The Jena 6 and American Justice
By Keith Boykin, in politics·race
Thursday, September 20 2007, 9:25AM
The Rev. Al Sharpton, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King III, hip hop artist Mos Def and thousands of demonstrators are expected to descend on tiny Jena, Louisiana today to protest criminal charges filed against six black youth known as the "Jena 6." The six young men were charged with various crimes, including attempted murder for a schoolyard fight after whites students placed a noose under a school tree when a black student sat in the spot usually reserved for whites.
Forget O.J. Simpson. This case is quickly shaping up as the most explosive race-based court case in years. Although some have downplayed the significance that race played in the prosecutor's decision to charge six youth with criminal charges for a schoolyard fight, it's clear that race will be on the mind of those who show up to demonstrate today. The mostly white town is shutting down its stores and businesses in anticipation of the demonstration today, and yesterday the prosecutor ran out to television cameras flanked by a cadre of white men to argue that his decision to pursue the case was not based on race.
Today's protest was scheduled around a court date for one particular defendant. Sixteen-year-old Mychal Bell was originally charged and convicted of conspiracy to commit second-degree battery, but a district court judge threw out his conviction earlier this month, saying the matter should have been handled in juvenile court. Last week, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Lake Charles, Louisiana, threw out Bell's battery conviction, yet a Louisiana appeals court ruled Tuesday that it was too early to consider a motion to free him from prison. Before the conviction was overturned, today was the date when Bell was supposed to be sentenced. Now he will remain behind bars while thousands show up to support him and his five co-defendants in what may be the trial of the year.
But the U.S. attorney who reviewed the noose case and the fight said he believes the incidents were not related, even if they were both symptoms of racial tension. That's a hard argument to swallow when local residents see the disparity in the treatment of the perpetrators of the two incidents. The white students who placed the noose were never prosecuted but the black students who got into a fight were. That strikes of prosecutorial bias, and that's part of the reason why people across the country are so concerned.
Although the facts are different, the Jena 6 case sounds eerily familiar to other cases where prosecutors use their discretion in questionable ways.
In Georgia, a young black high school football player named Genarlow Wilson was sent to prison for statutory rape after having consensual sex with a high school classmate.
In West Virginia, prosecutors recently decided not to pursue hate crime charges against 6 white defendants who had kidnapped, raped and tortured a black woman.
And of course in North Carolina, a local prosecutor continued to pursue criminal charges against white members of the Duke lacrosse team even after evidence emerged that contradicted the testimony of the woman who accused them of raping her.
All of these cases call into question the discretion afforded to prosecutors. Is it any wonder that young black men are more likely to be charged for serious crimes than others when prosecutors often make racial assumptions about perpetrators and victims?
It's time to reign in the discretion afforded to prosecutors in criminal cases. Yes they should continue to have the authority to decide which cases to pursue, but their decisions should be subject to review by outside panels of disinterested parties that represent the various segments of the community. It's not enough that many prosecutors are elected to their positions. This only reinforces the biases of the majority that elected them. For justice to be impartial, it's important that prosecutors themselves be subject to review.
Let the review panels hear the evidence in controversial cases and let them analyze the statistics of cases pursued and not pursued based on race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and other factors. It's time to end racial profiling not only on the police force but in the offices of the lawyers who prosecute the police cases.
If the Jena 6 case shows us anything, it should show us the way out of the mess we've created with our current system of prosecutorial discretion.
Comments conceal
Blue
September 20 2007, 9:48AM
But after the protests and marches, then what? Once those thousands of people leave Jena ... what is the next step? I think marches are fine, but it takes more than that to effect real change. I applaud the efforts of people like Michael Basiden - had it not been for him, I wouldn't know nearly as much about the case as I do now. I just hope that people won't get on their buses and go home or take of their black outfits and go back to their daily duties while this continues to unfold.
I wonder too how the blacks who live there are feeling. I am sure they may want to protest but they're probably afraid to. One woman even called into the radio and said that she's black, grew up there, knows how it is and accepts it. It's the life they live. I thought that was kind of crazy, but then again, that's her existence.
