Jena 6 Teem Attempts Suicide

Jena 6 teenager Mychal Bell shot himself in the chest yesterday after being freed on bail for shoplifting on Christmas Eve. The injury is not life threatening. The police speculated that Bell shot himself because he was upset about the media attention his arrest was getting and did not want to deal with the media again.

Here you can find a lot about the original Jena 6 situation where a small Louisiana town tried to railroad a group of African American teens by charging them with incredibly trumped up charges for beating up a fellow student who was white, the culmination of a number of incidents between black and white students with heavy racial overtones.

Jena 6: Mychael Bell Sent Back to Jail

A judge in Louisiana ordered Mychael Bell to a juvenile facility yesterday for violation of an earlier probation. Bell has a few previous juvenile convictions and the judge, at the prosecutors request, sent Bell to the facility for violating the probation (for his involvement in the schoolyard fight) arising out of those earlier convictions. Doesn't this all seem a little petty? I mean, yeah, the kid is a little troubled but it really just sounds like revenge to me. The DA, Reed "Jesus Loves Me" Walters seems to be doing anything he can to mess with this kids life.

Why did it take so long to do this? Why didn't the DA try to get Bell in the juvenile facility immediately after he was released from prison?

Maybe he was waiting until some of the buzz over the story died down. Maybe incompetence? Maybe he just recently realized he could get Bell back into custody this way. Maybe Jesus wanted it this way. Afterall, doesn't this kid need a little more punishment before we can forgive him. So far he has only faced racism and intimidation from fellow students, followed by racism and intimidation from local government officials, followed by institutional racism in the form of trumped up criminal charges, followed by prison time. One more little lesson ought to do the trick.

Noose in New York City

An black professor at Columbia University in New York City found a noose hanging from her office door this morning. The use of the noose was probably at least partially inspired by the Jena 6 incidents in Louisiana. I don't have much to say about it other than, thanks a lot racists of Jena!

Jena 6: White Backlash?

I have set up my Gmail account to send me "Google Alerts" (for those who don't know you can give Google a topic or name and it will send you all blog and news stories on the topic as often as you want them) on a variety of different topics. One of them is the Jena 6. While the major news outlets have slowed in their coverage of Jena blogs and small town opinion pages continue to buzz about the case.

Each day I receive links to approximately 10 blog posts and 5 "news" stories (usually from a newspaper's opinion page) concerning the Jena 6. Most are rehashings of the story with individualized commentary echoing outrage. However, I have started to notice an increase in the number of items decrying the reaction to the support for the Jena 6. Some examples can be found here, here, and here.

These articles/posts' major "problems" with the outcry tend to be that a group of black students "jumped" one white student, that there is no evidence that the noose hanging incident had anything to do with the 6 on 1 beating, and that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson were involved in the protest. The authors of such pieces are not necessarily racist but are definitely misguided. Instead of focusing on what is clearly a series of racially charged events in Jena before and after the 6 on 1 attack they choose to focus on simple polemic issues that tend to inflame a certain type of disaffected.

Jena 6: Mayor Appreciates Neo-Nazi's Efforts

Check out this quote from a Chicago Tribune article, McMillan is Murphy McMillan, Jena's mayor.

McMillin has insisted that his town is being unfairly portrayed as racist—an assertion the mayor repeated in an interview with Richard Barrett, the leader of the Nationalist Movement, a white supremacist group based in Learned, Miss., who asked McMillin to "set aside some place for those opposing the colored folks."

"I am not endorsing any demonstrations, but I do appreciate what you are trying to do," Barrett quoted McMillin as saying. "Your moral support means a lot."

This explains alot about what's been going on in Jena.

Jena 6: The Presidential Candidates

I was wondering what the Presidential candidates, Republican and Democrat had to say about the situation in Jena. Here's what I could find.

Republican candidate Senator Fred Thompson said he didn't know anything about it which was spun buy his people as he wasn't familiar with the term Jena 6. Right.

Democrat Hillary Clinton called into Rev. Al Sharpton's radio show and described the issue as a teachable one for America and said that this kind of injustice cannot be allowed to happen in America.

