Vigil for Troy Davis at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco, 9/21/11: video and photos

With barely two weeks' public notice, the state of Georgia scheduled Troy Davis' execution for 7pm EST (4pm PST) on September 21st, 2011. After a million people signed petitions and countless others made phone calls trying to prevent the execution to no avail, on the day of the scheduled execution anti-death penalty advocates gathered for vigils at Georgia's death row prison in Jackson, Georgia, and in cities across the United States. In the Bay Area, a vigil was held at Justin Herman plaza in San Francisco. [Video below.] Supporters sang, spoke out against the continued existence of the death penalty in this country, and read from a letter that Troy Davis had written. Before the execution was set to commence, supporters formed a large circle, holding hands and waiting in silence. As 4pm PST came and went, there was no news yet of the execution having been carried out. Word of a delay or possible stay in the execution from the U.S. Supreme Court rang through the plaza to cheers and tears of joy. People moved in around a smart phone played through a megaphone to listen to a live broadcast of Democracy Now! for news updates. It soon became clear that the delay was simply a temporary reprieve while the Supreme Court considered the matter further, not a full stay of execution. Hours later, the Supreme Court issued its decision that the request for a stay of execution from Troy Davis' legal representatives was denied. The state of Georgia then proceeded with the execution and Troy Davis was pronounced dead at 11:08 EST.