Billy
September 20 2007, 9:51AM
Good report Keith! I couldn't make it to Jena, LA but I will be making phone calls to officials in LA. There is a organization called Colorofchange.org that has provided tools for those that were not able to make the trip to Jena.
Malik
September 20 2007, 10:47AM
Great article Keith!! I am proud of all the people who are addressing this horrible sitation...
@BLUE who posted I wonder too how the blacks who live there are feeling...
they are feeeling the same ways a lot of people of color feel who are the only one in a hostile majority envirnoment on the job or in any similar situation...cautious and afraid is how they are feeling and hopefully proud....we as people of color have to keep fighting for our rights.
Many prosecutors are just trying to make a name for themselves ...many prosecutors are simply miserable pathetic people.
NikiiBabie
September 20 2007, 10:53AM
Great article!
Hopefully this is the start of the 21st century civil rights movement.
dee
September 20 2007, 11:03AM
hey folks, remember that 6 teens beat up a teen. that is not the right way to deal with issues.
we really need to teach out children how to behave.
James in Atlanta
September 20 2007, 11:16AM
I know this may be a strange question to ask in this situation- but I will ask it anyway. I am in complete agreeance that this is a situation for which we as African Americans should galvanize, however, I am curious given the same circumstances, if everyone knew the six black youth were also gay, would everyone be so willing to come to their defense? Just food for thought!
Blue
September 20 2007, 11:28AM
We all know the answer to that is a HELL NO! You know black leadership does not give two shits about us ... sad but true.
Kyon Saucier
September 20 2007, 11:40AM
I think the question we all of African Descent must ask ourselves is what is our response collectively going to be as is eveidneced in these 3 cases that the clock is literally being rolled back before our eyes?
James in Atlanta
September 20 2007, 11:55AM
My point exactly Blue--- there is so much hypocracy in our community. It makes it difficult to support us a group-- even when our intentions are valid. Especially when you know your own community will not do the same in your times of need.
In cases of this nature, we find it easy to rally together because it's one of the only issues we all
agree---- racial equality. However, when the time comes to look within and do the work of our community ie. why the youth responded the way they did (in violence) and the other issues facing our community--- we refuse to take the time to unite on that and come to a common ground.
Again, an unfortunate situation for which I agree we should be alarmed, however, African Americans have a long way to go in our own community as it relates to equality and fairness. Key areas for which we want to hold other races so accountable for.
J
September 20 2007, 12:59PM
I'm not in any way trying to minimize the Jena 6, but this all strikes me as the latest trendy cause. Much like all of the other demonstrations to happen over the last ten years, it's pretty much a photo-op and mental massage. What's not so popular is actually doing something. I'm glad there's support all over the country, but that passion doesn't exist for young men and women until they're in a courtroom or gone.
Derrick from Philly
September 20 2007, 1:16PM
I can't get over Mychal being in jail since December. We have young thugs here in Philly who've broken bones and disfigured other teens (in the schoolyard) who don't spend a second in jail. There must have been other white kids involved in the fight, or that white boy had to have had a lot of mouth(with all kinds of racial insults spewing out of it) for them to beat him as a group.
Lord, how many times I wished a bunch of us queens had gotten together to whip some gay-basher's ass. But we never did--sometimes even when he'd be insulting us as a group, we didn't. To this day, I'm ashamed of that.
I know, the point is that the charges were blatantly unfair, and old style Louisiana racism is what's at play here...and that is what matters right now.
