Jenna Louisiana – The Jenna 6

I got this email forward and found it quite interesting. I will address my thoughts under the article below.

JUSTICE FOR THE “JENA 6” – TAKE ACTION NOW!!!

(please forward!!)

THE FACTS:

In a small highly segregated rural Louisiana town of Jena in September 2006, a black student asked 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.”

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!!!

SPREAD THE WORD!

If you have any questions, call Angela Ciccolo or Stefanie Brown at the National Headquarters at (410) 580-5777.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT MATTER!!!

Stefanie L. Brown,
National Director
NAACP Youth & College Division
410.580.5658
410.764.6683 fax

sbrown@naacpnet.org
www.naacp.org

Nikki Jenkins, M.A.
City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities
910 Dublin Road
Columbus, OH 43215
614-645-1881
614-645-8019 fax

“To enhance the quality of life now and into the future for people living, working and raising families in Central Ohio through economic, efficient and environmentally responsible stewardship of superior public utilities.”

  • 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.
  • Sign the Petition: http://www.naacp.org/get-involved/activism/petitions/jena-6/index.php
  • Donate online to the:
  • Donate to the NAACP: https://www.naacp.org/contribute/contribute.php
  • Make a Phone Call:
    • 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) 342-7099contact@la.govCharles 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
  • Send a letter to the Louisiana Governor and the Louisiana Attorney General:
    http://www.naacp.org/pdfs/SampleJena6SupportLetter.pdf” (sample letter)
  • 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!
  • 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?

First, I just want to state that I did verify this story with Snopes. There are some interesting facts that seem to missing from the above quote that Snopes did a nice job in digging up.

I also want to state that I am not a racist at all. If I don’t like you, you can rest assured that it has nothing to do with the color of your skin, where you are from, or what language you speak.

After reading this, I am kind of torn between how I should feel about this particular incident. The persons who hung this noose in the tree should have been (or should be) prosecuted as criminals who committed a hate crime. Hanging a (3) noose(s) from the tree is undeniably a hate crime. Unless they were all just good buddies, haha, you know… having some fun. No harm, no foul. But this obviously isn’t the case.

However, just because the white kids crime was not considered a crime, that still doesn’t give the black kids (or white kids!) the opportunity to commit a crime and not be punished for it. If the white kids were convicted of a hate crime, do you think this email still would have been circulated? I do.

And how do we really know what was going through those kids minds when they were stomping the other boy? Did they intend to kill him? They very well may have. That is only something that they know. Were the white kids trying to send a message that they were planning an attack on the others? They very well may have been doing just that.

Whatever their plans were, it really doesn’t matter anymore. This is where we are now. I have a feeling that a little town called Jenna in Louisiana is about to go through a major cultural change.

9 thoughts on “Jenna Louisiana – The Jenna 6”

  1. This article that has been written is solely on opinion only.

    First, I will like to say what happen with the Jenna 6 was unpleasant for all involved. The students that were black felt the unpleasantness of their ancestor’s past. The white kid that was involved in the fight felt the unpleasantness of being assaulted against his will. What is missing that is not felt is that this incident seems to no longer focus on the real problem at hand.

    The real problem is not what the Jenna 6 did because we all know and can agree that violence is never the answer. The real problem should not be focused on the incident of the three nooses that were held or the six black students who decided to retaliate with violence instead of seeking out professionals that could help them. The real problem should be aimed at the police department who showed a high midget of racism when they charged the six young black students.
    Our justice system is supposed to be designed on a due process system. What this means is that there is a set of laws that govern such actions. Why did the police station look over the due process system and charged the boys with attempted murder. If you feel that this charge of attempted murder is appropriate then you have not read the facts. Even without the facts we need to understand what went wrong. The anger that stems from this situation is really not based on what happen to cause six students to jump on one white student who was in the hospital but a couple of hours, and he was a able to attend an award ceremony. The white student was never in danger of dying. So, my question remains…..Why did the police station look over the due process system?

    My opinion is that this mess of an incident is due to the prejudice of the police station. The police showed racism in how they decided to charge the six young black men. This is what we need to reform. We need to know that our justice system will work the same for all of us no matter what our religious or ethnic background consist of. The Jenna police station failed to show that all people are created equally and this is where the fight should end and begin. Leave the people of Jenna alone and reform the police station.

