The Jena 6: Open Thread

Okay i haven’t been on for a long time and that is because of school, but i just think that first of all let’s just forget about the white girls who are being hit on by these black boys. (Just catching up from the last comments) Some white girls (like the ones i go to school with) know that, that is what the black boys are like at our school. So they like me (a STRONG black women) take it and just move along. And with all of this “you racist no you racist” scrap needs to stop. And i still stand by mychal Bell i so don’t think that he or his friends should have to go to prison for anything. They should be put on strict housearrest and strict probation. Not all of this 22 years in prison, because he didn’t do anything that bad (extreme) should i say. A SCHOOL FIGHT not a shooting rampage.

James Black, From Jena 2:

Do you remember that rash of car burglaries that happened across town? Did it seem to you like it just all the sudden STOPPED after these 6 boys got arrested? Is it just me?

I’m not making any assumptions or implying anything, I just think it’s a little odd.

B.WallaceThis was not just a schoolyard fight. They beat this kid down and then put the boots to him, and that my friend is attempted murder, because in La., and most states, the foot is considered a deadly weapon when applied to the head in a situation where the victim is prostrate and/or defenseless and cannot protect themselves.

[Barker's injuries DO NOT support being kicked or stomped in the head, especially by a group of athletes. No broken nose, broken teeth, cheek fractures, no serious injuries to the head. I don't care what the photos look like - photos always look terrible, that's why prosecutors use them. But the medical testimony proves either that you are wrong, or that if the Jena 6 did kick him in the head, it was with so little force that it can't be considered attempted murder by any reasonable person. And they weren't wearing boots, according to Reed Walters it was sneakers. Stop dramatizing this, the plain facts are sufficiently bad. - Laura]

From Jena 2
I never thought about it but you are correct. There have been some issues going on on the midway cutoff. I told my wife to avoif this area when she comes home from work.

I would rather eat a plain cold sandwich than to spend one dime of my hard earned money in Jena. I am doing an interview tomorrow with a major television news cast, as finally we are getting some major media coverage. Jena is not the only place in La to eat and it would be a small sacrifice that makes a huge statement.
To Common Sense:
the reason why so many blacks still have issue with this country when it comes to slavery is the fact that so many white people try to downplay it always saying stuff like you all aint the only people been oppressed, that was years ago get over it.
My grandma and even my dad lived through Jim Crow Laws, when they were not allowed the same opportunity as whites, my grandmothers, grandma who lived to be a little over 108yrs old was a former slave. I am tired of white people telling me how I ought to feel about my history and what happened to my ancestors. Have you ever seen the pictures of a back torn open from a whip it leaves scars on your heart that cannot be erased. Have you ever had one of your family members hung from a tree, do you know what it feels like to not be able to trace back your family history and to know you are related to people that know nothing of you or them because some of your family was ripped apart and sold away. So do not tell us to just get over it, or how to feel about it, the only way you could understand is if you experience it.

Black people in America have been and continue to be treated unfairly and yes I am mad as hell about it, sorry if I have not gotten over it as fast as you think I should. In America being tried by all white juries means a conviction to Blacks, plain and simple. Regardless of who’s butt he touched or past issues this kid still deserved a fair trial.
The charge of attempted murder should have never even came to exist. I agree that racism from whites stems from hating people for the color of their skin. When black have issues with whites it is usually due, to our getting angry over the injustices we have faced.

I do not expect you or from Jena, or from Jena 2, to understand. I am not disputing the fact that there should be punishment I am disputing how it was handed down, the reason it was so harsh, and the unfair railroad of a trial that took place, and a town of “good people” that allowed it to happen.

Free:

Here we go again. Now my choice in restaurant recommendations make me a racist. Wow! I like barbecue better than ANY black person, so chill out.

And I never said ANYTHING about race in my “little snide, remark”. I was referring to these particular guys. You are the one turning it into a race thing. I’m referring to it as a crime thing.

You assume everything white people say are based on bias and prejudice.

You’re right, I’m very sorry I can’t understand what other people’s ancestors in this country have done to you (that’s right! my ancestors came over in the early eighteen hundreds and never owned slaves). What happened back then was horrible, and everyone has acknowledged that. What YOU don’t understand is that when you constantly throw it in people’s faces who had nothing to do with it and when you make accusations based in minor comments people make (like the food), you frustrate people. Most people will come to the conclusion you are just angry and you don’t want to resolve anything. They’ll conclude you just want to complain and feel sorry for yourself.

If that sounds insensitive, I’m sorry. You just need to realize that accusing me of being racist over every little thing, and telling us that we’ll never know how it feels to have slaves as ancestors will never accomplish ANYTHING. Do you realize that?

If you feel that coming down to the good ole town of Jena to support a repeat violent offender is accomplishing something, then go ahead. This is a free country. Just make sure and stop by one of our restaurants and get some .

What is fraustrating is when whites in the South bring up the confederate army it is history, when we bring up slavery we are drudging up the past and throwing it in people’s faces.
Do you know for certain that none of your ancestors took part in Jim Crow laws, Slavery is not the only wrong done to us.
Believe it or not up until this issue came up I hardly spoke about the issue of slavery accept amongst my kids and my family. And no not everyone has acknowledged that slavery is wrong, some will not even admit it happened, no more so than many have even tried to gain an understanding of what this has done to an entire race of people. What has caused me to bring it up is that a lot of white people that I have encountered on a number of blogs, bring it up even before I do, always saying all black people want is a handout, we do not want to hear nor do we care about what happened to your ancestors just get over it.

Yes I am angry but what has caused me to become very angry is that you keep acting like you do not know the implications of what an all white jury has meant to blacks in this country, yet you want us to accept it as fair and impartial and it is not.
It is unfortunate but yes I do expect that there is some racism behind comments like that, do you know how many times in my life time I have heard white people say, all we eat is watermelon, fried chicken, and bar-be-cue, so yes I take it that way when I hear it because it is something that gets thrown at me quite often. I work five days a week and I am constantly stereotyped as being on welfare, my dad is constantly followed by white police officers when he is driving yet he has never committed any crimes. My anger breeds from my experiences and how I and my family have been treated. Sorry but it is the history of what has been done to us that makes us so angry. This case just opened up a lot of old wounds for many black people and it hurts my heart that still in 2007 there are a lot of white people that think there is no problem with all white justice, it is was wrong then, and it is wrong now.
Believe it or not I am not normally this angry but it makes my blood boil, to know that something I thought we had done away with during the civil rights is resurfacing it’s ugly head. I am fighting back and not just for myself but for my kids and their kids. If you were offended by the food comment I am sorry unfortunatly I get offended quite often by the same stereotypes all the time.

Free:

You have some good points in your last posting. I do understand better where you are coming from now.

I have not argued that racism isn’t an issue that should be just thrown out the window. I completely realize it still exists. You’ve made some comments that prove that. I’m sorry if you found my food comments racist. They weren’t meant as such. My sarcasm and anger in this posting and others is stemmed from my anger about how this situation has been mishandled by the media. Several people in Jena have taken the time to review court documents and eye witness statements from these incidents in question. I have yet to see them, but plan on it in the coming weeks. From what they say, the media bias is alot worse than I originally thought. I get a very strong feeling that once the dust has settled, you and everyone else will get a different impression of what is happening in Jena right now. I don’t expect you to change your viewpoint on racism. If you feel like people have prejudices towards you and feel as strongly as you do about racism, you should fight for what you feel is right. I’d probably do the same thing you are doing.

My point is, racism has ALOT less to do with all of the incidents in Jena than the media is making out. Yes, nooses were hung. Three guys made a racially insensitive mistake that should have been punished further. Everything else in this case is debatable, and doesn’t directly point to racism. In fact, most of the Jena 6 story points alot more towards a justice system sick of several students who have been continual troublemakers in the community as opposed to racism.

I admire you for fighting for your rights as a human being, as you should. But you are asking a guy to be freed who is a violent criminal, and has been confirmed as such by the judge and everyone in his community that knows him. So if coming to Jena makes you feel like you’re fighting for your civil rights, make a beeline.

I’ll end with a comment I made in a previous posting. If the black community decides to make Mychal Bell their beacon of hope for fixing racial issues in this country, they are making a grave mistake. How do you expect every other race in this country to respect your cause if you’re asking that a violent, repeat offender be released on the streets after he has already been given FOUR chances to straighten himself out? Even more than that, read the article above which From Jena 2 has supplied. It’s a black man who writes columns for ESPN. There are other facts (and individuals) in this case that will gain more sympathy from people and further your cause.

I’ve still yet to hear an answer to my burning question:

If the town of Jena is a town full of racial hatred, as many of you describe, why did Mychal Bell get FOUR chances before this one? Why was he allowed to commit four violent criminal acts before the DA finally slapped it to him?

Have any of you thought of this?

A town full or racism would have slapped the book at him the FIRST time, maybe the second…but this is the FIFTH!!!

Seriously think about it…

Laura:

“I would venture to guess that he was “given” four chances because he was entitled to them.”

My point is, if our town is as racist as the media and some of these people feel, the court system wouldn’t FEEL like he was entitled to them because he was black.

But this wasn’t the case.

Laura-
“I would venture to guess that he was “given” four chances because he was entitled to them. That was appropriate and normal under the law.”

So its fair and he is entitled to being let off easy the first four times. But you freak out when the system is “too tough”?

Roy Ce:

Thank you, I’m glad some in here understand this is a respectable debate and not an immature argument.

“I see how this town hands down justice”

I do, too. I’ve lived here almost my entire life.

“The whites were let off easy and the blacks were treated harshly in several instances.”

The only instance I can point a finger to where justice wasn’t handed down correctly (with racism in serious question) was the noose hangings. This was not the justice system, it was the school board. The final decision was made by the superintendent. I agree that they should have been punished further. Some think charges should have been brought. But if you read what the FBI said in the Town Talk article, you’ll notice Donald Washington says the FBI was in Jena a week or so after that incident. So they’ve investigated that already and FBI agents of both ethnicities concluded that it was a bad idea to bring Federal charges against them. So blame the school board for the lack of an expulsion, and blame the FBI if you feel Federal charges should have been brought against them.

