Jena 6 -- NAACP Immediate Release

(We'll be there and will let ya'll know how it goes!)

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 10, 2007
Contact: Richard J. McIntire
(410) 580-5787

NAACP COORDINATES ACTIVITIES AROUND JENA SENTENCING ON SEPT. 20
America rallies as Bell, other defendants face lengthy prison sentences

The NAACP is working with numerous groups, individuals, local, state and federal officials to coordinate demonstration activities related to Mychal Bell’s sentencing in two weeks. A march, rally and town hall meeting are being planned for that day.

Thousands are expected to converge on Jena, La. and the LaSalle Parish Courthouse Sept. 20 as defendant Mychal Bell is sentenced for his role in an altercation with a classmate following a series of racial incidents in the town of 3,000 after three nooses were hung in a tree at the local high school.

In the last year, Bell, 17, who remains incarcerated, and five others-- Robert Bailey Jr., 17; Theo Shaw, 17; Carwin Jones, 18; Bryant Purvis, 17; and a minor--faced overly aggressive prosecution, extended incarceration and are being charged with serious criminal conduct offenses that could lead to many years of imprisonment.

On Sept. 20, “March on Jena” participants are asked to convene at Ward 10 Recreation Park in Jena starting at 7 a.m. where instructions for the day will be given. Prayers will follow the 8:15 a.m. march to the courthouse before the judicial proceedings begin. Following the sentencing a support rally will be held at the park around 11 a.m. That evening a town hall meeting focusing on education and criminal justice disparities in the U.S. will be held at 7 p.m. in Alexandria, La.

NAACP officials will present petitions to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen B. Blanco at Noon on Sept. 19 at the State Capitol. The thousands of signatures are a symbol of those across the nation that are concerned with the unequal treatment of the defendants and the disturbing climate that led to an escalation of events in the southern town. Individuals are urged to sign the petition found online at www.naacp.org up until that time.

The NAACP has gathered a team of pro bono attorneys to assist in Bell’s appeal and the defense of the remaining young men. Activity updates and information on contributing to the Jena 6 Legal Defense Fund can be found online at www.naacp.org or by calling toll free (888) 362-8683.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.
###

I can't believe this case is being brought in 2007. We can do so much better than this. And, we will.

:kick:

I so hope this sees more daylight.

Stillcool, you are always there when something needs saying!

I can't find any reference to what they think a just sentence should be, anyone know?

I believe that if you go to democracynow.org and use their search engine, they have multiple sound reports.

fwiw.

Schoolyard fight is probably a bit of understatement, but aggravated assault (let alone attempted murder) is clearly an charge.

What does the NAACP hope to produce from the rally? A Pardon? Probation? 1 month incarceration? 1 year? Its really not clear.

the fact that someone put up lynching nooses on a public campus.

Does someone have to be gravely injured or dead before its no longer a schoolyard incident? :shrug:

Black students were threatened with lynching because they SAT ON A LAWN.

And then, when they objected, the DA threatened their personal freedom. The DA threatened KIDS because they were UPPITY.

Geezus on a trailer hitch. I AM SO ASHAMED OF THIS COUNTRY.

Please don't ever defend racist assholes to me again.

/can't type when you're this mad. :grr:

I understand the mistreatment of the black students by school administrators, by police, and by the DA all led up to several black students kicking the shit out of the white student. There needs to be consequences for white people in Jena too. Perhaps if there had been, the beating of the white student and the charges against the black students never would have happened.

I did not defend any racist practice. What did you imagine I wrote?

All I did was ask if anyone knew the NAACP position on what the sentence of Bell should be? If you don't know, fine, say you don't know, but diminishing the racist climate, lack of proper responses by authorities, and violence as a simple "school yard fight" is strange by my way of thinking.

I'm sorry to be grumpy but that wasn't MISTREATMENT. That was death threats on wheels.

Death threats. How would you have reacted to DEATH THREATS when you were in high school?

that there is strong potential evidence that the person convicted in this case may have not committed any crime at all. That is one of the things the NAACP is looking in to

I replied to the person you were replying to.

