[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 188 (Thursday, December 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2217-E2218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MOURNING THE LOSS OF MARTINA DAVIS-CORREIA, SISTER OF TROY ANTHONY 
                                 DAVIS

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2011

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today with a 
heavy heart. Martina Davis-Correia, the older sister of executed 
Georgia prisoner, Troy Anthony Davis, died last week in Savannah. She 
was the most outspoken advocate of the ``I Am Troy Davis'' clemency 
campaign, which spread to countries all around the world. Correia 
traveled far and wide to any group that would give an ear in a 
strenuous effort to save her brother's life. Despite several 
commutations of his sentence, Davis was killed by lethal injection in 
Georgia in September of this year. The Davis case has helped turn the 
tide of public opinion in the struggle for repeal of the death penalty.
  I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Martina Davis-
Correia. The agony of this death sentence and execution has killed not 
just one man, but has decimated an entire nuclear family. After 22 
years of struggle, Davis's mother died in the spring, her son

[[Page E2218]]

was killed by the state of Georgia in September, and now her daughter 
has died. Correia was a brave and courageous woman who was her 
brother's most stalwart advocate for clemency. She was an angel of 
mercy who sacrificed her health to win her brother's life.
  For a state which could have used its power to do what is right, the 
outcome is tragic. But for the Davis family, if it had to be this way, 
it is an elegant ending. God has finally accomplished what the state of 
Georgia could not. In his mercy he granted their prayers to be all 
together again--happy, healed and whole. They leave us the lessons of 
their lives and a legacy of struggle that strengthened a movement for 
repeal of the death penalty in this country. I send my deepest 
condolences to the Davis family and to Martina Correia's son, who needs 
our support in this time. May God richly bless you for the sacrifice 
you as a family have made in the long, hard struggle for justice in 
America.

                          ____________________