Senator Obama who was criticized by Jesse Jackson, has compared the plight of the Jena 6 to that of Rosa Parks.

Senator Edwards has called Jena an important measuring point in the fight against racism.

I couldn't find anything from Rudy Giuliani via google or on his campaign site. He did speak to the NRA last week though. Guns!

Same deal for Gov. Mitt Romney, nothing on google, nothing on his site. I even looked at the stupid 5 Brothers blog (the 5 brothers are his 5 sons who are brothers, hence 5 brothers). That blog doesn't mention Jena either but it does chronicle Romney's meals and the Winter Olympics.

Not much from Sen. John McCain, I mean nothing actually.

Well those are the major candidates. Why is it so hard to find statements from the Republicans? I guess the candidates are playing more to the base of their parties leading up to the primaries. The Republican candidates must believe Jena is not important to the rank and file Republicans.

Jena 6: The District Attorney

Reed Walters is the District Attorney overseeing case involving the Jena 6 in LA. Walters has been the DA in the Louisiana 28th Judicial District since 1990. Shortly after the hanging of nooses in a schoolyard tree by several white students, a rash of racially charged fights continually resulted in the involvement of local law enforcement intervening at the behest of school officials. In an apparent attempt to stop the on campus tensions DA Walters came to the school and spoke in an assembly setting. Pretty well established reports quote the DA saying that he could "take away lives" of the students "with the stroke of this pen".

The irony of this statement in light of the overcharging of 6 high school students for a school yard fight is not lost on many of the people involved and those watching and reporting on the story. Here is an attorney who made a threat to use his power to oppress students and then used his power of prosecutorial discretion to charge teenagers with 2nd degree attempted murder and conspiracy for what should have been simple battery.

And there is more. DA Walters also served as the School Board's counsel. Walters was involved in the meeting at which the Jena 6 were expelled from school. In what was the first meeting for more than half of the Board the DA told the members that they could not read the schools investigation materials and could not speak to the Jena 6 for legal reasons. Link to transcript for interview with Board Member Billy Fowler.

The DA has used his power to both remove these students from their local school system and was on the verge of putting them away for many years, with a stroke of his pen.

Here is a link to a video of the little bugger explaining how the case he has brought against the teens is about justice, not race.

Jena 6: More Nooses

Alot of talk coming out of Jena, from locals, has been that the town is not racist, the hanging of nooses in a school yard tree was nothing more than a prank, etc. Well, now there is a new noose incident. Outside of Jena in Alexandria, which was one of the areas used by protestors as a staging area for yesterdays protest in Jena, a pickup truck was pulled over with two makeshift nooses tied to the back. The drivers, two teenage white boys, one 18 one 16 were arrested. The 18 year old driver was drunk and apaprently so was the 16 year old. Reports from CNN say that the 16 year old told police he and his family are in the KKK.

For those in Jena and beyond who may not know here is a lesson:

Nooses were used to hang blacks who had been lynched for reasons varying from being black to not being white. The bodies were often then burned. Lynchings were major social events. Whites often took photos with the hanging dead bodies which were often left hanging for long periods of time. Some photographs actually ended up as post cards. Here is a link to some pictures and stories, they are disturbing.

Jena 6: Today!

Today is the day for protest in Jena. Some reports say up to 10,000 people are expected in the town of about 3,000. There are many solidarity protests happening in college campuses and cities across the country. At least one major benefit concert is also planned. Big names like David Bowie have donated to the Jena 6 Defense Fund. Jesse Jackson has created even more buzz about Jena by going after Senator Obama, accusing him of not talking enough about the Jena 6.

More to come later about the protest and the incredibly shady actions of the Distric Attorney.

Also, Democracy Now! continues to do great reporting on the story, going to Jena and speaking to family of the Jena 6, memebers of the 6 themselves, and local government officials.

