Posted on 09/20/2007 6:22:52 AM PDT by 300magnum
JENA, La. - Traffic jammed the two-lane road leading into the tiny town of Jena early Thursday as thousands of demonstrators gathered in support of six black teens initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate.
The Rev. Al Sharpton said it could be the beginning of the 21st century's civil rights movement, one that would challenge disparities in the justice system.
"You cannot have justice meted out based on who you are rather than what you did," Sharpton told CBS's "The Early Show" Thursday.
The six were charged a few months after the local prosecutor declined to charge three white high school students who hung nooses in a tree on their high school grounds. Five of the black teens were initially charged with attempted murder, but that charge was reduced to battery for all but one, who has yet to be arraigned; the sixth teen was charged as a juvenile.
"This is the most blatant example of disparity in the justice system that we've seen," Sharpton said Thursday. "You can't have two standards of justice. We didn't bring race in it, those that hung the nooses brought the race into it."
District Attorney Reed Walters, breaking a long public silence, denied Wednesday that racism was involved.
He said he didn't prosecute the students accused of hanging the nooses because he could find no Louisiana law under which they could be charged. "I cannot overemphasize what a villainous act that was. The people that did it should be ashamed of what they unleashed on this town," Walters said.
In the beating case, he said, four of the defendants were of adult age under Louisiana law and the only juvenile charged as an adult, Mychal Bell, had a prior criminal record.
"This case has been portrayed by the news media as being about race," he said. "And the fact that it takes place in a small southern town lends itself to that portrayal. But it is not and never has been about race. It is about finding justice for an innocent victim and holding people accountable for their actions."
The white teen who was beaten, Justin Barker, was knocked unconscious, his face badly swollen and bloodied, though he was able to attend a school function later that night.
Bell, 16 at the time of the attack, is the only one of the "Jena Six" to be tried so far. He was convicted on an aggravated second-degree battery count that could have sent him to prison for 15 years, but the conviction was overturned last week when a state appeals court said he should not have been tried as an adult.
Thursday's protest had been planned to coincide with Bell's sentencing, but organizers decided to press ahead even after the conviction was thrown out. Bell remains in jail while prosecutors prepare an appeal. He has been unable to meet the $90,000 bond.
"We all have family members about the age of these guys. We said it could have been one of them. We wanted to try to do something," said Angela Merrick, 36, of Atlanta, who drove with three friends from Atlanta to protest the treatment of the "Jena Six".
The rally was heavily promoted on black Web sites, blogs, radio and publications.
Students came from schools across the region, including historically black colleges like Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Howard University, Hampton University and Southern University.
Tina Cheatham missed the civil rights marches at Selma, Montgomery and Little Rock, but she had no intention of missing another brush with history. The 24-year-old Georgia Southern University graduate drove all night to reach tiny Jena in central Louisiana.
"It was a good chance to be part of something historic since I wasn't around for the civil rights movement. This is kind of the 21st century version of it," she said.
Others supported the effort but worried that it could erode race relations in Jena even further.
"I don't think it will cause any major confrontations," said Odessa Hickman, 72, "but there is probably going to be some friendships lost."
In Jena, with only 3,500 residents, some residents worried about safety. Hotels were booked from as far away as Natchez, Miss., to Alexandria, La.
Red Cross officials manned first aid stations near the local courthouse and had water and snacks on hand. Portable toilets and flashing street signs to aid in traffic direction were in place. At the courthouse troopers chatted amiably with each other and with demonstrators who began showing up well before dawn.
Sharpton, who helped organize the protest, met Bell at the courthouse Wednesday morning. He said Bell is heartened by the show of support and wants to make sure it stays peaceful.
"He doesn't want anything done that would disparage his name — no violence, not even a negative word," Sharpton said.
___
Associated Press writers Michael Kunzelman in Alexandria, La., and Errin Haines in Atlanta contributed to this story.
For someone claiming to be a “Man of God,” Sharpton never mentions anything about “Forgiveness.”
Since Sharpton and the Black community have no intention of forgiving anyone (Where’s the profit in that, Al?), this situation is only going to get worse.
Oh, a protest march...thank goodness. For a second there I thought one of the Bush girls were in trouble again.
The Duke lacrosse players would disagree.
LOL. There's not much money to be made in "forgiveness".
The Jena 6...all articles and time line...
That's why the attempted murder charges were dropped. But Al can't let facts get in the way of a good photo op.
I think Reginald Denny would disagree too.