“Based on that, Mr. Bell’s first four charges could’ve been a result of harsh treatment as well”

How often does someone get charged harshly for FIVE violent criminal acts in a row? Come on, man. You think that’s just a coincidence? I don’t understand your argument.

“He was first charged with attempted murder for beating someone down. I’m not trying to discredit your argument, but Jena’s justice system has no credibility.”

That’s open to anyone’s interpretation. I’m not sure, but what he did may be a typical way for a lawyer to play the right cards in the justice system. If that IS the case (which I’m not sure if it is), then you can’t blame the DA as much as the system. If what he did is against the law, it should be investigated and something should be done about it. I’d be open to someone coming in to investigate it. With all the attention this whole incident is getting, I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened.

“You even admitted that the some of the whites were let off easy.”

I agree that the noose hangers were let off easy. That’s the only incident I’ve concluded so far wasn’t fair.

“You even admitted that the town has its racial problems.”

I did admit that, but I also admitted that Jena is just like every other town around it. I’ve lived and worked in towns within a two hour radius of Jena. Jena is no different. Just because Jena has some racial issues doesn’t mean our police force, DA, and school board all make their decisions based on someone’s race.

“You even admitted that it was an all white jury.”

I also admitted that it is factually proven that many black people in Jena were called to jury duty but didn’t show up. If the black people in town were so angry about these guys being “wrongly” charged, wouldn’t they have stepped up and tried to get on the jury? All it would take was one.

“You even admitted to your own “minor racist tendencies” and I think you would be considered one of the good people in Jena.”

Thank you, I appreciate your compliment, but there are many people like me here. I’m not a rare exception. Most people here cross racial boundaries to create friendships with people; most people here don’t make their decisions based on race. Some do, but most don’t.

“No one was there to insure that the trial would be fair.”

You don’t think his black lawyer was there? Yeah, he sucked, but how many court-appointed lawyers are top notch lawyers? He could have applied for a change in venue, but he never did. Yes, the trial was unfair for these reasons. But, again, it was legal. Mychal Bell’s new lawyers are trying to say the case was unfair. If they win, things may change. This is how our legal system works. Everyone knows (and everyone overseas laughs about it) that our justice system is flawed. Let the whole case play itself out and let the justice system work the way it is supposed to. If you don’t like things about our justice system (like I don’t), you can try and change it.

But either way you slice it, I think Mychal Bell should receive prison time for this. If he is sentenced to 2 or 3 years in prison for this, I will feel like justice was served. But that’s only me.

“Again, the Jena justice system has ZERO credibility.”

Your using common knowledge to claim all of the injustices in the Jena justice system. If you feel this way, try pushing for an investigation into the whole case. Let the system work. We don’t know the laws. Let the FBI determine if the Jena justice system was wrong. You or me don’t have the proper expertise to make a valid argument.

“We will use Jena, LA as an example of what will NO LONGER be tolerated in America.”

Like I said, let the facts unfold about this case.

as a black college student who moved from new jersey to north carolina to attend school, i have never really dealt with this type of racial comments, acts, or injustices. However, i am more than prepared to take a stand to it. The white boys in this case were wrong from the start. They started this whole situation by thinking that they owned a tree.. the last time i checked this was a free country. The do not own anything. It is a school for godness sakes. and let me just say that if some white kids were ever to hang a nuse up in new jersey to threaten other kids in any type of a way. They would have been put in critical condition fa real. It is not funny to threaten someones life nor should it be called a prank. White people pull out guns on others and u get a slap on the wrist. Black people do it and u throw a felony. that crap aint right and u know it. Its crazy that theres still a black white thing going on. you would think after all this contry had gone threw it would be over and done wit.

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

From Jena 2: I’ve seen it. The injuries were minor.

Laura:

Robert Bailey was involved with nearly every incident that we’ve been discussing. I’d STRONGLY suspect he has a juvenile record, but I can’t confirm this yet. He is known around town as in instigator.

If Bailey does or does not have a record really does not make a difference, someone white in Jena will find a reason to justify the charges. I did an interview today with a major news team in Atlanta about the Jena 6 case. I was able to state my reason for supporting these young men, I do not feel that these men should not get any punishment, obviously fighting is wrong. My issue with the matter as I have stated is that the possible punishment does not fit the crime and that I believe that no person should be tried by a jury completely of another race especially when the crime committed has such great racial undertones, I do not believe there should be friends and family of the DA and the victim on those juries. You can not convince me that they could not find 6 people in this town that have no family ties or close friendships with the parties involved. This scares the heck out of me the thought that anyone could stand in a court room and not receive a fair an impartial jury. If the DA had not lowered the charges due to the media attention, this jury would have convicted this boy of the original charges and deep down I think we all know that. Since none of of have any knowledge of the circumstances of his priors I think that using that as the sole bases of your argument(common sense) really does not do much to sway black peoples opinion. If the trial had been fair and there had been whites and blacks that found this young man guilty, I might feel a little differntly. I still have heard nothing that moves me to feel anything different this case needs be retried by a fair and impartial jury. Regardless of anyones pass the law is suppose to give us the right to a just trial.

I see I have missed a lot of the same bull in here. People jumping in making assumptions and not knowing the facts. For the record Bailey said he wasnt even there for the fight even though 80 eyes put him there so why would you belive anything ,any of the six said. I can show you the Jena times where Carwin Jones was arrested for battery right in the middle of district playoffs last year. I know when I was a kid and got in trouble I did everything I could to makee my parents belive i didnt do it. That is where the media got all this crap to begin with ask anybody going to or in jail and they are going to do everything they can to look innocent. Its human nature. Knowing how to sift through the BS thats the challenge. You after this Jena is going to be labeled the most racist town in Louisiana, boy what a joke. I guess all these people in here who believe Jena is so racist dont realize it it were there would have been retaliation over this. There would have been white sheets along side the protesters that day. Al Sharton whould have never made it here without a bullet proof car. Heck somebody would probabally be hanging from a tree. Since you havent seen any of this activity dont you think it is odd. There have been none of this. Or maybe you think the people here are just afraid of blacks. Now thats the real joke. I promise you there are enough backwoods rednecks from all over that would be glad to show thier opinions pubicly. Thing is we dont condone that kind of behavior here. I will give fair warning to anyone who swos up here on the 20th to be on there best behavior. I have already heard it from the state police that there will be ZERO tolerance. If you dont understand what that means ask mister BELL>

From Jena wrote:
There you go again, accusing the entire town of being racist…”

I did not say the entire town of Jena is racist, I said that someone white would find a way to justify the charges, so far the only people in Jena that are saying anything on these blogs is white, so that is what I meant.

As far as the lawyer goes, was it not also obvious to you and the judge that this lawyer did nothing to defend this young man?, was it not obvious to the judge that the racial makeup of this jury was all white against a black male charge with attacking a white person?. The judge is also there for a reason it is usually the goal of most judges to make sure that the trial is carried out fairly. In this case the judge could have intervened somewhere in this process. The DA of course I am sure was over joyed to see an all white jury at least half full of people he knew would side with him. There has been links between members of the jury, who actually worked for the victims mom, were family friends, as well as friends of the DA, and by the way 3 is half of the jury, that is very significant.

Never once have I said in any post these kids should not receive any punishment. Funny how you fighting so hard to see these kids punish, but where were your blogs and the up roar over the white kids who started all this crap. Where is your call for their proper punishment, just acknowledging that they did something wrong is not the same as calling for their proper punishment.

from jena also said:
“It’s funny how you blame the entire Jena justice system and talk about how white and unfair it is,”

That is because that is what it was white justice. I know that when you call jurors for jury duty, if you can not find all the jurors you need for a case you can send out more jury summons. If this DA was so much on the up and up when he saw the racial make up of the possible jury why did he not speak up. Oh I know why, because it is not his job to be fair is it?. Apparently the only person who had a duty to be fair, in this whole case is the young mans attorney, not even the so called unbiased judge.

I do not dismiss this young man;s record, what I am saying is that no one knows except the parties involved what these cases were about. I do not know the circumstances of any of these cases, yet you are asking me to judge this young man on information that is not completely known to the public. With out all the facts you are asking me to just jump on board with the same system that allowed this young man to be tried in a biased court. Give me the specific details of what other crimes he was charged with, and then maybe I can make a determination of what I want to believe about those , instead of just saying over and over he was on probation, and a repeat violent offender, probation for what? What was he a repeat offender for?. DO not just throw stuff out, not give any details and just expect me to get on board.

I will say what I keep saying regardless of your past, every person in America has the right to a fair trial.

James black said:
“I will give fair warning to anyone who swos up here on the 20th to be on there best behavior. I have already heard it from the state police that there will be ZERO tolerance. If you dont understand what that means ask mister BELL>”

Spoken like a real good old boy,
I am not surprised that you automatically expect us to not be on our best behavior, believe it or not, we do know how to act civilized.
We already know to expect all of “JENA’S FINEST” to be waiting on the BLACK trouble makers to come.

We do not have to ask Mr. Bell, the way his case was handled WE KNOW!!!!!, not to come expecting anything else, other than the kind of justice you handed down to this guy. This is the main reason most are coming on buses and not driving individually, and there will be plenty of lawyers in the bunch to help defend some of the trumped of charges I suspect that someone out of protest is going to face. We have been warned amongst ourselves about the kind of justice, this town dishes out and we plan to video tape and stay together in large groups in the hopes that no one will have to get caught up in this system. We want the whole world to see how the town of Jena reacts to the presences of peaceful protesters. I expect it to look much like the civil rights marches from the 1960′s, a bunch of peaceful protesters, being stared down by a bunch of cops waiting for any opportunity they can to arrest someone. Trust me Mr. Black, we expect nothing less from the good old town of Jena. I’ll be sure to pass that sentiment along.

For your information:

I’ve been in contact with Alan Bean (a major Jena 6 activist, Friends of Justice). Though I think it’s disrespectful to throw someone’s email to you up on the internet in a chat forum, I will quote you two sentences he said in it:

“You are right about one thing, the incident at the school cannot fairly be characterized as a “fight” (DA Walters is right on that score), because Justin Barker never saw the punch coming and never had a chance to defend himself. You are also right that his injuries were quite alarming (if I was his father I would have been outraged).”

