge . I signed the change.org petition to stop the unjust execution  of Troy Davis. I changed my profile picture and kept my status updates going.  But did I accomplish anything. Whilst Troy Davis was executed and that can never be undone, my actions and those of the millions of other digital activists out there made this story newsworthy. We bought it to the attention of the world, we were one voice, across many countries and races united to bring about the end of miscarriages of justice. Whilst our actions may not have spared Troy Davis’s life it may yet in the future change someone else’s. 

"Thousands of people around the world have lent their voices to the movement to save Troy Davis' life and demand that the state never executes where doubt exists. Marching with the mantra "I Am Troy Davis," these activists and advocates know that when justice is denied to one, when one innocent person can be killed by the state, then justice is denied to all and we are all Troy Davis (Clark, James 2011).

2 Who changes power dynamics more

The world landscape has shifted and changed. Where once being an activist meant getting out there and actively engaging through writing, protesting, hunger strikes, boycotts and the like we now find ourselves becoming activists simply by clicking a like button. The act of liking and sharing brings causes to the forefront of the digital world. Where once our actions may have had an effect on our immediate space, the digital world has enabled our actions and causes to become global in the space of minutes. this simple action has an immediate and large scale effect.  

This has led me to wonder if the digital activism of today is effective or are we just passive conductors making little or no impact on these causes. Forever an optimist I choose to believe that my actions in digital activism and those of others do make a difference and do bring to the world wide communities attention those things that matter to us. Perhaps the world has forever changed, as countries  governments, communities and individuals we are now judged globally- the social consciences of the world now has a voice through digital activism.

References:
Clark, James 2011, I am Troy Davis, Huffingtonpost.com, viewed 3 January 2013 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-clark/troy-davis-georgia-_b_858814.html

1. I  am Troy Davis, Imagehttp://www.vancouverobserver.com/sites/vancouverobserver.com/files/imagecache/top_image_500w/images/blog/body/troy-davis.jpg
2. Who changes power dynamics more,http://www.meta-activism.org/2010/03/digital-activism-power-series-1-faces-of-power/