This is incredible. Wouldn't an all-white jury be grounds for reversal? Do these kids have good lawyers?
"Whites only" shade tree
guysmiley
Posted: Jun 28, 07 9:17amhttp://www.whileseated.org/photo/003244.shtml http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za4B4KhIVTE "In September 2006, a group of African American high school students in Jena, Louisiana, asked the school for permission to sit beneath a "whites only" shade tree. There was an unwritten rule that blacks couldn't sit beneath the tree. The school said they didn't care where students sat. The next day, students arrived at school to see three nooses (in school colors) hanging from the tree. The boys who hung the nooses were suspended from school for a few days. The school administration chalked it up as a harmless prank, but Jena's black population didn't take it so lightly. Fights and unrest started breaking out at school. The District Attorney, Reed Walters, was called in to directly address black students at the school and told them all he could "end their life with a stroke of the pen." Black students were assaulted at white parties. A white man drew a loaded rifle on three black teens at a local convenience store. (They wrestled it from him and ran away.) Someone tried to burn down the school, and on December 4th, a fight broke out that led to six black students being charged with attempted murder. To his word, the D.A. pushed for maximum charges, which carry sentences of eighty years. Four of the six are being tried as adults (ages 17 & 18) and two are juveniles. Yesterday, I was in Jena for the first day of the trial for Mychal Bell, one of the Jena Six. The D.A., perhaps in response to public pressure, tried to get Bell to cop a plea. Bell refused, and today, jury selection began. After today, we'll know whether or not the case will be tried in front of an all-white jury. Jena's 85-percent white, and it remains to be seen whether or not the six can get a fair trial. Both off-the-record and on, Jena residents told me racism is alive and well in Louisiana, and this is a case where it rose above the levee, so to speak. In the next few days, I'll be posting a few photos from Jena that are related to the case, as well as linking to a multimedia piece I'm working on. CNN began reporting on the story today, following the lead of the BBC, who crafted an excellent hour-long documentary that can be found on P2P networks."  12 Comments
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Posted: Jun 28, 07 12:54pm http://www.whileseated.org/photo/003244.shtml http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za4B4KhIVTE "In September 2006, a gro...  Posted: Jun 28, 07 12:56pmhttp://www.whileseated.org/photo/003244.shtml http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za4B4KhIVTE "In September 2006, a gro... Meanwhile, on the national level... Posted: Jun 29, 07 9:52amI am appalled at the Supreme Court decisions yesterday. I am glad you posted that article. Posted: Sep 16, 07 6:58pmhttp://www.whileseated.org/photo/003244.shtml http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za4B4KhIVTE "In September 2006, a gro... Where's your multimedia project these days? I'm heading to Jena this Thursday 9/20 for the sentencing. (I'm in Memphis and it's only a six hour drive). It'd be cool if you start a group on tbd called Jena (or somesuch) to raise awareness. For those that can't make it to Jena, the show of support is to wear all black this Thursday, September 20. Found the BBC Link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4120415818465787991 ....Thanks so much guysmiley! That was great news: Louisiana judge tosses conviction against teen tried as adult http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/14/jena.six/index.html?iref=newssearch Posted: Sep 22, 07 8:05pmWhere's your multimedia project these days? I'm heading to Jena this Thursday 9/20 for the sentencing. (I'm in Memphis a... Dave, Take care and post some pics, My prayers are with Jena Posted: Sep 22, 07 10:48pmhttp://www.whileseated.org/photo/003244.shtml http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za4B4KhIVTE "In September 2006, a gro... I lived most of my life in California and the SF bay area. To me, people were just people. And, the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the bay area was very comfortable for me. People who hated blacks and gays were laughed at and considered what they are: "Ignorant Souls"( at least in the circles I traveled in). Imagine my surprise when after traveling all over the world, my wife and I moved to the Mississippi Gulf coast. I never saw any "outward" or obvious disrespect for blacks on the part of whites. Of course, everyone has their own beliefs which were often expressed to my unsympathetic ears. But, behavior of the public at large was civil and respectful. What I did see was blacks with a real attitude. I saw many of them pushing the envelope of toleration at every turn. My wife was stalked every time she went to a shopping mall. When she ignored the young black males they followed and persisted. When I was disabled, there were several incidents where they would harass her right in front of me while making disparaging remarks about me. Being extremely disabled and defenseless at the time, I could do nothing but remove us from the situation as fast and as diplomatically as possible. At the same time, some very compassionate black nurses assistants helped me when nobody else would. I saw such extreme examples of downright inhuman behavior, I was in complete shock. I heard a political figure stand up and address the city council and say they did not want to be considered a "gay friendly" city. I understand bitterness and resentment. But, it has to stop somewhere. We are all humans living together. And, it should be IN PEACE. I have never seen this nation so divided on so many issues. It is "Agree with me or you are "of the devil" or unamerican and a traitor! If any race were genetically inferior or that different, why do we see shining examples of accomplishment wearing so many different colors of skin? If being gay is an "abomination", why do we see so many examples of long term successful relationships in the gay community? Why do I know so many shining examples of compassion, intelligence and integrity with differing skin shades and sexual preferences? To me, it was like a nightmare. Although Katrina destroyed everything we had, it brought me back to a reality I am more familiar with. My wife can go shopping now without an escort. I am mostly healed from all the physical problems I had. And, I am going to do my best to keep the temple of my soul in the best condition I can. I had my taste of being helpless and it SUCKS! My deepest respect to all those who have accomplished what they have despite the bad hand of genetics or fortune they have been dealt. The travesty of justice we are all seeing now is NOT "one sided". We all need to demand AND GIVE respect and toleration for each other regardless of race, sexual preferences (excepting of course the preference for children) and religions. And that includes the Islamic extremists who use their religion as an excuse to terrorize their fellow man. It also includes the fundamentalists who believe gays are "sub human" and an abomination to God. My GOD! What do we want? Clones of people who agree with and look like us? I really dont have any idea what sort of response I will get from this post. It even scares me to think about it. But, it is true for me and comes from my heart.
Posted: Sep 23, 07 7:03amhttp://www.whileseated.org/photo/003244.shtml http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za4B4KhIVTE "In September 2006, a gro... Food for thought, when I was in high school 95% white there were area's for the "popular" kids and any others who imposed upon their territory were intimidated and/or, thrown into the pond, or worse beat up. Is this a black white issue or a group issue? Is the tree group the "bully" group of the school? There were most likely other "white" kids who could not sit under that tree as well? Seems to me, that the school has a responsiblity in this issue and did not handle the situation appropriately as well. | ADVERTISEMENT  |