B Wallace:

“We are talking about a fight…”

Correction, it was a beating. Alan Bean, a Jena 6 activist who has read the case files, agrees with me on this.

“…not a break in so those are to way different things and i would live right next to him.”

One of his crimes were criminal damage to property. Still feel comfortable living by him?

“He did something really really wrong. He should of never done that but he did and we can’t take that back even if we wanted to. And i am still going to Stand by him.”

You don’t think his wrong requires punishment? I understand that you, as a fellow black American, can empathize with him, but do you not empathize with his neighbors and his family? It’s not healthy for him to get off with a slap on the wrist for this.

“WE NEED TO STICK TOGETHER, NOT JUST WHEN IT IS CONVIENT!!!!!!!!!”

We as Americans need to stick together! And yes, the racism issue should be addressed. But again, I refuse to let Jena go on the chopping block so the issue can be addressed.

i will definietly sue him if he touched my stuff but i am still saying that he shouldn’t get off with a slap on the wrist but i don’t think that he should go to jail for soooooooo many years. And yes i would live next to him.

And i do know what i said…..

Everybody is talking about the jena6′s reputations and about Bells trouble with the law. If not for the differences in punishments, perhaps the other young men’s rap sheets, would be equal to Bells. I mean having a loaded gun on school grounds, Pointing a loaded pistol,etc. I am from a small southern town and I know that the wrongdoings of the sons of the white middle class are viewed differently. When you mention young black men, people just seemed to assume they are in a gang or doing something wrong. Why is when whites muder their spouses, the first people they blame it on is a black man. Its quite easy to sully young black men reputations, just look at what happen to the jena6 after Bells record was released. We dont know what he did, but it sure looks bad and the rest are dirty because of association.

Eric jenkins what are you talking about?

And Lillian you are so telling the truth. I do wish that not all black boys wouldn’t be blamed for things like that. I was thinking that I would never bring my little boy (if i had one) into a world like this because of all of the racism. Especially at this rate I would never do that. I just think that everybody just needs to get over all of this crap and get along. I really do wish that the world was like that.

From Jena wrote:
“But you, Free, are too angry to see the other side.”

No you dear are too angry to see the other side, all you care about is protecting the name of your town. You have not bent yet you expect me to and now you mad about it.

NO, please do not tiptoe say what you really wanna say. I think you are upset that I am calling you out, for ranting about this boys past record, you keep bringing it up yet apparently you do not have all the facts, about his record. You want me to jump on your lets hate Bell wagon cause of his past and I won’t. you mad because I called out this undeniably biased jury and judge that did nothing to insure that this trial was fair.

As far as my hating all white people, that is not true, I do not hate you, I dislike your views and I dislike people who use positions of power to oppress people of other races. I dislike a town that stands behind it’s racism and ways as being just and the Norm. I work with black and white people every day and have made some great friends on my job as well as close white friends from my high school years and I consider ti be some of my best friends. I have no issues with them, they do not stereotype me or judge me based on my skin color, they support what I am doing. We laugh talk and enjoy each others company and their is no racial tension. I love the fact that they do try to see how all of the things in our past have led to a lot of the issues that we face today.

As far as the food, as we come through Jena I will keep in mind all these places you named I will smell the food and visualize it and I will pat myself on the back for resisting and I will be proud to eat my cold sandwich matter of fact I’d like to stand right outside of one and eat my sandwich or better yet my food that I will gladly buy from any town out side of Jena.

We are not stupid enough to go into any of Jena’s stores or diners, as I am sure someone will try to say one of us has done something wrong. We have taken the warning of James Black seriously, and we already know and knew what to expect. Nothing short of some thing out of the pages of black history books, minus the water hoses and dogs. We plan to get in march speak our peace and get out. Trust me Mr. Black nobody is trying to get caught up in Jena’s justice system.

fromjena said:
“There are several gas stations and other places in the surrounding areas that are owned by Jena folks. All I can say is “BE CAREFUL!”

Thanks for the warning, I will spread the word and I will be sure to let everyone know to bring their own food and heat it in microwaves, as we do not know what may be in store for us.

from jena said:
“if the protest is gonna be as large as some of these people are saying, it’s gonna be VERY interesting how they’re all gonna try to fit in front of our courthouse. You have no idea how small it is. You’re lucky to fit several hundred in front of it.
Good I hope we do not all fit I want us to spill out to the outskirts if we can, I want all of America to see that we do not take what has happened in Jena lightly.”

From Jena said:
“I am ranting about this boy’s past record. I don’t know the details, but it is a FACT that he’s been adjudicated or convicted of five violent criminal acts.”

If I push you down on the ground, that is violent and I can be charged. If I defended myself against another person and I still get charged for fighting is that not violent. If I knock down your mail box I can be charged with criminal damage to property. I am saying all this to say, that the details do matter. Were all these incidents school incidents, was he not nailed to the wall before because these were black on black crimes, and finally he made the mistake of attacking a white person. It is my opinion that maybe the reason the DA came down so hard on Bell is because Bell, had something to do with sitting under that tree, bell was at the protest under the tree, Bell was at the gun incident, and because instead of a black person this time, he attacked a white one and he felt this kid was stepping way too far out of his place.

I can not pass judgment on what this kid did when I do not know what it is he did maybe if I knew I might feel differently about the bail but i still would feel he was entitled to a fair and unbiased trial. Maybe you do not need all the details but I do.

When the duke lacrosse case hit the media I did not jump on the bandwagon. There was information on this girls that I could not ignore, the life style and everything as well as their stories told me that these girls could not be trusted. I did’nt care that they were black and i think there should be a public apology from all the accusers down to Mr. Sharpton. If I can trust the source of the evidence then I can make a decision beyond race.

The Fact is regardless of this kids past he had the right in the USA to a fair and unbiased trial and he did not get that and until he does I will cry out as loudly as I can to anyone who can and will hear “injustice”.

You say wrong is wrong then, why are not any of the whites involved in this whole case in any trouble, yes you acknowledge that it is wrong but what has the lovely town of Jena done to make it right. Was there ever an apology to these boys for whom the 3 nooses were hung. Did the school hold an assembly to talk about racial insensitivity, and why this was wrong?. There has been no accountability for the part these whites kids have played. Where are the public out cries over that

I have yet to see any of these sites and no one on our bus is violent, we do know how to behave. If you have the names and proof of these sites please let me know, so I can get the word out to the radio and news because this is not what this protest is suppose to be about. If someone does do something outside of the law and the purpose of this protest then if they get arrested they deserve it. How many black cops are there in Jena?

I do not just have casual friends that are white, I have people who are like family and would find the fact that you think I hate all white people quite funny. My white friends will tell you like they tell me, Freda I do not believe any white cop is going to hurt you, but we understand where the fear you have comes from due to pass experiences in your family and history. So if it makes you feel good to think I hate you, then go right ahead I know who I am and how I live daily.

Jena said:
I have not bent for you. But my impressions have bent throughout this whole deal. I’ve said the noose hanging was wrong and expulsion was necessary. I’ve said the DA should be investigated if any wrongdoing has occurred. I’ve said some of the events look fishy and I look to find out more about them. So I don’t see your argument.”

When did you say something about some of the events looking fishy, when did you say the DA should be investigated. I must have missed a post some where, cause all I keep reading is that, this kid allegedly touch some white girls butts, and that the DA is not racist and about how every thing I know is fiction and your information is more accurate cause you have friends or knew people there.

Look we both are entitled to our own opinion, you have base your opinions on what you believe to be facts, and even on information you do not even have all the facts about. I have based my information on what I believe to be facts from numerous sources and some information i do not have all the facts on.

Yes I protect my race, when I feel my race has been unfairly singled out for harsher treatment. you’re never going to see my argument, even if i sat here and told you all the connections the jury had to the victim and DA you would dismiss it as still being a fair trial. Even if you do not like a person, every one has the right to a fair and unbiased trial.
Thats is my argument the judge has a duty to see that that trial was carried out in a fair an impartial manner and that did not happen, it is his lawyers fault that the judge did not do his job too right?.

I am coming to march for my children on hopes that one day that will be treated fairly. I teach then to be good people, but even good people end up in jail and there are many cases to prove that. I wnat ot know my kids will not have te ever face all white justice but equal, unbiased justice and maybe then I will not have a reason to be angry and sleep better.

I have always taught my children to have respect for all people. In my mind the town of jena is guilty of looking the other way,when color of one’s skin comes into play. I have heard quite a few people say they don’t think bell had a fair trial, but they continue to make excuses as to why this was allowed to happen. If the town of jena would make their voices count to right this wrong, other people presence would not be necessary. This was not a fair trial. The fact that three noses were hung on school property and the prepertraters were smacked with a 3 day suspension is appalling. Where were the good people of jena? The black parents asked to be heard on this matter and were denied. Where were the good people of jena. If the good people of jena didnt agree with the way this threat was handled, and they feel that the trial was unfair, WHY aren’t they standing up.

Yes but here is something that can be done to change what has happened with this trial. Yes it was the attorneys job to defend his client but was it not also the job of the judge to oversee this trial and make sure it was carried out in a fair manner.
This judge did not speak up or say anything even though he knew their were friendship connections to the DA and Victim. When the blacks did not show up no one got in trouble nor did they send out new jury notices to widen the potential jury pool. Just because you can legally get away with something does not make it the morally correct thing to do. Those in position of power in Jena did not speak up because they did not care if this kid got a fair trial or not.

Also this town has guarded the names of these young men who hung nooses, the fight at fair barn, you all have protected their identity so that they can go on to have an unstained life. A lot of people in Jena did and continue to look the other way as they are protecting their own. But we are wrong to step up and protect ours to call out something that we see as wrong.

I do not hate you, From Jena although you seem to want to believe that I do. I hate that people keep standing by and justifying a trial that was not fair, regardless of who this kids attorney was, and what he did or did not do it does not mean that the court system had a right to over look the wrongs that took place at that trial. And then try to justify it by saying it is all on the attorney. It was on each and every person that was in a position of power in that court room. I believe that when fair people want to carry out a fair trial they would have done just that, in this case it was real convenient for the DA, that no one said anything. The DA was able to do what ever he wanted in that courtroom because he knew no one would say anything.