Opps

very well. I was off having a hissyfit. :hi:

actually adjudicated on two previous battery charges. I'm inclined to give the jury the benefit of the doubt.

other than he has been convicted

http://www.minglecity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=996

Start here. There is compelling evidence that he didn't do it. And no I'm not going to give the benefit to an all white jury that has been presented with a rigged case.

Maybe you can but I can't.

Since you are so steeped in the facts, please list the compelling evidence that Bell never struck Barker.

The only thing I read, by my way of thinking, is that there was possibly reasonable doubt in the testimony, evidence, and Bell's guilt. Thats of course very different than saying there is proof he didn't assault Barker. Yes, I give jurors the benefit of the doubt because I wasn't in the court room and don't have a trial transcript. So I ask, what is this evidence that you speak of?

So let's see.

I'm supposed to accept the fact:

that in a predominantly white town
where the concept of a white tree was endorsed and accepted
where there was defacto integration at same school
Where White kids committing similar offenses didn't get charged
Where when the incident came to a head, the DA threatened only the Black kids
Where the DA is the attorney for the school board as well as being the DA
Where the only eyewitness testifying that Mychal Bell kicked Justin Cooper was the same kid who hung the nooses after the sit down
Where a girl who couldn't remember 2 days after the incident who threw the first punch remembers at the time of trial that it was Mychal and oh yeah, her dad, the only White man on the jury, graduated with the dad of the accuser

That I should accept the verdict.

Well I'm civil and I'll agree to disagree. This thing stinks to high heaven and I don't need a court transcript to tell me that. This is an area that supported David Dukes in quite a few elections so I'd rather not believe that they checked the very beliefs that caused them to vote for him at the door when they signed up for the jury.

Sometimes it's not enough to look at the result of a process sometimes, wehn seeking justice you have to look at the process itself.
Peace

Yes, there were many severe racial injustices in Jena. White students and youths were not and are not held to the same standard as black youths.

The trial was handled in a very strange manner (lots of connections to witnesses and jurors) and the defense attorney didn't do anything to help his client.

Its true that some people said they didn't see Bell hit the student, but the problem is that's different from saying "I saw all the violent blows and none came from Bell". A few students saying, "I didn't see Bell hit the student" is not what I would call compelling evidence, but you're right that it was evidence.

I you think there should not have been a conviction, then so be it. I'm not sure. I am sure that white youths need to be held to the same standard.

I can not speak for the NAACP.

I am sure that we will hear the NAACP position at the protest and rally on the 20th.

As for me, I think that the charges against the remaining students should be dropped.

I think that the DA should step down or recuse himself or at least apologize for threatening the black students he spoke to in the high school gym.

As for young Mr. Bell, I think he deserves a new trial (on the over charge or at least on lessor charges) or to have his conviction reversed.

I wish there was a federal agency charged with determining whether or not the US Department of Justice was correct in its determination that the hanging nooses were not evidence of a hate crime.

I hope that Democratic Louisiana Gov. Blanco, who is not running for re-election, will do something to help out the town and people of Jena and Louisiana.

And I hope that Democratic Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu and her brother, Democratic Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, who are both running for re-election, will do something to help out the town and people of Jena and Louisiana.

In Jena tennis shoes are considered deadly weapons.

There was a time when we seemed to be moving in the direction of negotiating diversity. Even Lyndon Johnson, to his eternal credit, saw it and moved on it. And he was a good old boy from a racist culture. But, he went there, ANYWAY.

What the HELL is the matter with us -- that we can allow these kids to endure this so obviously UNF#CKING UNJUST ruling?

Where are we? Where do we find ourselves? What is the MATTER with us?

The Republican party couldn't exist without racism. It's their widest plank.

Are we just going to passively ignore that?

You know, the day Toni Morrison got her Nobel prize for Beloved, academia spazzed out and did a complete reorganization. I guess the rest of our retrograde culture is still catching up.


:grr:

I am so looking forward to the sea of Jena 6 shirts at the protest that are now banned at the high school.
Shoes - dangerous weapon.
Shirts - inflammatory.
Nooses - silly prank.

hope there's a SEA of them.

We spoke last night about printing more to raise funds for water and emergency supplies for the marchers.
I think that those who don't have them will probably just make their own.

today and get one of those iron on thingies.