Jena 6: Mychal Bell Still in Jail

Despite having his conviction overturned last week by an appeals court in Lousiana, Mychal Bell, now guilty of nothing, still sits in jail. Bell's lawyers said yesterday that the judge and DA who were supposed to appear at yesterdays bail hearing did not show up for court. You see, the DA still has the option of charging Bell in Juvenile court. Until all charges are formally dropped Bell can only be released through the process of the bail hearing or the removal of the requirement of bail in his case. The DA has two weeks to make this decide what to do. I suspect he will be released before the planned protest this week.

The District Attorney's office said the DA had no appearance scheduled on his calendar. While this may all just be a mix up the whole history of this case makes me wonder how it is a DA and a Defense Attorney could get the dates mixed up in this very high profile case.

The beat goes on. Protests are still scheduled in Jena for Thursday September 20th. The town of about 3,000 will likely face a protest with more than three times the town's entire population and I bet it will be hot down there.

Jena 6: Mychal Bell's Conviction Thrown Out!

An appeals court in Louisiana threw out Mychal Bell's battery conviction today. Bell, the first of the Jena 6 to face trial, was convicted of battery and was to be sentenced later this month as large protests in the small town were scheduled. Bell is still in prison, but most likely will be released soon. His attorneys are planning to file a motion to get him released. The judge threw out the conviction stating that Bell should have been tried in juvenile court.

Before today, Bell was facing over 20 years in prison for a fight culminating out of a series of racially charged altercations between white and black students t a local high school that began with the hanging of nooses in a school yard tree. Hopefully, the local prosecutor will wise up and drop the charges against the remaining members of the Jena 6. I don't see how he could do anything else.

While this case did receive a decent amount of national attention, especially recently in the run up to Bell's sentencing, the outcome can definitely be credited in large part to grass roots efforts to bring attention to Jena and to support the Jena 6 and their legal team.

Jena 6: More Reduction in Charges

An additional member of the Jena 6 has had his attempted murder charge reduced to assault. Robert Bailey is the 3rd member of the 6 to have his charges reduced. Mychal Bell the first of the 6 to face trial was convicted on the assault charge and will be sentenced September 20th. Bell faces 20 years in prison for his role in a one sided fight between 6 black high schoolers and a fellow white student at the end of a series of racially charged confrontations among local students in the Louisiana town.

Jena 6: In USA Today

An article a couple of days ago in USA Today talks about the story out of Jena, LA and focuses on the groundswell of support for the young African Americans who face trumped up charges for a school yard fight culminating out of racial tension from a local high school that by all accounts started with the appearance of three nooses hanging from a school yard tree.

The article talks about how the Jena 6 have gained wide support among African Americans and is one of the few nation wide news outlets with significant reach that has done a story on Jena. Here is the article.

Jena 6: Judge Refuses to Overturn Bell Conviction

A judge in Jena, Louisiana has refused to overturn the battery conviction of Mychal Bell, the first of the Jena 6 to be tried. The judge did throw out the conspiracy conviction, which maybe a warning to prosecutors to not pursue this charge with the other members of the Jena 6. Bell now faces 15 year in prison instead of more than 20. While, in some sens, this is good news any time that any of the Jena 6 may face is completely unjust.

Democracy Now continues to cover the story in depth and today's program revealed some of the treatment faced by 2 of the 6 while spending time in jail prior to their release on bail. The full interview and transcript with Theo Shaw and Robert Bailey can be found here.

The two men detail how mace was used on them and other inmates during their time in jail. They discuss how the use of the mace was often arbitrary and used against inmates with asthma. On a side note, I have heard many first hand stories from prisoners in Florida who have complained of frequent, malicious, and arbitrary use of mace on prisoners. Some prisoners were often left to sit in the clothes they were sprayed in for hours when showers and a change of clothese were supposed to immediately occur.

Jena 6: More Racism, Less Justice

As reported here a while back a group of black high school students were arrested after a series of racially charged confrontations with white students from their local high school in Jena Louisiana. One of the 6, Mychal Bell, has already been tried and convicted of aggravated assault and faces an upcoming sentencing date with the possibility of serving more than 20 years in prison for what amounts to a school yard fight. The facts leading up to the criminal charges are numerous and a good synopsis can be found in a previous post, right here. In short, the whole story starts with a noose hanging from a school yard tree in an apparent request by black students of school administrators to sit under the tree during lunch along with other students. The tree has since been cut down by the school.