From Jena/Free:

I think the only thing the judge could have done differently is ruled the charges were excessive at the onset of the trial. Judges (prejudiced or not) do not like to be overturned, so they “usually” cover their bases; certain criteria has to be met for any charges filed against anyone. Obviously he felt the way the DA presented the case (and the evidence at hand) met the criteria for that charge (don’t get it twisted, I totally feel the same that most people do; this was an extremely excessive charge for the crime, I’m only trying to explain this from a non-expert legal perspective).

Which brings up another sad reality: our justice system (I’m speaking on a nation level, not of Jena’s justice system itself) is so broken that people are not convicted on the crime and evidence at hand, but how both sides argue their point. So if you have a slam-dunk lawyer, you can get away with virtually anything (I don’t think I have to cite any particular case for this panel to know what I’m talking about; celebs in particular hardly ever get the same sentence for committing any crime that the ordinary citizen commits). No, it is not our fault that Bell’s lawyer sucked. So we say “oh well, he got screwed by his lawyer” and keep on living our lives like this is cool? If we (the citizens) continue to let justice be rendered in this fashion, we could very well become “victims” of this same broken system ourselves one day. I’d hope someone would come to my defense; I (like most folks) don’t have the money for a super lawyer; does that mean I’m not entitled to be defended “competently”.

Anyway, my only point is if our justice system focused more on handing out sentences based on the evidence (or lack of) at hand instead of being snowed by which lawyer tells the best story I think we’d all be better off.

This is sad, In a country that prides itself on freedom there is still work to be done to free
the former enslaved victims of our society- The African Americans. I can’t understand the excuse for Jena- being in the South -serves to be the only logical Explanation.
We all live on the same planet. We all Breathe the same air. and we all want to have the same things. Happiness and peace. Let us stop acting like children of satan and begin to act like children of GODS.

Jena said:
“You’re wrong to say these guys don’t deserve punishment if found guilty. You’re not wrong in wanting them to get a fair trial. Let the justice system do it’s job”

I ask you to name one time in any post that I said these kids should not receive any kind of punishment, quite frankly I have said just the opposite.
As far as let the justice system do it’s job, if the justice system in Jena was doing it’s job this trial would not have happened this way.

The unbiased jury;
*2 people with friendship connections to the DA
*1 a relative of one of the prosecution witnesses
*1 friend and co-worker of Justin Barkers mother
*the others were friends of prosecution witnesses
Anyone could see how this trial was going to play out from the door.
Prosecution witness:
* 11 white students
some one say they saw him kick barker, some who said he did not do anything, and the victim.
* 3 White teachers
* 2 white nurses
funny not one black to testify to the whole incident.

I pray that maybe something will go right and this kid will get a retrial but I would not be surprised if he did not after all this is in the town of Jena

From Jena: Bottom line. Beating someone down is wrong, but anyone who hangs nooses, pulls shotguns, or calls someone the N-word during an argument kind of deserves to be beat down. Like I said before, I think that you are one of the good people in Jena but when the debate got a little heated you resorted to little racist comments (about the barbeque). You don’t have to hold your tongue. That comment didn’t offend me at all or the young lady you wrote it to, but it does reveal character, the character of your town. You talk about how violent Mr. Bell is but the white kids were the ones bringing guns around. That’s the only time where someone should have gone to jail. I didn’t know that Mr. Barker brought a gun to school. Who did he bring it for? I see why he got beat down. The white kids can pull guns on people and get a fraction of the time the black kids got (Actually they didn’t get any time). I respect your opinions and you are a great debater but right now you’re on the wrong side if you’re defending the justice of your town. Think about it: You and James Black are giving the people on this blog warnings about coming to your town. The DA gave those boys warnings about starting trouble (I know you said the school but you have common sense). The nooses were a warning. The guns were warnings. Can’t you see that the blacks in that area are severely oppressed? I couldn’t imagine what they go through on a daily basis. Could you imagine being warned so much? And to address the fact about Mr. Bell being so violent, how could this menace to society be the star football player at the same time? Did they tolerate it as long as he could still win games for the glory of Jena? Or were the charges not that serious. I’m sure he wasn’t bringing guns to school or pulling shotguns on people. But maybe if he did he wouldn’t be in so much trouble now.

I am a 21 year old military brat. My whole life I was always around other families and children of a different race. I also am an interacial child. I graduated from Falls Church High School in Fairfax, VA, a very diverse school. After I gradutated I moved to a very rural Salisbury, PA. When I first moved there my mother experienced many problems with being a hispanic women. Often when we went to the store we would get the dirty looks and unnecessary comments about interacial marraiges and in my case children. Coming to this town was a big change because my mother, brother and I are of a different race and grew up in a community of accepting people no matter what color they are. But the people in the area I lived would say and call people inappropriate names like Spic and my most hated word “N*****.” I couldn’t and still can’t stand hearing the words said. This never seemed to bother my mother but it bothered me. My mother always told me to ignore the hurtful things that people say and now I’ve learned that its better if you do. Associating and retaliating to the things people say or do makes us the better person. I don’t understand why the boys who got the gun pulled on them didn’t contact authorities. I think that the principal lacked in fullfilling his duties as a school official in trying to “forget” about the noose hangings knowing that worried parents had something to say. I’m sorry but if my son or daughter were attending a school where there was activity like this, I would be very upset. Personally I think that that principal needs to get his “principles” straight. Discrimination is such a horrible thing to have in school. What racist fail to understand is that they are not the only people who cry, laugh, or show any kinds of emotions. People DO NOT choose to be born a certain race. Blacks, hispanics, asians, arabs, any one who is different, live and breathe like any one else. Hanging a noose is NOT a “silly joke.” Those boys are not 5 years old anymore, they knew what kind of damage they were doing when they put that debauchery in that tree. This is not the black boy’s fault. It is the fault of the principal for not taking matters into his hands and the fault of the white boys’ parents for not supervising the actions and thoughts of their children. From my own experience being in a all white town most children and teenages gain racial ideas and beliefs from their parents. My cousin who is of an all white family and was 9 years old at the time, told me that it was not right for a white person to love a balck person and vice versa. I immediately took action by telling her that I was an interacial child and that my mother is not white and she responded with “Well mom says that’s different.” Mom says, huh? Mom inspires this, huh? I believed those parents failed to teach their children of respecting others for who they are. Those parent’s children are going to suffer in society in the future because of not fullfilling their duties of their children. Those children are going to miss out on some of the most wonderful people on this earth because they have a different skin color. They are going to miss out on the education of other cultures. Learning about cultures is one thing but experiencing them is another. I truly sympathized those who are racists or discriminating against others because there missing out on opening another door in the depths of their minds and souls.

GET THE TRANSCRIPTS, this came directly from someone present during the entire trial. You are right there in Jena and if you, go to the court house and check you will find out that the people I said testified did testify and not one was black.
Not one juror was black
As far as the people on the jury I got this info from several different sources from people who live in Jena, as you like to mention how small it is I think that it would not be hard for you to get the list of jurors and probably know for your self if these people knew each other.
Of course I would never expect you to admit it even if you knew the truth, because you do not want to have to admit that the jury was biased. So I do not expect you to admit it even if you saw the names and knew or had friends and family that knew of the connection.

And just because the judge can legally get a way with something does not make it morally right. Why is everyone so scared of this kid getting a fair trial by giving him a retrial. If the merits of this case are suppose to speak for themselves then why not? I think it is because the DA knows if there are any black jurors on that jury he will have a harder time proving his case for the charges. He knew what the all white jury with multiple connections would do, if there were blacks on that jury he might actually have to prove his case for 2nd degree assault.

Kudos to Nikki and Erin for their heartfelt letters.
I am a 50 year old woman who was also a Military Brat, born in Birmingham, Alabama, and now I am a Mom to mixed race children.
When I was 8 years old, we moved from Washington state to Montgomery Alabama.
This was just after Dr. King’s march on Selma. I was appalled by the things going on the the “Great State of Alabama”, and even though my parents were (and are) racists, I vowed to leave as soon as I was grown. I did so, moving the extreme West-Alaska– at age 19.
Fast forward to the 1990s. My husband got a transfer to Baton Rouge, La. It was as if time had stood still from the turn of that century. People had organized “Christian” schools to accomodate segregation. I sioncerely doubt the Christ I worship would like knowing His name is attached to such schools. Again, I left the state of Louisiana, ASAP.
Today I live in New Mexico, a place where there is almost no racial intolerance because it is understood that all people are ‘mixed’ race of some kind. Prejudicial acts are absolutely NOT tolerated in any setting, but especially not in schools. We have the usual problems of any US society, but not that one.
Although I sometimes lament the fact of Racist Life in the Deep South, I am ever so glad to be living in a time where the Media, (especially the ‘Net) is exposing to the light of Human Awareness the strongholds of racial prejudice which have thrived due to fear, darkness and silence. It makes me so proud to know that young people like the posters here are carrying on the struggle, as well!
We SHALL Overcome!

CommonSense September 4th, 2007 at 3:05 pm

Yes, that IS a bit harsh, isn’t it!

Common Sense

Yes I feel that all involved should have been suspend to include Mr. Barker b/c in all the research I have looked at there was a trash talking period that Mr. Barker took part in stating how a black person but instead used the n-word got his but beat, etc therefore instigating the fight….I don’t condon fighting but had Mr. Barker ignored them completly and not said anything at all to them then he would be blameless in my eyes and IMO which I am entitled too he is not therefore he should have been suspensed as well. Mr. Barker could have been the bigger person and not trash talked to begain which prbably would have avoided this fight altogether.

Ok so I’ve been reading these posts and I’m as appalled as the rest that this continues to go on in this day and age. That said it’s not surprising to me that this happens in some backwoods LA town, but that’s another story. My general opinion of this whole story is that yes the punishment certainly seems severe in absolute terms (2nd degree murder charges for a school yard fight) and relative terms (a fair amount of “they’re just kids logic” seems to have been applied to the white students while denying it to the “Jena-6″). That said the Jena-6 hardly sound like future role models of society, football scholarship or not, and to be fair neither do the noose hangers and their buddies. My bet is the 6, thanks to all the publicity, get slapped on the wrist and receive on undisclosed settlement from Jena and the school board. Which IMHO seems like about the fairest solution possible at this point.