Don't you love them?

I'll have on a dark suit.
I know, I know...September in Louisiana...hot, hot, hot.
:)

FYI- I thought you would find this email by Sen. Landrieu post-dismissal of Bell's remaining charges interesting:
Subject: Landrieu Calls for Reconciliation Following Jena 6
Dismissal

For Immediate Release
September 14, 2007

Sen. Landrieu Calls for Reconciliation Following Dismissal of Jena 6
Conviction
Requests Justice Dept. Review of Cases

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today
called for reconciliation and clarity in the case of six African-American
high school students accused of assaulting a white classmate following
months of racially motivated incidents at their Jena, Louisiana, high
school. The June conviction of one of the students, 17-year-old Mychal
Bell, on a reduced charge of aggravated assault was earlier this afternoon
overturned by the Louisiana Court of Appeals.
"There remains unsettled allegations of unfair treatment of
those indicted," Sen. Landrieu wrote in a letter today to the U.S.
Department of Justice. "These allegations have divided the community and
caused concern throughout Louisiana and the country.
"I believe that the charges and counter-charges have left
everyone unsure and uneasy. In order to attain real reconciliation in Jena,
we need to bring clarity to the facts of these allegations and to the
handling of all events leading up to the assault. I believe it is
appropriate for the Department of Justice to conduct a thorough review of
these cases and establish a comprehensive public record of the facts. It is
vital for the people of Jena, my state and our nation to have full
confidence that justice has been served in this matter."

It's my toenails. When the tennis shoes come off!

Must be the "nails"!

The white boy who was assulted attended a school function that evening. It should be treated like any other high school scrap. I was in a few myself and there were never any arrests or charges. We got suspended for a few days, that's it.

:kick:

I thought I saw a report on the tube where it said the victim was in intensive care and almost died.

Teevee news is a scam.

Have been pretty fair on their reporting.
Star Jones had two of the mothers of the Jena 6 on as her guests.
CNN and MSNBC both had the mother of the victim with photos taken after the alleged incident.
The mother did not say whether or not his injuries prevented him from going out that night.

Hanging nooses = silly prank.
Hit on the head with a tennis shoe = attempted murder.

wrestling a firearm away from an assailant and not giving it back = theft

Please let us know how we can help!!

I was blown away yesterday when the main stream media reported on the hanging noose at a University. The University is investigating it as a hate crime.
In Jena, after three nooses were hung in the prominent (now cut down) tree on the high school campus, the administration called it a "silly prank" and Gonzo's Department of Justice decided it was not a hate crime.
Amazing.

Thanks, Annie.

:kick:

together.

We HAVE TO FIGHT THIS. The relatively small number of drooling racists we are saddled with CANNOT BE ALLOWED to determine our domestic policy.

Thanks for your voice.

:kick:

But, there is a lot of "it" here in Louisiana and I suspect in a lot of other places.
Just not reported.

EVERYONE knows this is racist bigotry.

We can do so much better than this.

:kick:

Because, you know, one noose just doesn't get the point across as well as three.

media on this? I only heard about it on Bill Maher last Friday night. There is just so much crap being reported that there literally isn't room for the important issues.

K&R

It is amazing how quiet the media is about this

I'd love to see the corporate media cover it, too, but if that's where you're getting your news, you're missing more stories than this one!

i think Amy has done 3 shows semi-devoted to the Jena 6... i'm sure everyone can listen from the archives...

July 10th, August 1st, Aug 31st... came up on a search at:

www.democracynow.org

A great alternative to every thing else.
:)

how to stay afloat as real people stop consuming their product.

What a dilemna. :sarcasm:

this is happening.

Please, let's keep objecting to this complete miscarriage of justice.

:mad:

:kick:

Thank you for posting this. I have been waiting for this news to hit DU for some time now. This is a horrible horrible injustice. Believe me DU'ers racism is very much alive and kicking in 2007. We have to stop throwing our young men away. Sad Sad:cry:

Others have been posting about the Jena 6 at DU, but the story just wasn't as great as other stuff going on.
We need all of our young men and women to be safe.
Dr. Martin Luther King knew it and spoke about it regarding Vietnam.
Racism and economic injustice and war.
They go hand in hand.
Bush and Katrina and Iraq/Afghanistan.
Hand in hand.