Solo
September 20 2007, 1:25PM
I hope when people who did not go to this protest look at the pictures thay take note of the makeup of the crowds racial breakdown. I hope you all notice that the crowd was nearly all negros. All the white liberals who like to listen to black music and fuck black people where nowhere to be seen. The Governor of Louisiana Kathleen Blanco like the phony liberal she is has decided to duck this issue for as long as possible. If Louisiana was closer to where I live I would have went to this thing in Jena myself. It reminds me of the Amadu Diallo protest here in New York a few years back. Even here in Liberal New York practically no white liberal thought it worth their time to attend. In both cases the clear message in the racial makeup of both protests is that in the end the only Blacks can depend on is other Blacks! Justice for the Jena Six!!!!!!!!!
black Woman
September 20 2007, 2:25PM
While, I'm extremely pro Jenne 6. I'll have to be the ass and state we've got to do better with our children. We've got to teach our children that they can't resort to violence in dealing with difficult situations. These kids did just that. No, I don't think they should go to jail for attempted murder but someone needs to tell them to say 'no' to violence.
It seems like race relations in America are really taking a turn for the worse. The "white" media is constantly ignoring racial injustices when it involves African Americans. Meanwhile they're parading those duke "white" boys around like victimed heroes. Yes, I truly believe those white boys are guilty.
Equalnox
September 20 2007, 2:35PM
According to CCN news Mychal Bell has "several previous assault charges on his record". I think once again we've allowed the media to stir us up into a frenzy based on only one side of the story. We shouldn't have rioted for Rodney King (alcoholic and wife beater), we should not have jumped for joy for OJ's murder verdict (egomaniac), and we shouldn't be marching for the overturn of a sentence for a kid (thug) who's assaulted others in the past.
The white kids (punks) who hung the nooses should have been expelled so I understand the anger. It's not easy trying to keep your cool when you're being taunted like that, but that's no excuse for physically assaulting someone, at least not in the eyes of the law. These Jena 6 kids should have picked up videocameras instead of using their fists.
Blue
September 20 2007, 2:39PM
Derrick, the really sad part is that part of the story is left out in most accounts. I just found out that child has been on lock for that long recently. I feel like a damn idiot because I wore all black to work on Monday, LOL - I should have saved that outfit for today. The thing that really gets me is I was reading some blog comments in various places and I was amazed, though I shouldn't have been, at how many white folks were like "they are thugs" "six people beat a man" blah blah blah ... all the shit that has been uncovered and they STILL don't get what the outrage is about. Being white and oblivious must be a hell of an existence.
And Black Woman you are correct - we need to teach young black men that raising your fist isn't always the best option, especially in a climate like Jena's.
Luther
September 20 2007, 2:51PM
This pains me on many levels, but, I think we all know that this happens day in and day out, justice meted out on skin color. And, the arrogance of the DA speaks volumes. And, the coverage shows the disconnect as well, Faux News shows crime in Philly's hoods, some black man in Dallas who confessed to a crime, and nary a peep about Jena and this massive protest. The mind games the white media plays to a country of easily duped people.
All that said, I'm shocked that these young men didn't know of the two rules of society, white folks get away with just about anything, and that black men are never, ever supposed to hit a white guy, even a loud mouthed one spewing out racial slurs, cuss him out or something like that, but hit him and you will be with Big Ed in the jail. I learned this as a kid in a small Southern town, and as hokey as it seems, the rule is the same now as it was in the 60's.
And, Derrick, child, you are too funny, you must be the light of parties, and yet, your words pack a punch.
gs
September 20 2007, 3:01PM
Here's a site for some support material on Jena 6: http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/dayofaction/
Peoples
September 20 2007, 3:14PM
Can you guys tell me why no civil rights group is not taking action against Rush Limbaugh for constantly playing a tape on his show mocking African Americans speech and dialect and calling African Americans NEGROES. This insult goes on his show every day. example..his 9/20/07 show about two hours into his show he starts playing the Barack the magic negro song and then he and his co-host starts doing a OJ and Al sharpton and Jesse Jackson impersonation using stereotype voices, words and dialect. We need our black organizations to start the mobilization so we can start the march and boycott.
Page
September 20 2007, 3:38PM
Of all the things to rally behind, blacks rally behind this mess. The whole community is dying, and we want fair justice to a bunch of thugs who played into the racial mess of the town.