Anyhow I read a couple of things here over and over again that are kind of offensive to common sense (not the person). If I’m wrong hopefully somebody can set me straight.

(1.) The noose hate crime argument. Isn’t the reason that this isn’t a hate crime per se because hanging a noose from a tree isn’t actually illegal in the state of LA (or anywhere else for that matter)? And doesn’t a “hate crime” by definition have to be an illegal act i.e. a “crime”? Hateful yes, crime no.
and
(2.) This statement that African Americans can’t be racist because they lack the power to oppress. I’m not sure who exactly coined this definition, but besides being contrary to common sense it doesn’t bear even a passing resemblance to the dictionary definition of racist (from dictionary.com):

racist

noun
1. a person with a prejudiced belief that one race is superior to others

I dont know where you get the N word from he had said nothing to the bunch they had already tried to start a fight with another white student in the gym just before this. One of the 6 told the others they wernt going to do this here. They then went outside and attacked Barker he wasnt even in the gym. Since when does name calling justify a gang beating anyway. According to you everytime I hear cracker, redneck, whitetrash or many other negitive terms i should attempt to kill who ever says it. You can gripe about the how and why but it still doesnt change what they did is a crime as described by Louisiana Law. Look up the definition of second degree battery. When your parents specifically told you not to do something and you did it to spite them what happened? This is the same thing they thought they were above the law> Lesson learned.

All I can say is that, there will never be peace in Jena, Louisiana. I’m very shocked that this actions still take place in the United States durning this day and time. When a white youth beat a black youth nothing happens but change it around black youth beats a white youth he gets 22years in prison. I an so glad that the world get to see Jena, La district attorney in action, how long did he think he could carry out this type of action and get away with it. The young lady was right when st state it all starts at homw with the red-necks parents. That boy should have gotten time as well. His parents took him to the hospital to make their case look good. But God see’s all. Have mercy on the very sick town.

That Monday at school, a white student, who had been a vocal supporter of the students who hung the nooses, taunted the black student who was beaten up at the off-campus party and allegedly called several black students “nigger.” After lunch, he was knocked down, punched and kicked by black students. He was taken to the hospital but was released and was well enough to go to a social event that evening.
http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/messages/chrono/3644388
(CBS website)

I could search and find more but what’s the point. IMO which I am entitled to as you are yours he instigated the fight plain and simple. I do not condon fighting but how anyone can say that all the incidents before this fight didn’t play apart in it IMO are blind. I still stand behind my opinion that all boys to include MR. Barker should have received a suspension b/c that’s what the school handbook states. If Mr. Barker would have been a big boy and exercised some maturity then it probably wouldn’t have been a fight b/c the boys would have not felt that there was anything to defend. Like I said I don’t condon fighting but racial tensions were high. Ok so they say the nooses were not a hate crime whatever, anytime slavery is mentioned or you see a movie what is associated with that NOOSES, BURNING CROSSES and why b/c it’s used to hurt black americans to show hate towards us even using the N word.

Parents even begged school officials to cancel classes until tensions died down because the town had a series of white on black incidents but school officials would not hear of it. When they tried to peaceful protest and ask about the nooses they were once again silenced.

On September 10th, black parents tried to address the school board but were refused. They tried again on September 18th, and were finally granted five minutes to speak with the understanding that the issue was closed and whatever they said, it would make no difference.
http://pursuingholiness.com/2007/07/24/the-jena-6-nooses-hang-from-the-white-tree/

Also let’s not forget that the white kids/adults acts were all dismissed as pranks and received a slap on the wrist. There was a black kid that was jumped by whites at a white party or whatever and then there were black kids that had a shot-gun pulled on them at a store so where was the mighty DA at “enforcing the law”???? oh right he was letting his true light shine through and through in my eyes. They say that the whites received battery charges but funny how there is no paperwork that can be found on that.

You know I am bi-racial and seeing this story just hurts my heart. I grew up in a small town and could not wait to leave b/c I had some ignorant people tell me if any part of you is the N word then you are a N word. It’s ignorant people like that who will keep this world spinning back in time.

Bottom line for me is I am positive that these 6 boys are no angels as I am just as positive that Mr. Barker is no angel either but this has gotten way out of control, this was a school yard brawl and they should have been suspended but with everything that has happened now all charges should be dropped and these boys should be able to go home to there families and a immediate investigation should be started on the DA and how this whole case was handled starting from when he showed up to the school to threaten the kids, stating “See this pen in my hand? I can end your lives with the stroke of a pen.”

Well I cannot speak for everyone, I can only speak for myself and contrary to popular belief we all do not use the N-word. I don’t…..the people in my family don’t, my friends don’t. My family is bi-racial and we were raised to love and see the love and what people have to offer there character not the color of there skin. I don’t condon the rap industry using it although they claim they put an “a” at the end of it instead of “er” it’s all the same to me.

Also my point was that racial tensions were running high and the events before the this fight (nooses in tree, black student getting JUMPED, black students having a shot-gun pulled on them) whether people want to admit it or not played a part in this fight taking place. Was violence the answer, heck no….it never is but when student peaceful sat under the tree in protest they were threatened, parents tried to speak and they were shut down and told not to mention the noose incident, you can say what you will we will have to respectfully agree to disagree.

Contrary to popular opinion the use of the n-word with an a, did not start with rappers. I am 57. People I know and have known and myself have used this word among ourselves for ages. We only use it around white peopple when we feel they are “cool”. Its a word used,when you are comfortable and being yourself. One of the highest compliments we could give is to call someone a “white n”. We do not use it to demean anyone. It is normally said with a lot of love and affection behind it. I have never felt bad when someone black calls me that. But its a whole different thing when the n word with a ger is used by someone white. You feel as if someone has told you,you are the lowest of the low,that you dont even count. They are talking about your mama, and everyone else around you. It brings back all the years of racism,everything done to you just because you are black. I think these boys felt threaten on all sides and no one was doing anything about,even their parents were rebuffed when they tried to step in. Power less against a system that didnt see them as people,just quiet down so the status quo could continue as usual.

I, myself would like to know what the black kids said. We know that only white kids were called to testify. I read that there were 40 or more witnessess,but only 17 were called to testify. We only have the white people from jena stating that these 6 boys were terrorizing their neighborhoods. I wish we could have a black perspective on that. I also wonder what the black people are saying away from the ears of the white ones. I read in a back issue of the newspaper where these kids while playing football were praised as “the pride of jena.” Boy, a lot can change in a few short months.

OK…
Im here to tell you right now that I’m from St. Louis, MO which lets you know that this case has went WORLD WIDE!
I HAVE SEEN A HIGH SCHOOL FIGHT WORSE THAN THE JENA FIGHT AND IT DID NOT MATTER WHAT SCHOOL IT WAS..IT OCCURED AND LISTENING TO THE STORY THAT OCCURED IN JENA THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL YOU CAN TELL ME THERE IS NO RASCISM INVOLVED AND AS I READ A FEW OF THESE THREADS PEOPLE OF JENA SEEM TO BELIEVE THE SAME THING. tHERE IS NO REASON TO TRY AND HIDE THE FACT OF RACISM WHEN IT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE. THE EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE FIGHT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED AND THEN THERE WOULD BE NO JENA 6.

1. NOOSES ARE NOT A PRANK, BECAUSE FACE IT…WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE HELL THEY MEAN

2. WHY GO TO THE BLACK STUDENTS AND TELL THEM YOU CAN END THEIR LIFE WITH A PEN..(THEY’RE ONLY STANDING UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN. 1ST AMENDMENT)

3. YOU TELLIN ME IF SOMEBODY PULLED A GUN ON YOU AND UR FRIENDS YOU WOULD STAND THERE…HELL NO!! YOU ALL WOULD BE DEFENDING YOURSELF, BUT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT GET CHARGED…

4. THE YOUNG MAN BARKER HAS A RIFLE IN THE TRUCK ON SCHOOL PROPERTY!! DO YOU WANT UR KIDS AT A SCHOOL WHEN STUDENTS ARE ALLOWED TO CARRY WEAPONS? eVERYONE SHOULDVE REALIZED THAT BY NOW SINCE COLUMBINE AND VIRGINIA TECH THAT ITS GOT TO BE AGAINST THE LAW. PARENTS DO NOT HAVE TIME TO GO TO ANYMORE FUNERALS. OFFICIALS ARE JUST TELLING KIDS THEY WONT GET IN MUCH TROUBLE IF THEY CARRY WEAPONS…WHAT IF IT WAS A BLACK STUDENT THAT HAD A GUN?

5. BLACK KID GETS HIT BY AN ADULT AND GETS HIS ASS BEAT BY A BUNCH OF WHITE KIDS…JUST LIKE BARKER, BUT WE HAVE YET TO HEAR A LONG TERM SENTANCE FOR THAT.

6. BARKERS PARENTS BELIEVE HE DID NOTHING AND THE KIDS JUST FOUGHT HIM FOR NO REASON (GET REAL, GET REAL, GET REAL) ALL PARENTS WISH THEY COULD BELIEVE THEIR KIDS ARE ANGELS BUT WITH WHAT WENT ON, THERE IS NO WAY I BELIEVE THAT YOUNG MAN DID NOT EXCHANGE WORDS WITH BELL OR ANYONE ELSE THAT THE STRUGGLE WAS BETWEEN. HELL, HE WAS FRIENDS OF THE NOOSES HANGERS AND HAD A RIFLE IN HIS TRUCK ON SCHOOL PROPERTY!!

IF THE BLACK KIDS WOULDVE LET THE NOOSES GO AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT THE KIDS WOULD’VE DONE MORE WITH THE MERE FACT OF KNOWING THEY WOULD GET OFF SO EASY. THEN AGAIN, THEY DID GET OFF EASY AND THEY GOT OFF EASY WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT OCCURRED SO WHAT DOES THAT TELL THEM…THAT THEY CAN TALK SHIT AND PROVOKE WHOMEVER THEY WANT? OBVIOUSLY YES CAUSE THEY JUST GOT THE POWER TO PROBABLY PUTTING A YOUNG ATHLETE IN JAIL BASICALLY THE REST OF HIS LIFE FOR A FIGHT.