Rmember, you never have to wait for anything to hit DU. You can always hit DU with it yourself. :)

And welcome to DU! :hi:

I hope there's a HUGE demonstration. This crap cannot be allowed!:(

K & R!

Already we're being told to take busses into Jena because there will be no place to park.
I love going to protests where they tell you ahead of time that there will be no place to park!

I did send a donation to the NAACP today.

Another anonymous person requested the address of the Louisiana NAACP to help with the cost of caring for the marchers. Four miles in Louisiana in September is a long, hot march for some of the old timers!

The charge is attempted murder of a white kid that went to a school function after the "attempted murder"?

That simply can not be correct.

When someone attempted to murder me, the only function I could attend for the next six + months was a doctor's appointment.

K&R!

it is very correct. The lethal wepon....tennis shoes!!!! There were several racial incedents leading up to this fight, and yes, the white kid was at a school function THAT NIGHT.

Glad to be here

I just got back from signing the petition and still couldn't believe it when the facts were there in black and white.

:grr:

Does anyone know?

The petition is here:

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/2446/t/1373/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=10

You can read more (which I am doing now) here:

http://www.naacp.org/home/index.htm

This is insane!

Thanks!!!! I did hear that the families of the boys that were accused in the Duke LaCrosse case have gone to Jena to show their support also. When I heard that, it made me cry.

F#ck that.

I have no words for this. And it takes a LOT to shut me up.

my brain keeps saying...

This does not compute! This does not compute! This does not compute!

This is where we're headed if we don't object and loudly.

I'm also glad the NAACP (national and local chapter) is involved w/this.

I'm in the midst of reading about the July townhall meeting now.

there are PLENTY of people right here on DU who need to

"wait for the facts"

and

"hear both sides of the story"

and who INSIST

"something must have happened"

This is NOT the DU I joined way back when. We've been invaded by suspiciously "suspicious" trolls. They're "concerned"- about the MoveOn ad. They're overly cautious, as though showing a spine and speaking the language the republican troglodytes speak just so we can be understood by them is "sinking to their level".

Well, DUH. We *have* to sink to their level to be understood. If all they understand is emotional attacks, we MUST USE emotional attacks, or risk our own message being misunderstood or ignored.

How completely stupid can people be? I mean, geez... some people trolls here WANT us to lose- and some of them have post counts in the tens of thousands. Trolls can be clever and tricksy and have something precious in their pocketses.

I think we need to start pushing emotional buttons, and the MoveOn ad was a good way to start. Just look at how vociferously they started protesting this ad. Why, one would think MoveOn hit a nerve or something!

were threatened with LYNCHING?

What is the MATTER with us?

edit for pg13

I signed the petition, had to wait until I calmed down, read, had to wait till I calmed down and after I recommended the thread I started to read the responses, had to wait till I calmed down and am now able to respond. My health or finances prohibit me from attending the protest but I sent a small donation and my whole address book, including the neocon members of my family, got the link and a request to sign the petition.

100%

I don't know why people are so enthralled by the 'official version' of controversial events... have we learned so little?

Aside from the fact that the adults in charge let this thing fester and simmer

There was only one witness at his trial who identified Mychal Bell as the person who kicked the victim as he lay on the ground: Justin Cooper. Do you know who he is? He is one of the students who hung the nooses that aggravated an already tense situation.

One of the witnesses who testified that Mychal Bell threw the first punch in this fight couldn't remember who did so 2 days later when questioned by police. However, as time passed "she remembered more". Her name is Jessica Hooter and her father, the only male member of an all white jury, graduated from school with the father of the victim.

An coach at the school, Benjy Lewis, gave signed statements immediately after the incident and swore that Malcom Shaw not Mychal Bell was the person that struck Justin Cooper and that Cooper was not gang attacked but knocked out cold by a single punch. Yet My Lewis was never called as a witness at trial.