Kyon Saucier
September 20 2007, 3:41PM
I tend at times to be late but I just read the timeline leading up to and after the noose incident and the beating...Of course none of this suprises me, mes gens viennent de Louisianne apres tous, but I had no idea how tense all of it was. A Black student was attacked by White men who broke a beer bottle over his head! Where's the jail time for that? Then there is also the group of Black men who had to wrest a shotgun away from some low born beke (white) who was threatening them with death!Once again no jail time...I dunno as tense as things were...I'm not defending the Jena 6 for beating that White boy because they hurt him badly but I have a feeling he was using words like COON and NIGGER et al. and I'm not sure that I wouldn't have beat his ass to a pulp after all was said and done either.
I mean Bekes never just say NIGGER. They spit it at you as a curse, their lips draw back and they snarl it to you. And I feel and I don' think I'm alone when I hear the word this volcanic rage expolodes within.
Antwan
September 20 2007, 3:59PM
I wonder which of the GOP candidates will go to Jena for a speech like Reagan did in Philadelphia, Mississippi? Mitt or Rudy seem like the two who will pander for votes in that town.
This is a shame, but, also a reality, two systems of justice, one for whites and one for blacks, and these black boys should have known they were going to coming down hard on them.
And, this is another reason why violence isn't the way, even though, when called racial slurs, its easy to see why they would beat that jerk down, big mouth, and sadly, he's getting the last laugh.
Blue
September 20 2007, 4:23PM
Interesting piece ... some gay groups are rallying too ...
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/09/092007jena.htm
Floridaboy8703
September 20 2007, 4:36PM
I am a student at florida A&M university and I am proudly wearing all black today. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" and this is a prime example. Many of my schools students drove to Jena to support this cause. I hope this shows America that we are holding this country to its founding principles "WITH FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL". Whether you be OJ Simpson or the next person!
I Support The Jena 6!
Bill
September 20 2007, 5:27PM
This is so sad. The black community loses all legitimacy when they are incapable of ever admitting that a member of their own race is EVER wrong. Let me get this straight... 6 guys beat the hell out of one guy and put him in the hospital (see picture: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/u... ) and we have thousands of people marching in their support? Is this for real? Are whole communities actually condoning gang beatings? How pitiful. The responsible position for the black community to hold here would be that the Jena 6 were wrong and they should have to pay for their hate crime (which is exactly what it was). Now if the black community thinks there were crimes that were committed by whites that weren't prosecuted, they could legitimately gripe about that and direct their protests in that direction. However, the answer here isn't to make martyrs out of 6 thugs who gang beat the crap out of one young man.
mailk
September 20 2007, 6:16PM
YES BLACK WOMAN...ALL RACES NEED TO DO BETTER WITH THEIR KIDS ESPECIALLY THE WHITE RACE...WHITE KIDS AND WHITE PEOPLE GET AWAY WITH MURDER AND IT'S ALWAYS BLACK PEOPLE WHO NEED TO DO BETTER WITH THEIR KIDS NEVER WHITE PEOPLE!!! ALSO WHERE THE HELL IS DONNA "SORRY WHITE WOMAN LOVING" BRAZILE AND KATHERINE "PHONY LIBERAL" BLANCO AND OTHERS POEPLE IN POLITICS..THEY ARE FROM LA AND THEY HAVE NOT SAID A DAMN THING JUST AS MANY OF THE CANDIDATES HAVE SKIRTED THE ISSUE OF THE JENA SIX...I HAVE TO SAY " HOW IN THE HELL CAN SOMEONE HANG A NOOSE IN THIS DAY AND AGE AND SAY IT WAS A JOKE...WE NEED TO PRESSURE PEOPLE IN POLITICS TO PASS A LAW SAYING THAT HANGING A NOOSE IS A HATE CRIME...I REPRESENT BLACK PEOPLE GETTING BEAT DOWN, PICK ON AND DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ON THEIR JOBS AND I HAVE WITNESSED BLACK PEOPLE BEING UNDER SOO MUCH PRESSURE FROM RACIST WHITE PEOPLE ON THE JOB UNTIL THEY JUST HAVE HEART ATTACKS AND DIE ON THE JOB AND WHAT EVEN MORE FUCKED UP IS THE WHITES WILL LAUGH ABOUT THE BLACKS DYING ON THE JOB....