THINK I GOT AN OPINION…JUST THINK OF HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE WORLD HEARD THIS STORY AND TELL ME RACISM IS NOT AN ISSUE. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE…CAUSE IT IS 2007

[Diva - please lay off the caps in future posts. It's hard to read, and I normally delete all caps posts outright because on the internet, that's screaming. Also, Barker brought a rifle or a shotgun to school months after the Jena 6 beating. He said that he forgot it in his truck after helping his father clean out their hunting camp. It's a believable story, and he was expelled from school (appropriately) for having a gun on campus. The incident was not related to the Jena 6. - Laura]

I really wish that there was less of the “poor me” attitude in the black community. The same thing happened at Duke, where a black stripper claimed rape, and everyone from the black community got involved in her defense. She ended up being a total liar, but she is not suffering from her blatant lies the same way the lacrosse players still are. I can only read so many stories where someone cried ‘wolf’ before I stop caring. It doesn’t seem like the black community likes accepting personal responsibility, and far too often they complain of “the man” mistreating them. But these 6 students didn’t stand up and do the right thing. Everyone, white or black, who committed a crime in this entire episode should be charged fairly. Attempted murder isnt the same thing as kicking someone when they are down. But, things got out of hand, and the DA wanted to make an example out of them, so maybe its for the best. Or as Rodney King said “Can’t we all just get along”? People like Rev. Sharpton should be doing more to bond the white and black community together, not further the gap. There is nothing more racist then abusing your position by taking advantage of your skin color, black or white.

They need to let those kids be free, those dumb idiot white kids chilled under a tree, they did they same exact thing but worse. i just think this is ridiculous.

Bob or Rob (I can’t read it): I kind of understand what you are saying about the “poor me” attitude in the black community but how many instances are there of blacks crying wolf as opposed to the wolves attacking blacks. If you are from America and have an ounce of sensitivity you should at least understand why black people come to the aid of each other in times like this. This is a country where black people are honestly scared of the police. It’s hard for white people to understand that. This country was founded for and by white people to enjoy all that it has to offer, not black people. And to respond to what you said about the Duke Lacrosse case. Why wouldn’t black people go to her defense? A group of rich white boys chose to hire some black strippers for their party. I found that to be peculiar. Since when would some Duke boys want some BLACK strippers? When one of them screamed rape many ran to her defense. What should black people have done in that instance? Black people get convicted of crimes they didn’t commit all the time. I’m glad that the truth came to the light. No one should be convicted of a crime they didn’t commit. Your heart seems in the right place but I urge you to be careful when you say that blacks have a “poor me” attitude. Blacks all over the world and especially in America have been enslaved, kicked, pushed, spat on, and held down for hundreds of years. Just about every country in Africa was colonized by another European nation. Now you could say blacks should just fight back instead of letting it happen but why can’t we live in peace? It seems as though the WOLVES won’t let them.

LAURA
WHO CARES IF YOU DON’T LIKE CAPS…SKIP THE THREAD THEN. Was it really that serious to comment on? I have been reading these threads for days and the more and more I read what you post, the more and more I feel like you believe you are on some pedistal of some sort in which you can look down and talk down to people. You had some very valid points early on, so it may be best for you to try sticking to the topic at hand instead of trying to call
people out on petty administrative preferences….yeah…check that

For all…I think it is great that we have the ability to share our voices and our opinions and be heard. It hurts my heart to see that such injustices still continue today and it further validates the fact that we ALL are one bad decision away from having our freedoms revoked; just one decision away from encountering the injustices that this country still so effortlessly imposes on people of color. That is not just a comment or an opinion, that is a fact; it can be reviewed, tested, and proven. Just open a book, open a court docket in any state for that day, read the paper, turn on the TV and CNN or court tv….it is all right there before us. I am a prior enlisted Air Force member and I I currently work for the DoD and I can tell you that I have been priveledge
and blessed to be able to open my mind to other cultures, and other ways of thinking. It seems as if through reading these posts, some have not been as fortunate to have their minds expanded to see more than themselves or their own plight. Unfortunately this is the second time in less than 2 years that LA has been on blast concerning their deep rooted principals, and ways of doing things. We saw the total devistation of the black population during Katrina as an external injustice and now we see the vile judicial carrying ons of the internal injustices. Everyone in this case, The Jena 6, The white males involved and the town’s people lose. They lose because it took something so ridiculous, something that has surely made world wide travels, to open up
their eyes and ask the question….What Is Going On Here? And for those that haven’t asked themselves that questions, I feel especially concerned for. I have read and read and read….since like Aug 30, and let me tell you, the folks representing Jena, are representing Jena…simply. I applaud the Color of Change organization and all those people who are able to take the time and visit Jena, LA on the 20th. I also applaud the people in these posts who have really touched me with their heart felt posts and convictions. I hope that
after the dust re-settles in Jena and all the TV crew have raced on to another story, that things will not go on as usual. I hope that things will start to change and people will start taking responsibiity for their own actions, and parents will stop putting their hate and colorized beliefs onto their children, and I hope that the future children of Jena will be able to live and not see color, but just each other. I know this was long..and some of you may think I didn’t touch on the “issue” but you all have done it so much that there is not much left to say. It is time to stop pointing fingers and blame and it is time to be apart a a solution and find a solution instead of the back and forth banter further intensifying a problem. It is what it is. Everyone in the case ***** up’d from the kids to the judge to the da to the jury. But like I said, it is what it is and the beautiful thing about this universe is that it has checks and balances and what he reep he will sow. So I don’t wish ill on any of the wrongdoers and I don’t wish harm because I know at the end of the day karma is a *****. Thanks

That was Tee….My name was behind the number….for post starting off
LAURA

I’d agree that it is difficult for white folks to understand and/or appreciate the all for one attitude in the black community. I mean you’ll notice that outside of Jena there’s not a lot of sympathy for the noose hangers among the white community. Aside from overt racists, you’re not real likely to hear anyone defending the noose hangers actions as a “cultural misunderstanding” or a “Yankee conspiracy” as say Vick’s actions have. I don’t think the point that the Jena-6 have been pretty severely punished already gets heard by many white ears. To the white community it sounds like the argument is: blacks are historically repressed (most/all would agree), these kids are black (statement of fact), therefore their illegal actions should be ignored to right other wrongs of past and present (which just doesn’t fly with them).

And I’m with Free on the Civil War Reenactments business. I’ve always found it curious that the south gets so excited about a war in which (a) THEY LOST (I mean don’t most people usually save the bragging for successes) and (b) they were defending such a morally corrupt principle in the first place (and I don’t by the state’s rights argument either). To me it’s analogous to celebrating a family members who’s killed in a failed bank robbery i.e. failed miserably at something they shouldn’t have been doing anyway. My strategy would be to keep quiet and hope nobody else brings it up, not stage a reenactment.

What happend to From Jena?

I have a question… This whole bit about asking permission to sit under the “white tree”. Something seems off about it. I would really like to know how it went down. I imagine a leave it to beaver moment.

Black Boy: Mr. Principal Sir, can I talk to you for a moment.
Principal: Sure Robert come on in.
Robert: Sir, it’s mighty hot outside, and me and the guys we’re talking and we would kinda like to sit under the tree out there you know the big one out in front of the school. We know it’s suppose to be white only but it’s mighty hot and it sure would be nice to stand in the shade.
Principal: You just go ahead and sit wherever you want boy. We ain’t racisit around here, nope, we sure ain’t.
Robert; Thank you sir, thank you so much.

And a few months later they beat the crap out a boy just cause he white and they were offended by something some friends of his did.

I’m not buying it, are they down trodden cowering black boys who “know their place” so well that they ASK permission to sit under a tree?

Or are they thugs who are willing to beat the crap of anyone they feel like and to hell with the concequences?

I want to know what really happend? I’m just not buying that some kid got in his head to go ask the principal for permission to sit under a tree. It just doesn’t sound right.

Now I could see something like this…

Principal: What are you boys up to?
Boys: We’re just sitting here under this here tree, is that alright?
Principal: Sit where ever like, just stay out of trouble!

That conversation I could believe, but that wouldn’t exactly be asking permission to sit under a “White only tree”. So that’s probably not how the conversation went. I would really like to know how it did go.

NOS

Focusing just on Mychal Bell for a moment. In various articles his mother is named Melissa Bell and his father is named Marcus Jones. Where has the Dad been during all the previous times that Mychal was getting in trouble? This is his fifth violent offense. The Dad only recently moved back to help supervise his son. Why not after the 2005 conviction? Or the two in 2006? Better late than never, but Mychal has not been an altar boy for several years now, and apparently everyone turned a blind eye to it because he was a great football player.

Plea offered:

Walters, who is prosecuting Bell as an adult, also offered the teenager a plea agreement including a suspended sentence, which Bell’s father said the youth rejected.

Where was Bell’s father in counseling his son TO take this plea bargain? Considering his documented violent criminal past (one that until the Sept. 4 hearing nobody had yet heard anything about), would not a plea agreement that included a suspended sentence be considered lenient? The fact that a plea deal was offered that carried NO jail time is proof that the DA is NOT the overzealous prosecutor with racist motivations he is portrayed to be.

Why didn’t the Dad urge him to take that deal and then move his family to another town so the kid could get a fresh start? This reminds me of that “I was just imitating pro wrestling” Lionel Tate. That boy was given many options before he was tried as an adult and sentenced to life. The court systems may not always be fair, but they are also not something to be gambled with. Mychal Bell gambled, and now wants to argue that the adult charges should be thrown out because “inadequate black defense counsel”, “white jury”, “out of control prosecutor” and just plain “racism!!!!!” It is too bad this boy didn’t have a father in his life growing up. And it is also too bad that his father took too long coming back. You can’t blame the abandonment of Mychal Bell on racism.

Free:

That is me on YouTube. I’m not ashamed to admit it. I say more curse words in there and I’m a smartass. You’ll find nothing in my comments that are racist, though. I’m willing to change my delivery to get my message out when I feel it is necessary. So judge me as you want.

Looks like you and jayisjus are in cahoots.

I heard about Jena 6 by listening to the power and reading about it on this and other sites.

I am amazed at how similar this is to the Duke Lacrosse Team rape case. An incompetent overzealous prosecutor ruining the lives of innocent young men by pandering to a racist constituency.