Read more at this link:

http://www.minglecity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=996

So everyone who questions what the proper punishment should be should take a step back and question whether th person convicted actually did anything at all.


edited for spelling and grammer

Thanks for posting this information.

lol

Thank you, my dear great DU.

A lot of DUers have been posting information on the Jena 6.
Each time, I watch the threads fall to the bottom of the next page and the next.
One thread was even locked.

I have a few articles about the Jena 6 saved to my journal.
If you have the time, read about students being told that they can not wear shirts supporting the Jena 6. And there was no school dress code.

I expect this to be a very large protest.
I am very excited to be going.
It is rare that you have so many different groups and organizations and individuals getting together on the SAME day AND in the SAME place to protest and educate about ONE thing.

We are having a Louisiana NAACP conference call with National NAACP tonight about the protest. I'll let you know if I find out anything new.

Thanks again for kicking this.
I've been out all day.

We don't back off, we don't sit down.

Go, Anita!

I think very highly of the NAACP. When my nephew was attacked in a gang of racists, the NAACP provided a lot of support to my family. They do a lot of important work.

That is just one reason why the NAACP is the oldest Civil Rights organization in the world.

The NAACP has been on the forefront of so many efforts. We are hugely in their debt.

:kick:

:)

Thank you for posting this.

In solidarity with Louisiana and New Orleans and the entire Gulf Coast.
Thank you.

:kick:

:wtf:

I can't believe there would be this much open and unabashed bigotry in 2006! To say this is injustice is an understatement to say the least.

K&R
:mad:

I fear that we'll be hearing about more nooses hanging in trees.
Some people are really sick.

Santa Fe (New Mexico) (Vandalism)
Published on 04-26-2005
Four teenage boys were charged with spray-painting swastikas and racial slurs, burning a cross and leaving a noose on a tree at a black woman's residence.

This is in "progressive" Santa Fe, too. Hanging nooses seems to be the new "cross burning" tactic. How anyone can question whether hanging a noose is hate speech or not is beyond me. :crazy: Now we've got nooses hanging on the U of Maryland campus. If this doesn't get nipped in the bud, and soon, it'll be sending a message for this crap to continue.

As an aside, you can find out what organized hate groups are doing in your state here:

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp

I'm almost certain that we'll get more, especially around here.

It is sick.

I do not want to explain to my daughter why a noose is hanging in a tree.

You better not have used your tennis shoe!

Apparently I can't negotiate between concern and blowhard.

lol

Look out!

:kick:

Thousands are expected to show up.

State police have now confirmed that people will be allowed to drive their cars into Jena.
A few days ago there was a rumor that no cars were going to be allowed in.
Now the State Police are limiting parking of cars only. Driving of cars will be allowed.

There are only two ways into and out of Jena.
I'm having this premonition of a giant drive through.
Cars allowed to go into and then out after a two hour traffic jam through town.

The march is going to be 4 miles long.
New rumor is that there is to be no noise outside the capital once court starts at 9:00 AM.
I'll have an update on the noise rumor tomorrow.

I'll look for your red hair.

I'll be with Garcia, Sr.!
I look forward to it too!

Anita - I know what a good job the NAACP does in our area. I intend to be there on September 20th to rally against the racist "law-enforcement system." Ya'll keep up the good work!

:)

Thanks for posting.
We're going down the night before.
Glad to know that you will be there, too!

I thought you would find this email from Sen. Landrieu post-dismissal of Bell's remaining charges by the Court of Appeal interesting:
Subject: Landrieu Calls for Reconciliation Following Jena 6
Dismissal

For Immediate Release
September 14, 2007

Sen. Landrieu Calls for Reconciliation Following Dismissal of Jena 6
Conviction
Requests Justice Dept. Review of Cases

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today
called for reconciliation and clarity in the case of six African-American
high school students accused of assaulting a white classmate following
months of racially motivated incidents at their Jena, Louisiana, high
school. The June conviction of one of the students, 17-year-old Mychal
Bell, on a reduced charge of aggravated assault was earlier this afternoon
overturned by the Louisiana Court of Appeals.
"There remains unsettled allegations of unfair treatment of
those indicted," Sen. Landrieu wrote in a letter today to the U.S.
Department of Justice. "These allegations have divided the community and
caused concern throughout Louisiana and the country.
"I believe that the charges and counter-charges have left
everyone unsure and uneasy. In order to attain real reconciliation in Jena,
we need to bring clarity to the facts of these allegations and to the
handling of all events leading up to the assault. I believe it is
appropriate for the Department of Justice to conduct a thorough review of
these cases and establish a comprehensive public record of the facts. It is
vital for the people of Jena, my state and our nation to have full
confidence that justice has been served in this matter."