Abigal
September 20 2007, 6:28PM
So, Bill, how about the black kid that was beat up and hit over the head with the beer bottle? Or, is your justice only for black thugs, since I assume you feel white ones aren't thuggish. And, how about barkers spewing of racial slurs? I take it that's acceptable as well. Why is it so hard for white people to ever admit that they make mistakes? And, that racism is alive and well in this country.
Sorry, I don't advocate violence on any level, and nor do I hypocrisy. All one has to do to see that the good old boys in charge aren't color blind is head right on over to Angola plantation, the crimes may be similar, but, the penalties are harsher based on the color of skin, and that's wrong.
And, the white community has no legitimacy at all when it comes to racial issues since they still say it never happens.
We all lose when the justice system is flawed and cursed with two tiers based on race.
DIANE
September 20 2007, 6:56PM
RIGHT ON MALIK...I, TOO HAVE WITNESSED WHITE FOLKS JOKING AND LAUGHING ABOUT BLACKS WHO DIE ON THE JOB...WE LIVE IN A RACIST COUNTRY AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT WE AS BLACK PEOPLE CAN NEVER REALLY ADDRESS THE DISCRIMINATION AND UNFAIR SITUATIONS WE FACE ON THE JOB BECAUSE MANY TIMES WE ARE NOT IN AUTHORITATIVE POSITIONS OR WE NEED OUR JOB SO BADLY THAT WE MUST "REMAIN COOL" AND "LET IT GO"...AND MALIK PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE LIKE DONNA BRAZILE AND KATHERINE BLANCO COULD CARE LESS ABOUT BLACKS ANYWHERE..ANYTIME YOUR SISTER HAD TO LIVE IN A TRAILER AND YOU MAKE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS GIVING SPEECHES AND APPEARING ON CNN AND ABC NEWS SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT...SOMETHING IS ROTTEN IN DENMARK!!! I AM VERY PROUD OF MICHAEL BAISDEN, MARTIN LUTHER KING, III, AL SHARPTON AND JESSE JACKSON, SR AND EVERYONE FIGHTING ONE OF THE MANY INJUSTICES PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE FACED AND CONTINUE TO FACE ON A DAILY BASIS IN THE WORLD.
Black Woman
September 20 2007, 7:19PM
@Malik,
You're right. White folks need to do better as well. But I'd have to say especially us. Unfortunately, we're the more targeted group. I do think the DA should be prosecuted and rip to shreds. This white racist bigoted pig should be jailed. But he won't be. And that's a fact of life. As a matter of fact white folks will turn him into a hero. Just like they did Mark 'racist' Furman.
We can't respond in violence. We just don't get the breaks like white folks do. And we know that. And unfortunately, black folks can't rally around every racial unjust issue. We'd have no lives if we did that. So, it's up to all of us collectively to keep a level head. There are various ways to deal with racial injustices besides whippin' somebody's ass. The school administrators really failed these students. They should be jailed as well.
cmoney
September 20 2007, 7:47PM
Bill: No one is saying it was appropriate for the 6 Black teens to beat up the Mullet wearing, hate speech spewing redneck. The protest is about the UNEQUAL treatment of the Black and White students by the proscutors. Several White students were involved in fights and making terroristic threats. One even brandished a shotgun at some Black students who wrestled it away from him. Then the Black students were charged with THEFT and the White student was not charged with ANYTHING! SO a white student threatens the Black students with a shotgun and the Black students get charged with a crime! And you wonder why there was outrage by the Black community!! Get your facts straight Mr. Bill!
