Troy Davis and Lawrence Brewer

Troy Davis and Lawrence Brewer both died last night, at the hands of the state.

Troy Davis may or may not be innocent of the crime for which he was executed while Lawrence Brewer was unrepentant in his guilt.

Troy Davis was black, Lawrence Brewer white. Troy Davis was convicted of killing a white, off-duty police officer. Lawrence Brewer brutally dragged a black man to his death behind a truck.

Troy Davis' last words were to ask that God have mercy on the souls of those who were about to kill him and that he was innocent. Lawrence Brewer professed that he would kill his victim in the same way again. The victim's family in Davis' case supported his execution, stating that "justice was done". Brewer's victim's son asked that the state grant clemency to the man who murdered his father because you "can't fight murder with murder".

Troy Davis and Lawrence Brewer were decidedly different in life, but in death they are both symbols of a vengeful America. As long as there are Troy Davises on death row, I can't bring myself to find peace in the deaths of the Lawrence Brewers. The death penalty doesn't work. And we should all be ashamed.