Troy Davis, Race And The Death Penalty

This week the execution of Troy Davis in Georgia stirred up a huge national discussion on the nature of the death penalty. Colorlines created an interesting graphic highlighting how races figures into the death penalty, including the fact that the death penalty is more likely to be meted out if a victim is white.

According to Colorlines, 7% of those executed under the death penalty are Latino, and as we previously reported, there are about 100 Latin Americans currently on death row in the U.S. The Troy Davis case certainly highlighted how race, and the moral characteristics we assign to people of different races, are ever important in our society.

What are your thoughts on the subject?

Los Angeles-based cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz shared his work with us on the subject, check out more of his work on his new website.

[Photo By GA St. Dept of Corrections]