Antwan
September 20 2007, 8:13PM
cmoney, great post, they trot in with nonsense and no real facts and need to be corrected.
the same ones who are now screaming, much ado about nothing and the DA is fair, and that there are no race problems in this country, are the same ones who claim not to be racist, but, just have some racist ways. just like the good white folks of jena, if the walls of thier homes could talk about how they really feel about this case....
i want the law to be handed down evenly, if they beat that guy to a pulp, they need to be punished, but, so do the white kids who gave the black guy a beat down, but, as with all things, the only time the law is heavy handed is when the victim is white and the alleged perp is black, and that happens in all 50 states.
Jazrok64
September 20 2007, 8:39PM
EXACTLY Kyon! The timeline. The media cuts from the nooses to the fight where poor Justin Barker got his tail beat by the six kids he provoked. No mention of the DA during an assembly after the noose hanging incident telling the kids that he could end their lives with a pen. They had the opportunity at the assembly to take a different route in easing tensions but the DA threatened those kids lives. That and the noose hanging. Then Robert Bailey got jumped at a mostly white party, was hit in the head with a beer bottle....by an adult at that party...and those who jumped that black kid at the party were let off with misdemeanor charges. Why were these events excluded from the media? Not saying that any of the violence was right or wrong. Listen to Marcus Jones, Mychal's father.
The good thing is the world is watching, hell even David Bowie contributed $10,000 to the cause.
TOMMY
September 20 2007, 9:00PM
@BILL...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! HANGING NOT ONE BUT THREE NOOSES AND PULLING A SHOTGUN ON PEOPLE WILL GET YOU AN ASS KICKING AND RIGHTLY SO...THIS IS A NEW DAY...
THERE COMES A TIME WHEN ONE MUST STAND UP...
IT'S FUNNY HAVE QUICKLY THIS COUNTRY WILL SEND BLACKMAN OFF TO WAR BUT WON'T TREAT THEM FAIRLY IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM ....
BUT I HATE TO SAY THIS BUT THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON UNFAIRNESS WHEN THE SETTLERS TOOK THIS LAND FROM THE INDIANS AND ENSALVED AFRICANS ....
I HAVE NOTICED THAT LOUISIANA HAS A LOT OF SELF-LOATHING BLACK AND WHITE PEOPLE WITH COLOR ISSUES WHO COME FROM DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES ...IT IS JUST VERY SAD.
Jazrok64
September 20 2007, 9:11PM
@ Blue - Being white and oblivious must be a hell of an existence.
LOL, exactly!
@ Diane - I AM VERY PROUD OF MICHAEL BAISDEN, MARTIN LUTHER KING, III, AL SHARPTON AND JESSE JACKSON, SR AND EVERYONE FIGHTING ONE OF THE MANY INJUSTICES PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE FACED AND CONTINUE TO FACE ON A DAILY BASIS IN THE WORLD. Right on, they damn sure have my support.
MIA
September 20 2007, 9:42PM
I AM SOOOO PROUD OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WENT DOWN TO JENA,LA .....
HURRICANE JERRY IS GETTING READY TO HIT NEW ORLEANS BIGTIME ... I WORK WITH A WEATHER SERVICE AND GUYS THIS STORM IS BIG AND MAYBE BIGGER THAN KATRINA...
TUNE IN TO YOUR WEATHER CHANNEL
NYREDS
September 20 2007, 9:52PM
Hanging nooses from a tree is despicable.
Beating people up is a crime.
See the difference?
Daniel
September 20 2007, 10:13PM
The Truth About the Jena 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Alto
September 20 2007, 10:17PM
NYREDS...Wow for such clear eloquence in analogy you are completely missing the point..and I dont care to also say you must be an idiot on levels of your life. There si not ONE school in this damn country that hasnt had fights or people jumping on someone..If so lets send ALL elementary and middle schools students to the clinker as well..Lets also send UFC and other fighters to jail just because beating up someone is simply a crime. In life their is such a thing known as context..and if someone calling you a nigger amongst other hatred retrieves an ass-whooping, well guess what..That is the consequence to your freedom of speech.