I found this on a local news forum.
first_name: Jena
last_name: Resident
address1: Jena
city: Jena
state: LA
zip: 71342
Phone_number: 3189920000
age: 18-34
Message: Mystery writer wrote:
I’m not even sure how to start this post, as I joined
this site particularly to respond to this thread. I
decided that it was time that there was a dose of the
facts.
Once upon a time, a school assembly was held to
discuss dress codes at Jena High School. An assembly
was held for the boys, and one for the girls, as the
dress codes do have some differences. As a joke during
the boys’ assembly, a black boy, who is known to
always joke around, asked the principal, “can we sit
under the tree.” There are no boundaries as to where
anyone can or cannot sit at the school. That tree was
a twig when I went there. It grows right smack in the
middle of the school square. Kids tend to congregate
in areas with their friends. Some congregate under the
tree, on the benches, around the “casket,” and other
areas of the school. Blacks and whites are welcome at
any one of those locales. People tend to congregate
where they feel comfortable. That usually is where the
majority of their friends are. However, there is
nothing saying that they cannot go elsewhere. Same is
the case here.
The square at Jena High School has been known for the
center of school spirit and/or pranks for many years.
I’ve seen everything from “funerals” of opponent
football teams to the tree and surrounding area
covered with toilet tissue. Jena High School is known
for themed activities surrounding football games. This
particular week, JHS was playing a team in which the
mascot is Cowboys! Hence, the nooses in the
tree...”hang’em high!” Not for one moment did the
thought of racism cross my mind or the majority of the
others. It was football season. We were playing the
cowboys. The kids, girls and boys, wore boots to
school and had a western themed pep rally! Nooses =
cowboys and horse theives in my world. Maybe I’ve
watched too much Gunsmoke, but racism was not even a
thought. Due to the reaction of ADULTS in the black
community, not the kids at the school, the boys were
suspended. The entire punishment for those boys was
never published because of the confidentiality of the
issue. However, the boys were suspended. They and
their families were required to go to counseling. The
boys had hours of community service. The boys and
their families continue to receive threatening phone
calls, but yet no one has addressed that issue.
In the wee hours of a Thursday morning, arsonists set
fire to Jena High School. The main building burned.
Blacks and whites, alike, wiped tears as their Alma
Mater was for the most part gone! Nothing has been
proven to be related to the noose incident or any
other racially motivated activities.
The weekend after the school burned, a private party
was held in Jena. Invited guests were black and white.
However, some uninvited guests showed up at the party
and wanted to come in. A fight ensued between a white
boy and a black boy. This fueled fights that took
place over the weekend.
A white young man was leaving from a convenience store
that is located on the outskirts of town. As he was
leaving, black boys “jumped” him. He did have a gun in
his truck, as do many of the males that hunt in this
part of the world. When he went to get his gun, the
black boys took the gun from him. Police were called.
Black boys were arrested for stealing the gun and
attacking him. He was not involved at the incident at
the party, nor was he even at the party.
The following Monday, the kids returned to JHS, the
first day after the fire. Emotions were still askew
due to the fire. Everything that was “normal” was not
“normal” any more. There was no intercom system.
Classes were moved all over the remaining part of the
school. It was chaos, but controlled for the most
part.
The students stayed in the gym area during their lunch
break. When the bell rang for them to head back to
class, one of the “Jena six,” cornered a freshmen
white boy in the lobby of the gym. He was trying to
get the boy to fight him. The freshmen boy was clad in
blue jeans and red wing boots, hence the typical “red
neck.” Another black boy, the very SAME one that asked
about sitting under the tree, pulled one of the “Jena
six” away from the boy and told him that there would
be none of that fighting there.
However, that wasn’t enough for same boy. As the
students were returning to class, same “Jena Six” boy,
pulled the hood of his sweatshirt up over his head and
pushed the victim down into a concrete wall. When the
boy hit the concrete, he was knocked unconscious. It
was at this time, that five other boys, joined in and
continued to stomp and kick the boy as he lay
unconscious on the ground. Guess what...the SAME boy
that asked can we sit under the tree, was doing
everything that he could to pull them off of the
victim. The color of his skin is also black! A friend
of the victims managed to lay over the victim until
teachers could get there to break the fight up.
Remember, there was no intercom system, no way to call
for help! The victim was unconscious when he the
ambulance arrived. Hospital records will verify that.
Thank God, he ended up not being hurt any worse than
he was.
