I’ve read the phrase “they terrorized their own community” repeated with regard to the Jena Six, just the like accusations that the Jena Six were harrassing white girls. I posted a challenge on that in Jena 6: Now Sexual Allegations. I’m repeating that challenge right now. The burden of proof is on the person making the assertion – if these things are true, back them up. I’m not talking about court-worthy evidence – just a reasonable explanation of why you’re making the assertions, with enough detail to be plausible. Put up, or shut up.
In A Few Thoughts On The Left, The Right, and The Jena Six, Lillie commented:
I live in Jena. I know these people. You don’t have an inkling about what is really going on here. People have to be imported for the protests. Don’t you think that is odd? Maybe it is because the black community, for the most part, know these kids and know that they are guilty of more than just attacking Justin Barker. They have literally terrorized their own community. And where was Ms. Bailey when Robert’s teachers called about his behavior in grade school? I dare to say that Mychal and Theo’s fathers were never before concerned. Just when the cameras arrived. Get the facts! You are not even close to the truth.
I responded:
I think they have to be imported because 60% of your parish voted for David Duke, Lillie. I think they have to be imported because only 12% of Jena’s population is black. I think they have to be imported because of the open, well-documented racism in your town to the point where the barber was not ashamed to tell the Chicago Tribune that he refused to cut black men’s hair, and where whites got off scot-free for the exact same crime the Jena Six are being prosecuted for. So to answer your question, no, I don’t think it’s odd at all.
You say they’ve “terrorized their own community.” I’ve read that before, at the Town Talk message boards. It’s a lot like that “coattails of racism” catch phrase that made the rounds. You’re asserting something, well, BACK IT UP. Give details and at least approximate dates. I’m betting you can’t do it, because just like the people who hew to the party line that the noose-hangers were trying to drive the black kids away from the “white tree” because they were bothering the white girls, you’re repeating “conventional wisdom” which is usually two lies for the price of one. Back it up – no one else has, and I’m betting you won’t be the first.
To anyone who makes the allegations that the Jena 6 are serial troublemakers -
BACK IT UP, OR SHUT UP.
Prove yourself right, and I’ll even thank you, and apologize. But I’m betting I won’t have to. And by the way, whatever Bailey’s or the other Jena 6′s parents did or did not do is irrelevant. The Jena 6 are being prosecuted for something that whites who committed the exact same crime a few days before got off for. That has nothing to do with history, parenting, or anything else. It has to do with the injustice that the people of Jena are tolerating in their own community.
How long ago did David Duke run for office? I don’t even remember. That is such an assinine statement. If the black community in Jena wanted to protest, they would. They don’t because they know these boys.
And as for Mr. Doughty, the barber, not cutting black hair-in case you are unaware-a black person’s hair is very different from white hair. I’m pretty sure that a black person would never let someone unfamiliar with the texture and behavior of their hair touch it.
The records are there. At school, at the courthouse. This is not their first trouble. I personally know children who have been threatened and bullied by these boys. Black and white. I know adults who have been harassed by these boys. I’m not naming names-that’s not my place-just like it is not your place to make up stories about racism in Jena, LA.
Actually, the citizens of Jena have taken the high road during this ordeal. We are quiet, respectful of each other, and trying very hard not to react to the lies. Why don’t you focus on something you might have a little knowledge about. I’m sure if you think really hard you might come up with SOMETHNG you have a little knowledge about (sorry-got off the high road for a minute).
It’s not an asinine statement. Furthermore, highly Republican LaSalle Parish voted in Kathleen Blanco over Bobby Jindal, if you need a more recent example.
Explain why the DA did not cite these records – especially the ones “at the courthouse” to explain why he’s bringing felony charges instead of letting them be tried in the juvenile system. Because there are none.
I’m sorry to be harsh about it, but you’re full of crap.
Added: And I still stand by “put up or shut up.” Everything I’ve written about this case has been publicly reported and not challenged by anyone in authority. I’m here in Louisiana, I’m conservative, and I would dearly love to be wrong about this case. Prove me wrong and I will thank you. Send flowers, even. Make a donation to the charity of your choosing. I WANT to be wrong. But I’m not wrong.