Felecia
September 20 2007, 11:08PM
The District Attorney needs to be relieved from his duties in Jena. He is not a man who wants fair justice, he wants a modern day lynching. In the 21st century we can not let people who are prejudice and racist imprisoned are children one more day. This man needs to be removed from his position as soon as possible. A lot of the white people in Jena are trying to make it look like the outsiders are bringing trouble to this town, Which is totally ridiculus. When Jena is a town that the local barber shop refuses hair cuts for blacks. When you see this town, you have whites on one side and blacks on the other. I guess the white people would think everything is gravy their in Jena. I feel sorry for people who are that ignorant in this day in age to let color rule everything they do. Remove the District Attorney he is toxic and poison. You can not let people like this be in a position who is not going to have justice for all.
Aaron
September 21 2007, 12:49AM
Yes they BEAT HIS ASS!!! I DO SUPPORT BLACK BOYS STANDING UP and if it means fighting do it!
Emmitt Till, James Byrd, Michael Sandy HELLO HELLO
This was definitely a chose sides issue. All I needed to know is that nooses were hung and the boy who got his ass whupped was actually the one who pulled a SHOT GUN!!! on some Black kids. He was beaten so bad he went to a party the same night AFTER they knocked his ass out.
For the sad asses who think they are being morally balanced in challenging TEEN AGED BOYS chosing fighting over a discussion with an ignorant redneck I would have told my children to fight and I will deal with the consequences. Violence is what trained African Americans to RESPECT whites even when they treated you like dog doodoo and did not respect you. Pray without ceasing but fight when necessary. That was necessary.
Reggie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
September 21 2007, 3:27AM
I grew up in the South. (SC to be exact). I got called a nigger once in middle school by this stupid-as-nails white boy. He got his ass kicked not by me, but by my friends, who overheard him that were white, black, and Filipino. The teachers and the administration knew he was a smart-ass disrespectful problem kid and basically blamed him for instigating a fight with derogitary terms. Now in the Jena 6 case, I think the School board should resign. those white kids defaced public property with a racist symbol. What if they had burned a cross next to it or carved a swastika in the tree? Would it still be considered "a youthful prank"? And since when is hanging a noose considered a youthful prank?
Right now there are two quotes in my head: "Anytime you beg another man to set you free, you will never be free. Freedom is something that you have to do for yourself" - Malcolm X
"We must reaffirm our commitment to nonviolence." - MLK Jr.
Solo
September 21 2007, 4:49AM
I am amazed at all the blame the victim reasoning that I am reading here. When people feel oppressed and that their rights are being violated by the majority and the establishment the only option left is to physically defend yourself when under attack. The fact is freedom and equality don't come free of charge you have to be willing to whatever it takes to achieve both. Non-violence is just another word for cowardice and is the very reason that racist always seem to target blacks. They know that most niggers are not going to fight back! Hell just today I was reading in the newspaper of a bias attack that happened right here in liberal New York. This black basketball team heading to the subway was set upon by the two drunk white guys coming out of a bar and instead of standing their ground they ran. Of course when these bigots saw that these negros where cowards they chased them into the subway & beat even more. When ur a minority u either learn how to fight back or learn how to eat crap & call it chicken!
Augustine Hawkins
September 21 2007, 5:15AM
A SPOT UNDER A TREE USUALLY RESERVED FOR WHITES ????
Ostend Street
September 21 2007, 7:33AM
We are talking about our children. An injustice and double standard carried out againt them is also a threat for all of us. It simply means further disrespect and disparate treatment to African Americans as a whole will continue to be practiced and the domino effect will occur for other minorities afterwards. Unfortunately, sometimes we need a good swift kick in the butt to make us realize that racism still permeates this entire society. We've been too comfortable and we've been falling asleep. Wake up folks the fifties and sixties are still with us.
AKEEM
September 21 2007, 9:20AM
I applaud the efforts of people like Keith Boykin, Michael Basiden, Martin Lurther King,III, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson,SR and everyone who appeared in Jena, LA and protesting around the country and on websites.