On same night of the incidence, the junior class had
their ring ceremony at a local church since the
auditorium of the school was burned. The victim was a
junior and was able to attend the ceremony. His face
was swollen and bruised, but yet he was able to walk
up and get his ring. The audience applauded as his Mom
placed the ring on his finger. One of the Jena six,
was also at this ring ceremony the same night.
So the question that many are asking is was he hurt
badly enough for the “Jena Six” to be charged with
attempted murder? I, for one, am not sure of exactly
what the statutes or guidelines are for determining
charges. However, the extent of one’s injuries does
not have a thing to do with that. Think about it, one
could shoot at someone and miss, and never harm a hair
on their head. That’s just something to think about.
Oh by the way, since there’s already one thing to
think about, here is yet another. Think about the
“black” girl that was consoled by her “white” friends
the day after the fight. She was having to be consoled
because some of the blacks, the color of her own skin,
were threatening her, stating that she was the one
that turned them in. Ask the media to find that girl
and her Mom. There just may be a different twist on
everything.
This is an unfortunate situation for everyone
involved, the kids, their families, the school, and
the community. The community has come together on more
than one occasion with prayer meetings for unity and
harmony in the community. There are consequences for
behaviors. I hope that you will join with us in
praying for consequences to be just.
The moral of this whole story is, do not believe
everything that you here in the media. Remember, there
is more than one side of the story. Unfortunately, the
side that is most news worthy is the one that makes
the news.
Please remember our community in your prayers.
Reply: Please do
No.
"I am a resident of Jena and i have been a resident here all my life. It is really unfortunate that the news only publishes stories that make these young men, the "Jena 6", seem like victims. I happen to know 3 of them and i assure you they are anything but. For instance, i personally witnessed at least three of them jump another black man at a party for no apparnt reason. They succeeded in winning this particular fight, obviously! Later on that same night they sat down the road from where this man lived bragging and taunted him some more on how they really "F*****" him up and did he want some more!! I was there, i witnessed these facts! They are known in their community for stealing out of people's cars and homes...THE BLACK COMMUNITY!!! We had to start locking our cars just to run into the convenience store and pay for gas. The "Jena 6" as they are now known are in fact a group of young hoodlums! They wanted to be known as a gang. They thrived on walking around together intimidating others, blacks and whites alike! Did anyone bother to ask "why" they had a gun pulled on them at the convenience store? First off, they were stealing and YES they were armed. Look im not defending the nooses being hung in the tree at the school, prank or no prank i believe that those 3 white boys should have been expelled. I also believe that the white boy that the "Jena 6" beat up should be expelled for later on bringing a gun to school. I and many others in Jena just want all this to be handled fairly and as peaceful as possible. The whole thing has been blown up so big its really hard to recall what started it. They "all 6" beat up another student until he lay unconscious and continued to beat him! Does it really matter what color they are or this student they beat? Its so funny how all these big city hot shots come here and try to make all this a racial thing when really its not! These same hot shots are saying "We won't leave until we see justice done, we'll keep coming back" and then they ask their supporters to pay them back for gas and lodging. HA! How ridiculous, if they really believed in their cause they would be here reguardless if they were getting paid back are not! Maybe they're just using all this for their own political gain. Whatever the reason i think its sad. The people in Jena are no fools though, there are a few of these phonies that have been told by local blacks not to come back! Good for them! I don't believe anyone wants to see young people go to prison wrongfully accused however, if you do the crime you do the time! "
A gang of black youths, with a history of criminal activity and intimidation, yet they are defended as somehow "victims"?
Typical media hype of "diversity" and "racism".
The sentencing should consider background, and previous conduct, but that seems to never be allowed anymore.
Remember the names of those who are "The Jena 6", as I'm sure in the future they will appear in other cases as criminal defendents. There's a pattern here.
Right, Al! So let's see you supporting some jail time for six black kids BEATING A WHITE KID HALF TO DEATH.
Stuff like this causes backlashes. Backlashes are bad, because it just feeds the beast, and continues the cycle of hatred. But good Lord, can these race-pimping nappy-headed publicity hos just give it a rest already?
}:-)4
Attempted murder charges come when you kick someone in the head while they are down. It’s a standard charge now. There have been too many gang beatdowns these days.
Amen!
LOL, sounds like business is good down there. I wonder who's going to be making money off this. (HINT: the people they're protesting against)LOL.
There is a class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs-partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs.
-Booker T. Washington
A Nation of Islam “minister” was interviewed on a local newscast and he basically said if the Jena 6 were convicted the town of Jena would disappear.
Al thinks gangs beating white kids should be a civil right
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