    Felica Sims-Dotie
    October 8, 2007

  2. This article that has been written is solely on opinion only.
    First, I will like to say what happen with the Jenna 6 was unpleasant for all involved. The students that were black felt the unpleasantness of their ancestor’s past. The white kid that was involved in the fight felt the unpleasantness of being assaulted against his will. What is missing that is not felt is that this incident seems to no longer focus on the real problem at hand.
    The real problem is not what the Jenna 6 did because we all know and can agree that violence is never the answer. The real problem should not be focused on the incident of the three nooses that were held or the six black students who decided to retaliate with violence instead of seeking out professionals that could help them. The real problem should be aimed at the police department who showed a high midget of racism when they charged the six young black students.Our justice system is supposed to be designed on a due process system. What this means is that there is a set of laws that govern such actions. Why did the police station look over the due process system and charged the boys with attempted murder. If you feel that this charge of attempted murder is appropriate then you have not read the facts. Even without the facts we need to understand what went wrong. The anger that stems from this situation is really not based on what happen to cause six students to jump on one white student who was in the hospital but a couple of hours, and he was a able to attend an award ceremony. The white student was never in danger of dying. So, my question remains…..Why did the police station look over the due process system?
    My opinion is that this mess of an incident is due to the prejudice of the police station. The police showed racism in how they decided to charge the six young black men. This is what we need to reform. We need to know that our justice system will work the same for all of us no matter what our religious or ethnic background consist of. The Jenna police station failed to show that all people are created equally and this is where the fight should end and begin. Leave the people of Jenna alone and reform the police station.
    Felica Sims-DotieOctober 8, 2007

    The reason these boys were charged with attempted second degree murder was not due to a lack of due process. By the way, due process has NOTHING to do with what they are charged with. It has to do with basically getting your day in court in front of a jury of your peers. So your ignorance is showing here. It also shows when you don’t recognize that they were charged with attempted 2nd degree murder (initially) because this young white man was beaten unconscious and then the black students CONTINUED to beat and kick him. I also love the way you handily dismiss his “couple of hours in the emergency room”. It’s calle the “EMERGENCY” room for a reason. And the reason Mr. Bell has been given a longer sentence is because he has a prior conviction less than a year before this incident of assault. I’m afraid I see a pattern developing here. If ANYBODY should be charged with a hate crime it should be the Jenna 6 who admittedly beat up this student because of the 3 nooses and the ensuing racial tension. By DEFINITION that makes this a hate crime! So I consider the Jenna 6 actually a little lucky because hate crimes carry a much, much stiffer sentence than the charge they were eventually given. We are all sick of the “Woe is me. We are such victims”. When 6 black students beat up one white student it’s “okay” because it’s retaliation for the “persecution” they have suffered. When the WHITE man in Texas shoots two men (with extensive felony rap sheets) who are robbing his neighbor the Black Panthers are up in arms about people being the judge, jury, and executioner. Which way do you wan it people?

  3. 👿 That is sooooooo STUPID!!!!!!!!!! 😡 A shoe is NOT a deadly weapon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This is RACIST!!! Which is WRONG!!!! 👿 👿 👿 👿 👿 👿 😡 😡 😡 😡

    Stupid evil RACIST white people…you should be ASHAMED!!!!!!!!!

  4. It is a shame that these 6 will not be punished for their hate crime on the basis of reverse racism. You want whites to all like you, but you want them to totally ignore your own hatred towards them. This young white boy never owned them. Let me and 5 other guys kick you to sleep and you say that our shoes aren’t deadly weopons. The young man is lucky to be alive. Will the 6 not kill the next? It is a shame to see our prisons fill up with repeat offenders. It may also be more surprising to see the high black population that resides there. Numbers don’t lie and the judicial system is full of judges who are leniant towards minorities in fear of being labeled racist. You let 6 white boys beat up a black boy in this fashion and they would be under the jail.

  5. If Bill had read all the info on this subject, he’d know black kids were beat up at white parties prior to this, and no one was under the jail after.

  6. Response to Billy

    You are living in a fantasy world if you think that justice was not served for the white boy who clearly was never in any real danger. The problem is not that we want to see the boys get away with assault. Assault was what it was but deadly I do not think so. “EMERGENCY” as you put it is used for more than just emergency. How many people go to emergencies rooms everyday just to be sent back home because their sickness was not considered a emergency at all! Maybe your problem is you are unable to think outside the box. Try being open-minded and not simple and see where it takes you in life. Expressing rudeness does not make your argument right or appealing.

  7. I REALLY CAN’T STAND RACIST WHITE PEOPLE.HOW THEY ARE TREATING JENNA 6 IS TRULY WRONG 22 YEARS THEY JUST DOIN TO MUCH. YOU RACIST WHITE PEOPLE REALLY SHOULD HAVE THE TABLES TURNED ON YOU AND SEE HOW IT FEELS. IT IS SO PATHETIC THESE PEOPLE ARE SO IGNORANT AND SCARED. YOU ARE NOT SUPERIOR OR IN CHARGE AND WHEN GOD COMES BACK I REALLY FEEL FOR YOUR SOULS BECA– USE GOD IS REALLY IN CONTROL.MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE JENNA 6 AND THEIR FAMILIES. I LOVE YOU AND STAND STRONG AND HOLD ON TO GODS HAND . GOD MAKES A WAY OUT OF NO WAY.

  8. I bet Felicia, Taylor, Chris, MariaCarter, and Lillian all vote Democrat! It’s such a woe is me…..we are not responsible for OUR own actions attitude. How much longer should we marinate in this self pity of “we are so persecuted for no reason”.

    Just be aware that now when you say “the man” is keeping you down, for the first time “the man” is black. Let’s see what he does to help.

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