Added, for clarity – Everything I’ve quoted in my posts and that I’ve written about has been publicly reported and not challenged. I’m not under the impression that anyone in authority reads this blog.
And if you do have information that would make your town look less like a pack of Klan wannabe’s, I think it’s extremely irresponsible to keep it to yourself.
I’m no lawyer so I don’t know the legal ins and outs, but Mychal was on trial for the beating-not everything else. Maybe it will come out at the sentencing. And yes there are records. How can you say-from where ever you are-that there are none? You wouldn’t know these kids if they walked up to you. All you want is to believe that 6 fine little black boys are being railroaded by some big old mean white people. Not to be “harsh about it” but guess who is really ……. As far as this not being challenged-do you really think that what you write is worth the effort. I just happened to stumble across this crap when I was checking out the lies being told by the bleeding heart democrates who love racism-even if they have to fabricate it.
To Lillian-
“And as for Mr. Doughty, the barber, not cutting black hair-in case you are unaware-a black person’s hair is very different from white hair. I’m pretty sure that a black person would never let someone unfamiliar with the texture and behavior of their hair touch it.”
Your town has roughly around 4,000 residents, 85% of whom are white. That’s 3,400 people. If Mr. Doughty cut at least 1,000 of that 3,400 heads of hair in his lifetime, how much are you willing to bet that every single one of them has the same texture and feel? It’s not likely. You should know that different genes result in different kinds of hair especially since the white race is a mixture of so many different cultures- that is, unless your oh-so-wonderful Christian town doesn’t believe in genes and erased it from the curriculum. The problem is not about the black person not letting someone unfamiliar touch his hair, it’s the outright refusal of Mr. Doughty not to cut a black person’s hair because he’s black. If there was a situation where a black person said into the camera: “I refuse to let a white man cut my hair.” You can be sure that others will hear about it but none ever has. Mr. Doughty was *proud* to say that refused to cut black people’s hair.
And that’s not racism?
“I personally know children who have been threatened and bullied by these boys. Black and white. I know adults who have been harassed by these boys. I’m not naming names-that’s not my place-just like it is not your place to make up stories about racism in Jena, LA.”
I highly doubt you’re not naming names due to your wonderful Southern hospitality but rather, when recalling these memories, you couldn’t remember the names of those who were bullied by these black boys, could you? Of course you know children who have been threaten and bullied by these boys and I believe you. However, I’m also sure you know that these children have also been threatened by other kids who may or may not be black. Adults who have been harassed by these boys probably have been harassed by others, even people of their own peers but don’t mention it. Don’t make a specific example out of a general occurrence. Bullying will ALWAYS happen whether they be black, white, purple. No this does not make it right but it proves your example invalid.
“I’m no lawyer so I don’t know the legal ins and outs, but Mychal was on trial for the beating-not everything else.”
Do you know how to read or is the only thing you guys can read is your Bible? The result of his trial has been posted ALL over the internet and I’m sure as a resident of Jena, you heard of the NEWS firsthand when they said that he had been “convicted of aggravated second degree assault” and “conspiracy to commit secondary degree aggravated assault.” No, it’s not a beating because beating falls under the category of battery which by legal definitions requires a weapon of some sort. In case you didn’t understand the legal talk, here’s what I hope to be a simple explanation:
“conviction of aggravated second degree assault”- This means that the convicted caused intentional serious body harm to the victim. I have no doubt that what he did was intentional but when the victim walks out of the hospital after a few hours with a small concussion and was still able to make it to a school function a scant few hours later, you’ll find very few QUALIFIED doctors who will call that a serious body harm.
“conspiracy to commit secondary degree aggravated assault”- This means that he planned to do the above.
“I just happened to stumble across this **** when I was checking out the lies being told by the bleeding heart democrates who love racism-even if they have to fabricate it.”
