Release of William Jonathan Mayo

WHEREAS, there currently are 7.2 million people in the United States under correctional supervision with over 1.5 million of these incarcerated in prisons, and 766,000 held in jails; and

WHEREAS, William Jonathan Mayo, a senior at Morehouse College was convicted of armed robbery and subsequent thereto witnesses recanted their testimony raising doubts about the reliability of the jury's verdict in this case; and

WHEREAS, similarly, in the Lenell Geter, Troy Davis and Genarlow Wilson cases recanted testimony was at issue in challenged jury verdicts;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP advocate for state and federal legislation that provides for an automatic new trial when a person is convicted at a jury trial, and subsequent thereto a witness testifying for the prosecution at that criminal trial recants his testimony; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP advocate for the legislatures to provide periodic reviews of the impact of this new law and issue periodic reports to the public.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that NAACP National, State and local units advocate for freedom in the cases of Troy Davis and William J. Mayo.