So this weekend I was watching Bill Maher on HBO and he told the story of the "Jena Six" in Louisiana. I had not heard of this story because I guess main stream media has yet to tell the public about it. I personally was saddened by the story, and that in a time in 2007 we are still seeing issues like this going on. Mos Def a guest on the show said it best "Why should we have to live in two separate America's". Here in CA we live in our bubble that all is well in the world, mean while in the south all white juries are still convicting young black Americans as if we are living in 1950's.
One of the 6 students has already been tried and convicted and could face up to 22 years in jail, when the white students who beat up black students at a party just got probation.
I am putting the story here, I am also going to put a link to sign a petition to help free the Jena 6, if you are incline to do so after reading the story..
THE JENA SIX>>
In September 2006, a group of African American high school students in Jena, Louisiana, asked the school for permission to sit beneath a "whites only" shade tree. There was an unwritten rule that blacks couldn't sit beneath the tree. The school said they didn't care where students sat. The next day, students arrived at school to see three nooses (in school colors) hanging from the tree.
The boys who hung the nooses were suspended from school for a few days. The school administration chalked it up as a harmless prank, but Jena's black population didn't take it so lightly. Fights and unrest started breaking out at school. The District Attorney, Reed Walters, was called in to directly address black students at the school and told them all he could "end their life with a stroke of the pen." Black students were assaulted at white parties. A white man drew a loaded rifle on three black teens at a local convenience store. (They wrestled it from him and ran away.) Someone tried to burn down the school, and on December 4th, a fight broke out that led to six black students being charged with attempted murder. To his word, the D.A. pushed for maximum charges, which carry sentences of eighty years. Four of the six are being tried as adults (ages 17 & 18) and two are juveniles.Yesterday, I was in Jena for the first day of the trial for Mychal Bell, one of the Jena 6. The D.A., perhaps in response to public pressure, tried to get Bell to cop a plea. Bell refused, and today, jury selection began. After today, we'll know whether or not the case will be tried in front of an all-white jury. Jena's 85-percent white, and it remains to be seen whether or not the six can get a fair trial.Both off-the-record and on, Jena residents told me racism is alive and well in Louisiana, and this is a case where it rose above the levee, so to speak.Update: Mychal Bell, the first of the Jena Six to face trial, was found guilty of aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit the same on June 28th. A comprehensive look at the case, the trial and the verdict was published on July 2nd at friendsofjustice. Plus, Democracy Now did a full story. To send a letter to Governor Blanco, please visit Color of Change.
HERE IS WHERE YOU CAN SIGN A PETITION.. http://civilliberty.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=civilliberty&cdn=newsissues&tm=2714&gps=145_1266_923_252&f=10&tt=11&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.naacp.org/get-involved/activism/petitions/jena-6/index.php
HERE IS WHERE YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE STORY IN ORDER OF WHAT HAPPEN>>
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/raceequalopportunity/p/jena_six.htm
I have heard Oprah may do a show on this, which I hope happens so it can get national headlines... seems like this is something that should not be put under the rug..
Best wishes,
Michelle
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