Several Thousand Attend Jena 6 Rally in Washington D.C.: One of Many Rallies Across the U.S. Demanding Justice in the Courts

On September 20, 2007, a rally was held in the park across from the U.S. Capitol in support of the Jena 6: Mychal Bell, Robert Bailey, Jr., Carwyn Jones, Theo Shaw, Bryant Purvis and one unidentified minor—all unjustly charged with attempted murder for what amounted to a schoolyard fight. Both adults and young children came together to demand justice for these 6 African American students from LaSalle Parish High School in Jena, Louisiana…a town of 3,000 (85% white, 2% black).

It all started last fall, when a black student asked if he could sit under a tree whose shade had been for white students only. Even though campus officials approved his request to sit under the tree, this action trigged a series of events that eventually lead to the unjust conviction of the Jena 6. The next day three nooses were hanging. Three white students were identified as having hung the nooses on the tree stating it was a prank, not a threat. Even though it was clearly a hate crime, the school superintendent suspended them for only three days. Then fights broke out between black and white students. And an unknown arsonist set fire to the central wing of the school in November. Then when Robert Bailey, one of the African American students attended an all white party, he was beaten up by a group of white students. The students were charged with simple battery. Another young white man pulled a shotgun on three black students outside a convenience store. In self-defense, the black students were able to wrestle the gun from the young man. However, the black students were charged with assault against the white male who had pulled out the shotgun. The next day, a group of black students at the high school jumped a white student on his way out of the gym. LaSalle Parish District attorney, Reed Walter charged the six black students with attempted murder and other offenses. Mind you, the young man who pulled the shotgun at the convenience store wasn’t charged with any crime at all. But the six African American students who allegedly jumped the white student were sentenced to 22 years in prison and fined $90,000.

The great injustice of the sentencing for what was essentially a schoolyard fight lead to an outpouring of support from around the world to stop social injustice. As one of the attendees at the September 20 rally, a young man who worked at a local barbershop stated, ‘‘many of our youth are looking for that someone to give them a sense of direction.’’ Another young man who had been part of the Million Man March Committee suggested that there should be less police brutality and more money for community centers and education. One of the speakers at the rally expressed that this schoolyard fight should have triggered nothing more than some writing in the newspaper. Now people around the world are fighting against racial injustice. The Jena 6 represents a call to action. This rally affected many people including me, a senior at Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington DC. I wouldn’t want to be charged with an unfair ruling because of the color of my skin.

To help the Jena 6, go to http://www.colorofchange.org/jena and sign the petition asking Governor Blanco of Louisiana to intervene and District Attorney Reed Walter to enforce the law fairly. You can also donate money for their legal defense at that website.