Bleeding-heart democrats don’t need to fabricate something that’s already there. They don’t need to. I cannot applaud you on your choice of staying quiet and being a good little girl because it just seems to me that you’re ignoring a problem which exists and hoping it will go away like a bad case of the cold. Ignorance is bliss; history has established that many times and you’re making history by doing it also.
I say there are none based on logic. If Reed Walters had some justification for making these crimes felonies, he would have trumpeted it from the housetops. Just as if Justin Barker had significant injuries, he would have made the case on the facts instead of swaying the jury with photos. And actually I would know the Jena 6 – I’ve put considerable time in studying this case. The audience for this blog is quite small, really – usually about 10k, and since I’ve been posting on the Jena 6, about 14k, per month. So, no, I don’t delude myself that any of the powers-that-be involved in this case read this blog. As to being challenged, I don’t make this stuff up out of whole cloth. Obviously I’m getting my facts elsewhere – the Town Talk, the Shreveport Times, and other, larger organizations. Their facts have not been challenged, and I’m quite sure that the powers-that-be know what’s being written in those papers. And if even 10% of my readers take the time to call their Congressman, that is substantial by Congressional standards. 100 phone calls is significant, and even 50 letters is considered a big deal because it takes time to write. So yes, it’s worth the effort. How you defend this case, and Jena, is quite beyond me. I hope that someday you have the grace to be ashamed of it.
I lived in LaSalle parish and visit there frequently, so Mrs. Lillie or whomever you are, you can stop all this “they terrorized their own community”. What about those same white boys who are known to ride around doing their own “terrorism”? Your point is that they “terrorized” their community so they should be unfairly treated to justice? THIS IS THE POINT! Nobody’s protesting because lo, and behold! they know how the “justice” system works. I KNOW HOW THE JUSTICE SYSTEM OF CALDWELL, LASALLE, GRANT, AND OUACHITA PARISH WORKS!!! And believe me, it doesn’t work for ALL people. We have to “import” people to make a difference in these boys young lives, so be it! There’s nothing wrong with that. It’ll just show you and your local law how widespread this has become and that they are not alone. In fact, I’m there NOW!!!
If you are getting all your information from the liberal media, then you are sorely mistaken. Every single white person I have spoken to in the central Louisiana area thinks that the original charge of attempted murder is preposterous. They also think that Mychal has served enough time.
Please stop trying to make everyone in Louisiana look like redneck racists. We’re not.
I’m not trying to make everyone in LA look like redneck racists. I live here too. And if you all think the charge is preposterous and that Bell has served enough time, I hope that you are acting on those sentiments with letters and phone calls to the appropriate people. It does no good to talk amongst ourselves. Put in a phone call to Vitter and Landreiu and whoever your Rep. is. Call the state AG, and your local reps. The problem here is not what I or anyone else is writing. The problem is what is actually happening in Jena.
I also live in Jena. I have just started getting more information on the Jena Six and would like to contribute my views. I believe that the hanging of nooses in that tree was inexcusable and the punishment meted out to those responsible was ridiculous. There should have been a much more severe punishment. A minimum of a long out of school suspension, maximum being expelled for the rest of the year and having to repeat it. I don’t believe that there is ANY excuse for a six-on-one fight. I don’t care who the participants are, it’s unfair and tells me that they intended harm. I don’t believe that attempted second degree murder and conspiracy to commit second degree murder charges are appropriate for the crime committed. The boys who hung the nooses were grossly under punished and the jena six are being grossly over punished. I think it’s appalling what happened at Mychal Bell’s trial. His lawyer is a disgrace and should be disbarred. I hope that he gets a fair trial and decent lawyer in an appeal. I don’t believe that these boys should go free with no charges, but the charges as they stand are too much. I also believe that the ones who hung the nooses should be charged and there should be punishment. Unfortunately, I don’t know if that will happen.
Sarah, thanks for your comment. Most people agree, the noose-hangers were “grossly under punished” and the Jena 6 are “grossly over punished.” It’s likely too late to do anything about the noose hangers but there can still be justice for the Jena 6. I hope you are advocating and spreading the word in Jena on their behalf.