It continues:
http://www.pursuingholiness.com/2007/06/26/jena-6-update/


Such appalling, blatant racism. I hope they end up OWNING that town. :mad:

Silly prank?
Short sheeting a bed a camp is a silly prank.
Making someone laugh while drinking milk is a silly prank.
Rolling someone's house with toilet paper; sticking someone's hand in warm water while they sleep; or throwing a shaving cream pie in someone's face are NOT silly pranks, although a lot of kids used to do that.

Hanging a noose in a tree is neither silly nor a prank.

The adults in charge either have a warped sense of humor or they have not learned any lessons from the past.

These are the individuals who should be held responsible for the attention that Jena is receiving.

And I venture a guess that these are the same individuals who are angry that so many "outsiders" are in Jena at this very moment.

Thank you.

As of today, September 12th, Democratic Louisiana Gov. Blanco, who is not running for re-election, has not responded publicly to what is happening in Jena.

I am so pleased that so many people are planning on showing up in Jena on the 20th and that so many people have responded on line.

The NAACP petition had 20,000 signatures last week. It is now up to 40,000.

Protests and rallies and petitions do work.
They educate and they send a message.

I hope the 20th forces the Gov. to do something; to say something.

I'll do whatever I can.
Just let me know.

and weigh in. Then, we hound them until the calls get made

lol

Who are running for re-election in Louisiana.

Maybe we should also post links to Foster Campbell and Walter Boasso who are Democrats running for Gov. of Louisiana and Bobby Jindal (Republican and front runner) who is also running and let's not forget Sen. David Vitter - although I suspect he is too "involved" in other "things" right now.
:)

I thought you would find this email from Sen. Landrieu post-dismissal of Bell's remaining charges interesting:
Subject: Landrieu Calls for Reconciliation Following Jena 6
Dismissal

For Immediate Release
September 14, 2007

Sen. Landrieu Calls for Reconciliation Following Dismissal of Jena 6
Conviction
Requests Justice Dept. Review of Cases

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today
called for reconciliation and clarity in the case of six African-American
high school students accused of assaulting a white classmate following
months of racially motivated incidents at their Jena, Louisiana, high
school. The June conviction of one of the students, 17-year-old Mychal
Bell, on a reduced charge of aggravated assault was earlier this afternoon
overturned by the Louisiana Court of Appeals.
"There remains unsettled allegations of unfair treatment of
those indicted," Sen. Landrieu wrote in a letter today to the U.S.
Department of Justice. "These allegations have divided the community and
caused concern throughout Louisiana and the country.
"I believe that the charges and counter-charges have left
everyone unsure and uneasy. In order to attain real reconciliation in Jena,
we need to bring clarity to the facts of these allegations and to the
handling of all events leading up to the assault. I believe it is
appropriate for the Department of Justice to conduct a thorough review of
these cases and establish a comprehensive public record of the facts. It is
vital for the people of Jena, my state and our nation to have full
confidence that justice has been served in this matter."

But I listen to all the radio personalities that have taken a leadership role in putting this together.

Apparently she has spoken to someone involved in the case and her position is that she is going to wait until th disposition of several legal motions before she decides what actionto take

can not attend, would at least like to sign the petition, and let Governor Blanco know we are all watching her in-action to the continued injustice she condones through her governance, and lack thereof.
http://www.naacp.org/home/index.htm

NAACP is going to keep it up until the very last minute to get as many signatures as possible before the march.
Thanks for posting the link.
I also hope that Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La) and her brother, Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu (D) will also take notice. They are both up for re-election.

Now that everyone is looking into the Jena 6 cases, I hope that some protesters will take the time to understand why the DA felt he could makes these type of charges stick.