I AGREE WITH MALIK. I FEEL LIKE KATHERINE BLANCO SHOULD TAKE A STAND BECAUSE SHE IS GOVERNOR OF LA AND THIS IS A GREAT INJUSTICE AND ALSO, KATHERINE BLANCO AND SENATOR MARY LANDREUI WOULD NOT BE IN OFFICE IF IT WERE NOT FOR BLACK PEOPLE VOTING FOR THEM IN LOUISIANA ...
AND @ DIANE...
DONNA BRAZILE AIN'T SHIT...DONNA BRAZILE HELPED LANDREUI AND BLANCO GET ELECTED AND THEY ALL DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE...LOOK AT THE KATRINA SITUATION...
DONNA BRAZILE WOULD RATHER TAKES PICTURES WITH KATHERINE BLANCO AND/OR BLACKMEN THAN HELP BLACKMEN WHEN THEY NEED HER TO HELP AND SPEAKOUT...
Jeffery
September 21 2007, 10:34AM
Black youth, especially boys and men, are 4 times as likely to be given a jail sentence than white kids for the same crime according to the last justice department stats, and people have the gall not to see this as a double standard? And, what's up with wanting to send a kid to prison for life for a fight? Black folks had better wake up and put some sense into these kids, the system isn't fair, and will thrown them behind bars faster than you can blink.
And, the victim of this comes back to school with a shotgun and gets no charges, please.
Jamilah
September 21 2007, 6:04PM
If we do not fight against the injustices that are occurring today, then these injustices will happen more frequently and will be of a more serious nature.
We will not accept slavery in any form.
Free the Jena Six!
Demand A Better World.
Andrew
September 21 2007, 9:27PM
My God help us as a people to realize that this is not our only fight.
We need to fight, march and make a big stank about crime in our communities, stop the snitching bullsh_t, unequal justice & healthcare.
We can not let this momentum die when Jesse and Al leave for higher ground!!!
Darnell
September 22 2007, 12:28PM
Andrew, you are fight, the fight is a big one, yet, we need to realize that this fight was started and fueled by radio shows and black colleges students more than Jesse and Rev Al. This to me is one of the best things to come out of this sad situation, and, hopefully, this actvitism will continue with all injustices for blacks and others who the system abuses.
marvin
September 22 2007, 10:42PM
we should all email this ignorant district attorney about his hatred and bigotry. his email adress is dareed@22da.com .
JohnsonP
September 24 2007, 3:17AM
You all, until African-Americans can do this, our plight in this country and world will not change: "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways, and seek My face,..." well u know the rest. We have lusted after the ways and things of the world and of men, which is why God has allowed the African (His original creation), to be enslaved in a system; an illusion of sorts, conjured up by his oppressors. The most dispised man (the African), is now in bondage in so many ways that he cannot even see the ditch his European master lead him to dig. And so now we wonder why nothing has really changed. Heck, even our own so called "names" (Johnson, Smith, etc.) reflect the prior ownership of European men. People, until we repent, we will always be enslaved.
Lance Wise![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
September 24 2007, 3:22PM
I'm just so glad that this is becoming a national thing because I was just thinking that this will be another of many cases where the scales of justice once again put people, who should not be in jail, in jail. I live in Louisiana, born and reared in Monroe, but in college in Baton Rouge. It just makes me look over my life and the experiences I've had. Racial tensions still exist, and at times it seems hopeless, but it was amazing that droves of people went out to Jena in protest. My school, LSU, bused out some students.
chiboi1983
September 28 2007, 10:50PM
These young men still beat the hell out of someone and deserve to face charges....not a dayum "attemped murder" charges.
They did wrong too so why is every trying to act like their shit dont stink!
Equalnox
October 9 2007, 12:47PM
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/jason_whitlock/story/296701.html
Equalnox
October 12 2007, 7:49AM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21259504/
Equalnox
October 17 2007, 2:00PM
This is worth protesting about. This is injustice, not that thug Mychal Bell and his five henchmen. Jesse's and Al's hearts were in the right place, but their heads were out to lunch.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/10/16/racist.slurs.on.animals.ktrk?iref=videosearch
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