To Lillian:

Let’s get real here. Mychal Bell is no little boy. And he is no stranger to violence. He said that didn’t happen? Did he testify in his own defense? Just like that kid they said couldn’t understand how piledriving a six year old could kill her, I don’t buy that when six athletic males gang up on one — and kick him after he’s down are not aware that their actions could kill/mame. Bell, after all, wears a helmet and padding when he plays a game where it is a rules violation to put a “late hit” on someone or worse.

The fact that a plea deal was offered does take the wind out of the overzealous prosecution thing. The prosecution was able to put 20 witnesses on the stand to support their case.

Perhaps had Mr. Bell and the other black parents provided a peaceful model to deal with the noose incident, we wouldn’t even be discussing this. Why do so many seem willing to accept a violent response to the noose incident? Are they even REALLY related? l

Bell’s father’s status is entirely relevant. He wasn’t around to teach his black male son how a black male handles racism when it is encountered. Thus his son resorted to violence. Y’all need to stop blaming the “racists” for that.

CDS, I agree. We like to live our lives like race isn’t an issue, but crimes that involve blacks and whites are often mishandled in the judicial system in a sordid attempt to ensure that the “offended race” is satisfied. STUPID. We should have learned our lessons by now.

I’m sick of hearing about Bell’s four previous VIOLENT OFFENSES. To imply that he would not have committed them had his dad been in his life is not a justifiable correlation; I hear of juveniles (white and black) who commit violent crimes for reasons that still baffle us today, since they come from “good homes” (homes with both parents in the house). ER, you say it as if it’s all his dad’s fault for “abandoning” him. Just because his dad did not live in his home does not mean that he had no part in his life. Nor can you argue that people who don’t have a dad in their lives commit VIOLENT OFFENSES because of their absence. I don’t get it.

For those of us who keep insisting about Bell’s four previous VIOLENT OFFENSES, you should stop harping on it so much. Perhaps you should consider the fact that he was “given four chances to turn his life around” from another point of view:

He was not given jail time for these offenses. Maybe he was “given” parole/probation because the crimes did not warrant jail time. Why else would this DA “let him off the hook” FOUR TIMES? If these prior crimes were as serious as you guys say, he should have been off the streets a long time ago. Why now? Maybe his four prior “violent acts” were committed against blacks, and thus were not viewed as serious in the DA’s eyes (we all know that sentences for black on black crimes are not nearly as severe as black on white crimes). Did the DA finally have “enough” when a white person was the victim?

I don’t see this as Mychal Bell having four chances to turn his life around. Folks keep talking about how he terrified the whole town. If anything, the DA had four chances to get this “repeat violent offender” off the streets and failed miserably to do so. If he were this inept in administering the law in the past, what makes you think he can reasonably carry out justice now?

I would very much like to be wrong on this, I just don’t see how. We can’t just keep arguing this point without considering the other side of the fence. This is not ALL Mychal Bell’s fault, there’s plenty enough blame to go around.

ER, Being a person who helped to intergrate a white high school,I can imagine that the racial tension did not end when the D.A. came to the school. I remember sitting in class with a group of re-necks behind me, talking about me looking like a monkey,and calling me the n word. Even now, speaking about it, I realyze that I’ve forgotten much of what was said (and don’t want to remember). It was painful, we were made aware that the school wouldn’t react to the injustices, and we weren’t supposed to. It was a confusing,unsettling period. I stayed only because of MLK ‘s philosophy. We were his warriers, and we weren’t to react. Thats a tough climate for any kid. Today, I cant’t see any of them following it,because they were raised to know that they are SUPPOSED to be consider equal. What we have in Jena in my opinion is a travesty of justice. When the kids demonstrated peacefully, they were threaten by the D.A. and the police. Is it common practice for a D.A. to come to a school to give warning to kids,that if they don’t stop what they are doing, he can end their lives with a stroke of a pen? I think not! People say the kids should take responsibility for their actions. When will the people of jena make the D.A. take responsibility for his?

Does anyone have the facts on the “white boys ganging up on the black boy” incident? This was apparently a one-on-one confrontation that perhaps led to a few more punches thrown. The victim — Jena 6′s Bailey — did not go to the hospital and apparently was able to leave the scene unassisted. The police did arrest the guy who threw the punch. I have seen no definitive account, but in one account, he pled guilty and received probation. The angel Mychal Bell received much the same thing two years ago.

I don’t think anyone doubts race was involved here — in the incident and a clueless school administration’s dealing with the noose incident. But if blacks ever want true equality they need to realize that initiating or condoning violence is not the answer. Lillian seems to believe that the only option left for these kids after a peaceful protest (there were apparently shouting matches, was it just the whites shouting, or perhaps some blacks offered up some racial rhetoric and taunting as well?) and the assembly was violence. How about a subsequent protest? How about the parents join their children? How about continued protests? Or one attempt and done, now let’s go rough up a white kid?

There seems to be no argument that the victim was “cold cocked” and laid out, and that the attack continued. Also, the attack was broken up or it may well have lasted a lot longer. Has Bell’s attorney specified why he didn’t call any witnesses? Perhaps there were none willing to corroborate Bell’s story, whatever that is.

This kid is clearly a thug and some seem willing to accept that because he can play football and he will be Sharpton’s and Geraldo’s latest cause celebre to fan the flames.

Please stop saying that people who are pro Jena 6 (particularly blacks, since they for some reason were singled out in your argument; there’s a WHOLE LOT of white folks behind them as well) condone violence. WE DON’T AGREE WITH THE CHARGES; BIG DIFFERENCE. We are not disputing what happened, whether it is referred to as a “high school fight” or “a beating”. No one thinks the Jena 6 are angels. We are not saying the crime should go unpunished. We have a big problem with the crime fitting the punishment, period. “Justice” could have (and still can, but no one is bothering to consider it) been rendered in a more suitable manner.

And yes, blacks have known for a long time now that violence is not the answer. Just because we support this “thug” (as you so eloquently put it) does not mean we condone what he did; and no, and I doubt very seriously that folks are willing to look past what he did because “he can play football” (or is that the real reason why the DA “overlooked” the other four violent offenses?). You should stop assuming that black folks initiate/condone violence; it is an unfair characterization of an entire race. Most black folks (whether you choose to believe it or not) would much prefer to live happily without violence, just as white folks do. Life is too short for us to walk around trying to find someone to “jump” just for the hell of it. We don’t need, or want, the added attention. And people wonder why blacks jump the gun on calling white people racists……

Misconception of a people is what will bring this country to its knees. We’re fighting in Iraq to ensure a more stable America; at the rate we’re going America will collapse from within, not from terrorists, but from our own idiocy.

I don’t blame him, I would’ve rejected the offer as well. This should have been settled in juvenile court, he was 16 when this crime was committed, or am I wrong on the age? This should be kicked back to JC, and let them render a sentence suitable for the crime.

ER:You are so right that people are relying on information they have received that is totally false.Reed Walters is definitely portrayed as the evil angry dictator of a racist villain in this whole scenario. Some people contend that his actions were a case of selective prosecution. I don’t believe he CHOSE to prosecute these 6 guys because they were black. I think he chose them because he made that speech in front of the entire school and clearly sent a message to the school: ANY violence will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Yes, his delivery was crass and uncalled for. But I don’t think it’s illegal. But when these guys blatantly went against his warning days after he said it, I’m sure he WAS angry. Now for him to charge them with attempted murder is ludicrous. I think Reed Walters got caught in his own anger, but the charges most are now facing (and surely the last two will be facing, I figure) are appropriate for the crime. I DISAGREE that the maximum sentence (or anything close to it) should be applied. I think the judge should consider that this is their (assuming that the other will be tried as adults) first crime as an adult, and the severity of Barker’s injuries (which weren’t nearly as bad as they could have been).After reading everything I have so far, I agree. The Fair Barn incident and the Jena 6 beating are VERY different from each other, so the selective prosecution argument is rather difficult to prove. I still contend that, if he DID something illegal or outside the realm of his powers, he should be punished accordingly. But as I sit here, I don’t feel he did anything illegal, I just think he used bad judgment caused by his own anger issues. Of course, anyone is open to their own opinions. I understand with the facts surrounding this case that people can make assumptions that he is prosecuting because they are black, but he has never struck me as a racist person. He’s been equally an ass to both races since he’s been the DA.

[Totally false information? I say AGAIN - send me the documents y’all said that you have. If you just want to keep arguing about the same old things and getting nowhere, then keep on commenting the same old crap and people on my side will too, but if you are serious about wanting to change people’s minds, you’re going to need to put out some info. It’s completely unreasonable to say that you want to change people’s minds, but won’t give info to people who disagree with you. What, I’m supposed to completely ignore the facts that ARE available to me because you SAY you have better info? Can’t you see how ridiculous that is? Work with me here - send me the documents! - Laura]]

Charla:

Yes, as of now, the other 4 are still being tried as adults. Their cases have yet to be heard, and we still have no idea what their past juvenile record is. It could be worse than Mychal Bell’s, it could be better, it could be squeaky clean.

I think, if they were 17 or older when the crimes were committed, they should be tried as adults. I’m not sure what their exact ages are. I have no legal reasoning behind my opinion here, that’s just how I feel. I don’t understand Louisiana law any better than you do. If they are tried as adults, it would be nice to hear a thorough explanation from the judge as to why he let the charges remain adult charges as opposed to juvenile. I’m all about people doing things by the book.

I have sat here for an hour reading all the posts (while watching football of course) and I feel like like most have valid points on this situation. I will admit, I have not been exposed to all events in this situation in Jena. My wife comes home every day more outraged with this whole situation. Being from Middle Georgia, I could say that I am a little biased when it comes to these 6 kids. Growing up as a black kid in Georgia it was rough a few times, and yes even in school. I will, however, say that I never responded with violence for two reasons. The first reason is because as much as we have heard this, violence is never the answer. Second, it does not matter. What I mean by that is evident in reading all the posts, especially with the citizens who believe the Jena 6 should be prosecuted fully. No matter how much we try to argue points like the noose, etc., if it does not mean anything emotionally to whomever we are talking to, it’s pointless. A lot of people will say they understand how the noose would affect the black community, but do they? I am biased because that noose is a symbol to me. I have seen this used as a tool to stir up things in my high school and in college. When people say that we are so quick to jump to racism, sometimes it is hard to refrain from it when people like myself have been on the receiving end of racism growing up. Bottom line, whether it is the noose or using the N-word, they both create strong emotions personally, and if you have never experienced this then you will never understand where we are coming from. I think it’s great that we have forums like this to discuss these events, but I see some people getting into verbal wars and taking things personally on this forum. I think we should discuss and not fight about this. The best thing to do when it gets heated is to agree to disagree and move on with the discussion. I pray for the Jena 6 and hope this matter gets resolved fairly!!!

