SUPPORT THE JENA 6
permission from school administrators to sit under the shade of a tree commonly reserved for the enjoyment of white students. School officials advised the black students to sit wherever they wanted and they did. The next day, three nooses, in the school colors, were hanging from the same tree. The Jena high school principal found that three white students were responsible and recommended expulsion. The white superintendent of schools
over-ruled the principal and gave the students a three day suspension,
saying that the nooses were "a youthful stunt." Black students decided
to resist and organized a sit-in under the
tree to protest the lenient treatment given to the noose-hanging white
students. Racial tensions remained elevated throughout the fall. On
Monday, December 4 2006, a white student who allegedly had been
racially taunting black students in support of the students who hung
the nooses got into a fight with black students. Allegedly, the white
student was taken to the hospital treated, released, reportedly attended a social function later that evening.
As a result of this incident, six black Jena students were arrested and charged with attempted second degree murder. All six were expelled from school. The six charged
were: 17-year-old Robert Bailey Junior whose bail was set at $138,000;
17-year-old Theo Shaw - bail $130,000; 18-year-old Carwin Jones--bail
$100,000; 17-year-old Bryant
Purvis--bail $70,000; 16 year old Mychal Bell, a sophomore in high
school who was charged as an adult and for whom bail was set at
$90,000; and a still unidentified minor. On
the morning of the trial, the District Attorney reduced the charges
from attempted second degree murder to second degree aggravated battery
and conspiracy. Aggravated battery in Louisiana law demands the attack
be with a dangerous weapon.
The prosecutor was allowed to argue to the jury that the tennis shoes
worn by Bell could be considered a dangerous weapon.
When
the pool of potential jurors was summoned, fifty people appeared, all
white. The jury deliberated for less than three hours and found Mychal
Bell guilty on the maximum
possible charges of aggravated second degree battery and conspiracy. He faces up to a maximum of 22 years in prison. The rest of the Jena 6 await similar trials. Theodore Shaw is due to go on trial shortly. Mychal Bell is scheduled to be sentenced September 20th If he gets the maximum sentence he will not be out of prison until he is nearly 40.
THE MESSAGE:
As Chairman Julian Bond stated, "This is an American outrage that demonstrates the continuing shame of racial division in our country. Join us in making it one of the last."
In light of the circumstances surrounding Mychal Bell's case, we urge all concerned citizens to support the call for a new trial.
It
is unacceptable to selectively enforce the law based on race.
Prosecutorial discretion should be used in a fair and equitable manner.
The Jena Six should be tried by juries that reflect the racial and ethnic demographics of Jena, Louisiana.
The hanging of nooses is not a "youthful stunt" or "prank." It is a hate crime. Such hate crimes should not be tolerated at any school. Jena High School must establish a curriculum which promotes cultural sensitivity and understanding.
The
NAACP calls on Louisiana Governor Kathleen B. Blanco and Louisiana
Attorney General Charles C. Foti to thoroughly investigate and monitor
the trials of Mychal Bell, Robert Bailey, Jr., Theo Shaw, Carwin Jones,
Bryant Purvis and John Doe. The Governor and State Attorney General
should do everything in their power to ensure that these young men's
constitutional rights are protected.
THE UPDATE:
The NAACP, along with a number of organizations, has been working with the lawyers of the Jena 6 daily to arrange
for new trials. We're also reviewing additional steps we can take to
more fully address the structural racism issues the students may face
in the schools. In addition, there is a possibility that a national mobilization will take place within the next few weeks, but we'll let you know more info as it becomes available.
THE ACTION WE NEED YOU TO TAKE NOW!!!
Ø Sign the Petition:
o
http://www.naacp.org/get-involved/activism/petitions/jena-6/index.php
Ø Donate online to the:
o Jena 6 Defense Fund
https://secure.colorofchange.org/jena_fund/
o OR mail donations to: Jena 6 Defense Committee, P. O. Box 2798, Jena, LA 71342
Ø Donate to the NAACP:
o
https://www.naacp.org/contribute/contribute.php
Ø Make a Phone Call:
o Below please find contact information for the Louisiana Governor and the Louisiana State Attorney General.
The Honorable Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
Governor of the Great State of Louisiana
Office of the Governor
Attn: Constituent Services
P.O. Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-90004
Phone: (225) 342-0991
Fax: (225) 342-7099
contact@la.gov
Charles C. Foti, Jr., Attorney General
1885 North 3rd Street
P.O. Box 94005
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Phone: (225) 326-6705
Fax: (225) 342-8703
Executive@ag.state.la.us
Ø Send a letter to the Louisiana Governor and the Louisiana Attorney General:
o
http://www.naacp.org/pdfs/SampleJena6SupportLetter.pdf (sample letter)
Ø SPREAD THE WORD!
o Too many people don't even know about the Jena 6 tragedy. Not to mention the fact that events such as this are occurring daily!
o Host an event, forum, town hall meeting, pass out flyers, whatever.just make sure that the people in your community and on your campus understand that racism and injustice is ALIVE. If we don't fight for the Jena 6 and fight to end racism in this country who will?
If you have any questions, call Angela Ciccolo or Stefanie Brown at the National Headquarters at (410) 580-5777.
The
whole thing from the white only tree, to the nooses, to the attempted
murder charges, to the all white jury just reeks of racial injustice.
http://wakeyourdaughterup.blogspot.com/