Two of the Jena 6 have had their charges reduced from attempted second degree murder to the same aggravated assault Mychal Bell was previously convicted of. Two other men still face attempted murder charges.

Also, today, a judge in Jena was scheduled to hear arguments on a motion to thrown at the convictions of Mychal Bell.

Find out more and help the Jena 6.

Click here for all plasticblog posts on the Jena 6.

Jena 6

Check out Color of Changes campaign concerning the Jena 6. Sign the petition. You can donate money to the defense fund, money that is desperately needed.


Read more on the story of the 6 kids who's lives are about to be ruined because of this racist little town in Louisiana.

The whole story begins with the hanging of nooses from this tree on the grounds of a local high school in response to a black student's desire to sit under it.

Also, check out Color of Change's synopsis of the case.

Jena 6: UPDATE

A couple of new bits out of the sad Jena 6 story in Louisiana. The last of the black high school students arrested finally got of jail this week after the $100,000 bail could finally be paid. Also, the sentencing of the first student to go to trial, Michael Bell, was pushed back to September. It had been scheduled for this month. Bell was convicted and faces over 20 years in prison for what amounts to a schoolyard fight. Check my my earlier post and Democracy Now for more info.

Down South

There was more racism in Jena last week following a string of incidents that culminated with a group of young black males being arrested and charged with attempted murder. According to Democracy Now hours after a NAACP meeting last week at the Antioch Baptist Church in Jena to discuss the Jena 6 incident, the church's sign was run over by a vehicle carrying two white men. The two men were arrested. Sady, there is surely more to come.

The Jena 6 and Racism that Won't Quit

Living in Brooklyn the most I am exposed to "racism" or any behavior based on race has to do with the fear people have of living in or walking through "bad" neighborhoods, those usually inhabited by blacks or Latinos. Daily contact and conversation with people of many races and ethnic backgrounds and the generally liberal stance of most New Yorkers makes the idea of overt racism seem like something from the relatively distant past.

Unfortunately two recent stories have demonstrated racism is still alive and kicking. The first, which is ending up much better than it at first seemed it would, is that of Genarlow Wilson (a good summary of his case can be found here on Wikipedia.) The second, and in my view the more telling and vile case, is that of what has been dubbed as the Jena 6. Jena is a small town in the heart of Louisiana. The case revolves around a series of encounters between high school blacks and whites from a Jena high school. By most accounts the story starts with a request by a black student of a school administrator for permission, for himself and two friends, to sit, during lunch, under a shade tree. The tree was apparently a lunch spot for many of the schools white students. The administrator told the black student that he was welcome to sit under the tree. The next day the same tree had three nooses hanging from its branches.

The school punished the students who hung the nooses by suspending them and wrote of the incident as nothing more than a prank. A couple of encounters among some of the involved students occurred after the fact. One such encounter involved a white student pulling a gun on a group of blacks and the other a black student getting jumped at a party.

Subsequently, a fight occurred in which a group of black students beat up a white student. The white student was hospitalized but was released the same day and was seen at a party that very evening.

Up to this point much of the racial tension could be written off as a "boys will be boys" problem. Many schools experience tension between blacks and whites that bubble into physical confrontation. The middle school and high school I attended had both. In Jena, however, the black students involved were arrested and charged with attempted murder. One of the boys was recently found guilty and now faces 20 years in prison.

The intimate details of the trial and the all white composition of the jury, the hypocritical actions of the DA and the different reactions of the town's white and black residents paint the picture of a town that seems to be existing in the 1960's. A great interview with many of the parents of the Jena 6 was conducted last week by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now. The transcript of the interview which contains a detailed account of the time-line of the incidents leading up to the present can be found here.

The remaining members of the Jena 6 will be coming up for trial in the next few months. There is a lot of local support for the 6 in Jena and Louisiana, hopefully more attention and pressure can be brought nationally. A legal fund has been established.

Jena 6 Defense Committee
PO Box 2798
Jena, LA 71342.

Some more info and opinion can be found here.