To Laura

Totally false information? I say AGAIN – send me the documents y’all said that you have. If you just want to keep arguing about the same old things and getting nowhere, then keep on commenting the same old **** and people on my side will too,

I am surprised that the court documents have not all been posted at findlaw.com or smokinggun.com by now. Those are usually pretty good sources for such things.

But the link From Jena provided (again: http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070731/NEWS01/707310322) is no hyperventilating editorial, it is a summary of the findings of US Attorney Donald Washington (No doubt a racist white Bushie… not!). I’ve read many (though certainly not all) of the posts on this topic here (I found this place looking for more info), and it seems that the vast majority are based on incomplete facts or none at all.

Do you not understand my point that even treating them as the “Jenna Six” is in itself racist? There are SIX individuals, who already face different charges and have or will have different trials/hearings as things progress. AS IT SHOULD BE. Perhaps the other five don’t share Bell’s history with the law and juvie “convictions” for multiple violent crimes. If that is the case, then maybe they all belong in juvenile court. But so far, I don’t see that being the case. And the school sure is looking the other way at the youngest of the six, who by virtue of age only seems safely esconced as a “cheered on” member of the football team.

Mychal Bell should spend some time behind bars for this. He had his chances to turn his life around, and Mommie, Daddie, Coach and whoever else claims to care about this young man had their chances to help him along the way. Everyone keeps focusing on the maximum his conviction could lead to when he hasn’t even been sentenced yet. If he gets a minimum sentence would that be satisfactory to you? Do you think he should be spared ANY adult record of his violent behavior? Those same questions will be addressed with EACH trial with separate witnesses, etc. AS IT SHOULD BE. There were MANY witnesses to the “incident” — but nobody has ever denied that each of the six were involved at some level. If they should all be freed “equally” because of white-on-black racism, I play devil’s advocate and submit they should all be “equally” guilty of black-on-white racism for their violent attack. Deal? Didn’t think so.

MY SON GOES TO JENA HIGH SCHOOL SO I KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON BUT NOONE TALKS ABOUT. WHAT ABOUT THE BLACK STUDENTS ELBOWING PEOPLE WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAYS OR SLAPPING THE BOOKS OUT OF THE OTHER STUDENTS HANDS THAT ARE GOING TO CLASS? NOT TO MENTION GOING THROUGH OTHER KIDS BOOKSACKS AND STEALING STUFF THEN BRAGGING ABOUT IT BUT THE WHITE KIDS ARE THE RACIST. SHUT UP AND GET OVER YOURSELF

Yes, clearly Jena High was a pure utopia up until the 2006-2007 school year. It’s a pity they don’t have a school employee, like, say, a disciplinarian, vice principal, or some adult tasked to take care of behavior problems in the school like elbowing, book slapping, stealing, death threats like noose hanging, etc. Or even better, parents who taught their kids to behave like civilized people instead of punks. And that goes for the racist noose-hanging punks and their friends who support them, as well as the Jena 6.

A friend in the music business asked me to add to something he was working on to bring awareness to this case. I contacted a friend in Canada, who plays lead guitar, drums and background vocals. A friend in the UK plays bass. This is our song which is free to whoever wants to listen. I hope justice comes soon for these young men.

Let it Come Today
lo-fi URL: http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=5686031&q=lo
hi-fi URL: http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=5686031&q=hi

There’s a lot of ignorance being thrown around in terms of racism and a lot of the posters thus far have clearly been blind to the core issue at hand.

First off, I think it’s plainly obvious that everyone KNOWS what really happened (at least in their own heads). The truth is, none of us are ever going to know the entire truth. It’s hard enough to get an accurate account from an eye witness. Throwing in media pressure and everyone’s stupidity with racial bias, well.. kiss knowing the truth goodbye.

Now really this should be first, but the whole idea of freeing the Jena Six is retarded. If you look beyond everything else that happened, these boys deserve punishment for what they did. I’ll agree with you all that it shouldn’t be as harsh as what this jerkoff DA is trying to hand down, but they do deserve punishment. Get over the notion of setting them free, it’s not going to happen.

That said, everything that’s gone on needs to be dealt with. Solve the issue with the shade tree being white’s only. Cut the damned thing down. Now it’s nobody’s tree.

I personally think a lot of what we think we know about this case has all come from lies, and the lies are from BOTH sides.

First, I have to question the motives for these dudes going to sit under the tree that traditionally was all whites. I’m white, and there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell of catching me trying to encroach on an all black basketball court, unless of course I’m out to cause a stir. Same thing goes for the kid that got his ass whipped at the party. It doesn’t sit right to begin with to put yourself in that off of a situation when you know that so many of the opposite color are going to take offense, but doing it amidst a major racial tension is absolutely moronic. What do you think is going to happen?! I’m not saying any of it is right, but common sense should have kicked in and shown that it wasn’t a good idea. All this leads me to believe is that there was intention to stir up some trouble.

Now as for the gun incident.. I’ve heard multiple accounts. What I tend to have to believe is part of both. The black kids were in the store, saw the opportunity to ‘get even’ for the party, and this dude tried to go for his gun to take them down. Now, I don’t know about you, but if I was to be put into a position where I had to pull a gun, it would be to shoot and not just wave around. On the other hand, if this guy had done as the black students are saying, where he threatened them and etc… you have to ask how he could have allowed them to take the gun. If you have someone at gunpoint, you’re going to shoot at least one of them before they’re able to wrestle that gun away from you. Again, it leads me to believe that this guy
TRIED to pull the gun, but they got it from him before he could turn it on them.

Now, with that as a precursor, the charges against the boys seem a bit more appropriate. If they did indeed wait for one of the guys who was the aggressor at the party, what would make anyone think they wouldn’t go for another? I would be floored if the white student didn’t ignite the powder keg by talking trash to one of the black boys. Either way, they beat the kid down and deserve to be punished.

So, it’s very simple.. for the highschool fight where they beat this white kid, they deserve to be punished to the letter of the law.

Now, this is what really ticks me off. STOP protesting that these kids are being charged/convicted for something that you all freely admit they’re guilty of. What you need to start doing is going after the DA for not filing charges against the whites that beat the kid down at the party. “Free the Jena Six” is a lost cause. “Equal justice for blacks and whites” would be a better (and more realistically achievable) goal.

Even if the black kid went to the party with intentions to cause trouble, a beatdown isn’t the way to deal with him. The students who assaulted that boy should be up for the same charges as the ‘jena six’. That’s the most any of you can hope for.

SHAME on you all for trying to play this up with racism. As a country, we should be better than that by now. Rather than all of you ignorant people taking one side or the other of the racial divide, COME DOWN LIKE A HAMMER on those who let that divide turn violent. Show that it’s not ok to beat someone down REGARDLESS of color.

How many fights happen in schools all across America? So what makes this one any different? These CHILDREN and I repeat CHILDREN need to punished accordingly. All involved should have been suspended or expelled but not jailed for a school fight. The charges where absolutely ridiculous and if we want to bring charges against someone why not bring charges against the school administrators who allowed a WHITE TREE to even exist? Or the ones who hung the nooses aren’t HATE CRIMES punishable by law? But let’s not forget the adult who came into the store with a loaded shot gun. This whole case is just plain STUPID.
Free these children and start the healing process

JENA RESIDENTS YOU ALL NEED A LOT OF PRAYER.

THANK GOD I DONT LIVE IN JENA

From the moment I first heard about this case and the facts surrounding it I knew without a doubt it was based upon racism . What white america fails to realize is that they were outnumbered two to one in times of slavery and many black americans then already had the mindset that we all carry now of intolerance of any future disrespect and or belittlement from another human race deemed equal on this planet under GOD. I read a little further into the comments already posted and thought my anger level could rise no higher at this complete injustice until I read the comment about the WHITE girls being flirted with. This is the south we are talking about, and we will never forget the fight for slavery and where everyone stood on that matter , the hanging and burning and castrations of black men , and the murders of those even accused of something as slight as a look towards a WHITE woman. I am also upset at how these people try to fake about there true intentions I am from Virginia where racism is also still alive and well, mind you and also I give props to VA because at least WHITE racists there kept it completely out front and open and you knew what you were getting if they did not like black poeple you knew it and there was noone going to scare them into saying otherwise , it also kept a calm order an order I feel this town of JENA had until it’s WHITE girls were approached and or disrespected by now black americans seeing themselves as equals and these racial divides as dated , this is where the problem began JENA do not lie and do not sugar coat ,, you messed up ,get sued pay the fines and move on you should have enforced justice from the beginning ,your school would not have been burned ,, amongst many other latter avoidable events . I now live in Indiana also in yet another racist town of Valparaiso and I will tell the 12 plus years ago I first moved here is alot different from where it is now. I had my H.S Principle pull me inside his office in my sophmore year and tell me holding hands with my then WHITE girlfriend was deemed inappropriate ????? sound familiar JENA today valparaiso is diverse from every race walking and growing with economical leaps and bounds and where did all the racism go you may ask,well most of it moved away and some is still here you still find KKK flyers in remote areas of town placed in the midnight hours by unknown cowards but who cares I do not where are they going to keep spreading there hate pretty soon they will be on reservations smaller than the ones left to our poor robbed native americans the only future that racism holds in america JENA. And just one more comment to REV. AL SHARPTON and JESSE JACKSON and whomever else it may concern if you want to address the N word and the only station we have BET which is mislead and so called HOOD problems contact me give me one chance to speak ,, if what I say makes no sense I will accept it and further educate myself until I do. I am a movement coming dear sir with followers it is what I was placed here for and thats a promise. you have my name and the town I live I know you can do the rest to contact me and sooner than later I hope.