His actions are the SAME as other DAs around the country and in some odd way, less punitive.

The Jena 6 cases points to:

• The power that DAs AROUND THIS COUNTRY have to extort pleas. If Mychal Bell had made a plea deal with the DA and turn state evidence on the other Jena 6, I think that these boys may have been in prison long before the country became aware of what happened in Jena.
  
  
• How DAs give poor defendants the Hobson Choice. The Hobson Choice means, either plead guilty and receive a light sentence, or insist on your right to trial by jury and receive an immensely longer sentence.
  
  
• The DAs advantage to use a widely accepted tactic where the DA can violate the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution of indigent defendants. Most notably, in this case, the bonds for the Jena 6 were set so high that their families could not make bail.
  
  
• There are thousands of indigent Americans languishing in jails across the country because judges have ignored the fact that the Eighth Amendment forbids extreme sentences that are ‘grossly disproportionate’ to the crime.

I feel compelled to say this because I have met during this Jena 6 saga so MANY teary mothers who have not been able to get the publics' attention for their sons and daughters horror stories who deserve notice.

That is one reason I am so excited that so many are supposed to turn up in Jena from outside of Louisiana.

I hope that each of these "outsiders" (the term being used by some who live in Jena) will take home with them greater passion and courage to fight for the rights of their neighbors who are also suffering from this type of injustice.

for the teenagers, but also as a way of bringing attention to the crisis of the Prison Industrial Complex.

Every single person that I've talked to have identified with the parents. They live in fear that their child can/will be targeted by corrupt officials.
Hopefully our visit to Jena, LA. can help raise the publics' awareness to this serious problem in this country.

Juvenile correction facility closed due to bad behavior of officials and administrators then reopened as a temporary adult facitly to house inmates post-Katrina who have alleged bad behavior of officials and administrators.
Jena - not so nice.

if the white kids are charged in their assult too. But attempted murder? The "victim" walked out of the hospital ER the same day!

He was charged with attempted murder. The deadly weapon he allegedly used: a tennis shoe.
But, as bronxboy has pointed out in earlier posts, there is evidence that he might not be the individual involved and that a tennis shoe might not have been used.

Rush to judgment. In this case it smells like racism.

Why has no one demanded intervention by the Justice Department in this? There should be prosecution under the Color of Law provisions. And possibly under the federal hate crimes provisions. The wrong people are being prosecuted. They are being prosecuted simply because of the color of their skin.

This district attorney should be removed from office and prosecuted by the Justice Department. What he has done is blatant violation of every concept of civil rights in this country as reflected by the Civil Rights Act and the Color of Law provisions.

And that tree should be cut down to signal to the "whites" that prejudice is not allowed in this country. People who hold on to symbols of prejudice do so only to continue the prejudice.

This has become such a horrible reflection of the reality of racism in this country. Of the ongoing racism. This on top of New Orleans. Where is the outrage but more importantly where is the Justice Department?

And it's Bush's justice department

Our Justice Department went to Jena after the Jena 6 cases and said they could find no violation in the way Jena High School authorities have handled things and found the authorities in Jena procedures were ‘regular’.

Yet, the Justice department has been to Jena to SHUTDOWN the Jena Juvenile Correctional Center for Youth due to widespread brutality and racism. And, again, the Justice Department had to investigate Jena when prisoners from New Orleans after Katrina was placed in the closed Juvenile facility after brutality complaints.

Why this DA is not facing charges of intimidation and civil rights violation is a mystery to me. The Jena DA’s overreach and abuse of his office under the color of law is former Durham DA Nifong on steroids!

The "whites only" tree was cut down.

I am pleased the tree is gone. Now the other one needs to go. The one in the White House. It makes you ashamed to be an American reading this. It's as if the Justice Department has said that the Civil Rights Act means nothing, the Constitution means nothing. I guess in fact neither do. Not as long as Bush is in the White House. His father of course voted against the Civil Rights Act when he was a congressman from Texas. Like father, like son.

So, broken that the DOJ Civil Rights division was used for voter suppression. This why Conyers' judiciary investigations into the DOJ is important to me, to reveal the voter suppression.

Not only in Jena but also in Gretna.

