Member Since: 11/2/2005
Band Members:.. width="425" height="350" .... width="425" height="350" ..JENA 6 (SIX)!!!!!!!Sign the Petition:
Donate online to the: Jena 6 Defense Fund OR Mail
donations to: Jena 6 Defense Committee, P. O. Box
2798, Jena, LA 71342
Donate to the NAACP:
Make a Phone Call:
Send a letter to the Louisiana Governor and the
Louisiana Attorney General:THE FACTS:
In a small highly segregated rural Louisiana town of
Jena in September 2006, a black student asked
permission from school administrators to sit under
the shade of a tree commonly reserved for the
enjoyment of white students. School officials advised
the black students to sit wherever they wanted and
they did. The next day, three nooses, in the school
colors, were hanging from the same tree. The Jena
high school principal found that three white students
were responsible and recommended expulsion. The white
superintendent of schools over-ruled the principal
and gave the students a three day suspension, saying
that the nooses were “a youthful stunt.”
Black students decided to resist and organized a
sit-in under the tree to protest the lenient treatment
given to the noose-hanging white students.
Racial tensions remained elevated throughout the
fall. On Monday, December 4 2006, a white student who
allegedly had been racially taunting black students in
support of the students who hung the nooses got into
a fight with black students. Allegedly, the white
student was taken to the hospital treated, released,
reportedly attended a social function later that
evening.
As a result of this incident, six black Jena
students were arrested and charged with attempted
second degree murder. All six were expelled from
school. The six charged were: 17-year-old Robert
Bailey Junior whose bail was set at $138,000;
17-year-old Theo Shaw - bail $130,000; 18-year-old
Carwin Jones--bail $100,000; 17-year-old Bryant
Purvis--bail $70,000; 16 year old Mychal Bell, a
sophomore in high school who was charged as an adult
and for whom bail was set at $90,000; and a still
unidentified minor.
On the morning of the trial, the District Attorney
reduced the charges from attempted second degree
murder to second degree aggravated battery and
conspiracy. Aggravated battery in Louisiana law
demands the attack be with a dangerous weapon. The
prosecutor was allowed to argue to the jury that the
tennis shoes worn by Bell could be considered a
dangerous weapon.
When the pool of potential jurors was summoned, fifty
people appeared, all white. The jury deliberated for
less than three hours and found Mychal Bell guilty on
the maximum possible charges of aggravated second
degree battery and conspiracy. He faces up to a
maximum of 22 years in prison.
The rest of the Jena 6 await similar trials.
Theodore Shaw is due to go on trial shortly. Mychal
Bell is scheduled to be sentenced July 31. If he gets
the maximum sentence he will not be out of prison
until he is nearly 40.
THE MESSAGE:
As Chairman Julian Bond stated, "This is an
American outrage that demonstrates the continuing
shame of racial division in our country. Join us in
making it one of the last."
In light of the circumstances surrounding Mychal
Bell's case, we urge all concerned citizens to support
the call for a new trial.
It is unacceptable to selectively enforce the law
based on race. Prosecutorial discretion should be
used in a fair and equitable manner.
The Jena Six should be tried by juries that reflect
the racial and ethnic demographics of Jena, Louisiana.
The hanging of nooses is not a "youthful stunt" or
"prank." It is a hate crime. Such hate crimes should
not be tolerated at any school. Jena High School must
establish a curriculum which promotes cultural
sensitivity and understanding.
The NAACP calls on Louisiana Governor Kathleen B.
Blanco and Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti
to thoroughly investigate and monitor the trials of
Mychal Bell, Robert Bailey, Jr., Theo Shaw, Carwin
Jones, Bryant Purvis and John Doe. The Governor and
State Attorney General should do everything in their
power to ensure that these young men's constitutional
rights are protected.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT
MATTER!!!
If you have any questions, call Angela Ciccolo at
the National Headquarters at (410) 580-5777
NAACP National Headquarters
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore MD 21215
Toll Free: (877) NAACP-98
Local: (410) 580-5777
© 2006 NAACP
All Rights Reserved
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