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Be There September 20th 2007 Jena Louisiana Support Jena Six
It began with syndicated radio host Michael Baisden, known as “the Badboy of Radio” who simply said he was going to be in Jena Louisiana for the sentencing of one Mychal Bell. Bell is one of six black male teens charged in the December 2006 assault of Justin Barker a white student. All are students at the Jena High School in the tiny country town.
Bell is the only one charged as an adult in the case. Last Friday, September 14, 2007 the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Lake Charles Louisiana ruled Bell’s June conviction as an adult be vacated, reversed and set aside. He was 16 at the time of the incident. Before the appeals court decision he faced more than 20 tyears in prison for what experts agree was tantamount to a school yard fight.
Everyone who supports equal justice is invited to participate and make a statement on Thursday, September 20, 2007 in Jena, Louisiana because the abuse by the judicial system of our nation’s most precious resource, our children will not be tolerated.
Following the incident whereby nooses were hung from a tree on the school’s campus because the tree was believed to be the sole province of whites only and some black student had been seated under the tree there were a series of physical fighting incidents in the school.
The District Attorney was called into address a special assembly of all the students; with blacks seated on one side and whites on the other, J. Reed Walters, District Attorney for LaSalle Parish Louisiana took the opportunity to warn he could be their friend or their worst enemy. He reportedly lifted his fountain pen and said these words, “With one stroke of my pen, I can make your life disappear.“
He would have succeeded had it not been for the continued outrage of the parents of these young men. We think making teenage males, black males in particular, political prisoners by a prosecutor who does so just because he can is absolutely unacceptable.
We also commend the efforts of the radio talk show host Baisden and his associates Tom Joyner, Steve Harvey, Rickie Smiley, rap artists and the usual outspoken leaders in the black community for bringing this story to the majority of the nation’s attention. Glad to see you’ve all been aroused from your lethargy to organize to take action. Happy to know you’re taking a stand to say this tumor of racism must be excised.
Mostly we are thankful for the foreign press. The Chinese, the French and the British have been reporting this story for at least the last six months. Our so called “free” American press, has for the past six years and even more so in recent months, deliberately let another under reported an important news story go by the wayside. It was not to be so. Word of mouth is a very effective means of communication when all our modern technology fails.
What began with the radio talk show host Baisden as merely a statement of his personal support for the teens and their families has developed into a major demonstration of support planned for Thursday, September 20, 2007 in Jena Louisiana. This event is expected to be attended by members the black community, as well as supporters from all races, creeds, economic status, every industry, and lifestyle. People from all walks of life. People who stand for justice. People who believe in what is right. If you are unable to attend you are asked to wear black on that day as a symbolic indication of your support for the families and their children.
For more information, and there is plenty of information available from the blog sites, search your favorite search engine with the words, “Jena Six”, “Jena 6” or “Jena, Louisiana” for more details as this important event continues to unfold.
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