Saying it deserved a "kick" didn't seem tasteful. I did recommend as well.

but it is. x(






Say 'hi' to Buddy for me. :hi:

I hope I can come see your film debut, if my schedule permits. :hug:

with the black and white teevee, formica and turqoise sectionals of my childhood. What a terrible reality check. And for kids to be the targets makes it worse.

They are poetic and true.

He's at the office.
He just won a "NG" about two hours ago!
Very excited.
Sick as a dog with whatever it is that is going around that everybody has.
I think it's the mosquito spray or maybe a mold flare up.
It's too muggy and rainy here to be allergies.

I think the movie will play Sunday night, October 7th at the Ozone Festival in Covington outside on Columbia Street.
Brian Stoltz is also playing that night in Covington for the Festival.
Should be great!
I hope you (and everyone) can make it!

I thought that you would find this email from Sen. Landrieu interesting.
She mailed this AFTER the dismissal of Bell's remaining charges by the Court of Appeal:
Subject: Landrieu Calls for Reconciliation Following Jena 6
Dismissal

For Immediate Release
September 14, 2007

Sen. Landrieu Calls for Reconciliation Following Dismissal of Jena 6
Conviction
Requests Justice Dept. Review of Cases

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today
called for reconciliation and clarity in the case of six African-American
high school students accused of assaulting a white classmate following
months of racially motivated incidents at their Jena, Louisiana, high
school. The June conviction of one of the students, 17-year-old Mychal
Bell, on a reduced charge of aggravated assault was earlier this afternoon
overturned by the Louisiana Court of Appeals.
"There remains unsettled allegations of unfair treatment of
those indicted," Sen. Landrieu wrote in a letter today to the U.S.
Department of Justice. "These allegations have divided the community and
caused concern throughout Louisiana and the country.
"I believe that the charges and counter-charges have left
everyone unsure and uneasy. In order to attain real reconciliation in Jena,
we need to bring clarity to the facts of these allegations and to the
handling of all events leading up to the assault. I believe it is
appropriate for the Department of Justice to conduct a thorough review of
these cases and establish a comprehensive public record of the facts. It is
vital for the people of Jena, my state and our nation to have full
confidence that justice has been served in this matter."

My assumption is that the Bush administration ignores all this stuff. Is anybody doing his job? Are there any investigations or prosecutions?

I want to be confident when I say the Bushes are totally out of the office on civil rights. :)

--IMM

Months later, the DOJ sent down their "community relations" unit to hold a forum to make sure no one would take it to the streets.

I guess that didn't work.
:)

We're hoping that the Gov. will do or say SOMETHING.
Another poster mentioned that it was heard on the radio that she is waiting.
What for, I am not sure.

That is why we are asking everyone to sign the NAACP petition to get the Gov. to do SOMETHING.

:kick:

This is like the sixties. :(

--IMM

for this extremely important issue.

Thanks for posting this.

Thanks for your interest!

but I'll sign the NAACP's petition as soon as they retract their defense of Michael Vick. I'm sure there are any number of other online petitions, etc., where I can show my support without involving the NAACP

Michael Vick and mistreatment of animals vs the mistreatment of teenagers by a community. :banghead:

What I'm saying is that the NAACP lost a whole lot of my respect regarding the Vick Situation. I certainly don't condemn the organization or wish anything ill on it, but I'm sure I can find another petition out there to sign.

<http://jena6.vesana.com/takeaction>

Try this link.
If you want another non-NAACP link let me know!

Thanks,
Annie

I appreciated the positive reply! As I said above, I wish no harm against the NAACP, and I'm sure that my digust will wear off over time, but for the moment I'd just rather go elsewhere. Regarding all of the DU'ers who try to make excuses for the celebs and organizations who have tried to excuse/justify/explain/understand Michael Vick--I'm not the first to make the point that I think many of these posters wouldn't be nearly as generous with their understanding if they had tried to "explain" pedophile priests or expressed "understanding" of the guys who killed Matthew Shepherd. I just think that if toruring and electrocuting dogs is a part of your culture, then you've got a pretty effed-up culture, so let's not try to gold-plate a turd.

The "Justice" Department under Bush... :puke: