Free the Jena 6
Okay, it's rare for me to post twice in one day. But I totally forgot I wanted to write about this earlier. And this post is more important anyway. And I'm even gonna make this a public post. Warning, it may be long.
FREE THE JENA 6 ...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH... FREE THE JENA SIX
On September 20, 2007 more than 1 million people will wear BLACK as we unite in one voice with one message to declare that UN-EQUAL JUSTICE is just not acceptable. The world will be watching when not just African Americans but people of all races take a stand for something that we all believe in. Mychal Bell and the Jena Six should be free. If you have not heard about their case and why these average teenagers, good students, great athletes and are now fighting for their lives (one student Mychal Bell has been in jail since Dec. 2006) please CLICK HERE NOW to view this video for the shock of your life and on any of the links below for more information. This is clearly a case of racism, but Michael Baisden reminds us the protest in Jena, LA, the US and around the world is not an attack on white people but against a system that has failed us all. It is not about black and white but about what is wrong and what is right!
Enough is Enough...Un-Equal Justice is just not acceptable! ..Wear Black on September 20th to show your support!
taken from Michael Baisden's website
Seriously, I don't know why it's only making headlines now and the headlines are small if any. It sickens me to think that society would care so much about Britney and her so called comeback or if Paris Hilton lands her ass in jail or Lindsay Lohan is in rehab for the millionth time. But when there's a serious issue such as this where racist acts are completely senseless, it barely makes a dent in the headlines.
In case you haven't heard about it, here's the situation.
http://www.minglecity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=996
They explain it pretty well there.
Timeline of the Jena 6 case
The Jena 6 case so far September 2006 -- Three nooses are found hanging from the "white tree" at Jena High School the day after a black student asked to sit under the tree. The principal recommends expelling three white students involved but is overruled by the superintendent. The white students get a three-day suspension, and black students organize a sit-in under the tree to protest.
Fall 2006 -- Racial tensions mount, and there are a series of fights between black and white students at the high school. In late November, arsonists set fire to the high school's main building. Off-campus, a white youth beats up a black student who shows up at an all-white party. A few days later, a young white man pulls a shotgun on three black students at a convenience store.
Dec. 4, 2006 -- White Jena High School student Justin Barker, 17, is beaten during a fight with black students. Barker was temporarily knocked unconscious and suffered cuts and bruises. He was treated and released at a local hospital. Six black students -- 17-year-old Robert Bailey Jr., 17-year-old Theo Shaw, 18-year-old Carwin Jones, 17-year-old Bryant Purvis, 16-year-old Mychal Bell, and a 14-year-old boy -- are arrested in connection with the assault. All but the 14-year-old are charged as adults with attempted second-degree murder. All six are expelled from school.
June 26, 2007 -- On the morning of Bell's trial, the district attorney reduces the charges against him to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy. Bell is tried and convicted by an all-white jury. He faces up to 22 years in prison.
Sept. 4, 2007 -- A Louisiana District Court judge dismisses the conspiracy charge against Bell but lets the battery conviction stand, although he said Bell should have been tried as a juvenile. Charges against Jones and Shaw are reduced to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy.
Sept. 10, 2007 -- Charges against Bailey Jr. are reduced to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy.
Sept. 14, 2007 -- The Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals reverses Bell's aggravated second-degree battery conviction, ruling that he had been tried improperly as an adult. The local district attorney may appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court or refile the case in juvenile court.
Attempted murder my ass. The kid that got beaten up went to a social function that very night. Oh yeah, he was nearly murdered. While I think it was wrong that the kid got beat, there's a bigger story here. And the fact is that there's major injustice going on in the town of Jena, Louisiana.
So everyone, the least you can do is wear black tomorrow. If you want to do more, that would be awesome too.
FREE THE JENA 6 ...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH... FREE THE JENA SIX
On September 20, 2007 more than 1 million people will wear BLACK as we unite in one voice with one message to declare that UN-EQUAL JUSTICE is just not acceptable. The world will be watching when not just African Americans but people of all races take a stand for something that we all believe in. Mychal Bell and the Jena Six should be free. If you have not heard about their case and why these average teenagers, good students, great athletes and are now fighting for their lives (one student Mychal Bell has been in jail since Dec. 2006) please CLICK HERE NOW to view this video for the shock of your life and on any of the links below for more information. This is clearly a case of racism, but Michael Baisden reminds us the protest in Jena, LA, the US and around the world is not an attack on white people but against a system that has failed us all. It is not about black and white but about what is wrong and what is right!
Enough is Enough...Un-Equal Justice is just not acceptable! ..Wear Black on September 20th to show your support!
taken from Michael Baisden's website
Seriously, I don't know why it's only making headlines now and the headlines are small if any. It sickens me to think that society would care so much about Britney and her so called comeback or if Paris Hilton lands her ass in jail or Lindsay Lohan is in rehab for the millionth time. But when there's a serious issue such as this where racist acts are completely senseless, it barely makes a dent in the headlines.
In case you haven't heard about it, here's the situation.
http://www.minglecity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=996
They explain it pretty well there.
Timeline of the Jena 6 case
The Jena 6 case so far September 2006 -- Three nooses are found hanging from the "white tree" at Jena High School the day after a black student asked to sit under the tree. The principal recommends expelling three white students involved but is overruled by the superintendent. The white students get a three-day suspension, and black students organize a sit-in under the tree to protest.
Fall 2006 -- Racial tensions mount, and there are a series of fights between black and white students at the high school. In late November, arsonists set fire to the high school's main building. Off-campus, a white youth beats up a black student who shows up at an all-white party. A few days later, a young white man pulls a shotgun on three black students at a convenience store.
Dec. 4, 2006 -- White Jena High School student Justin Barker, 17, is beaten during a fight with black students. Barker was temporarily knocked unconscious and suffered cuts and bruises. He was treated and released at a local hospital. Six black students -- 17-year-old Robert Bailey Jr., 17-year-old Theo Shaw, 18-year-old Carwin Jones, 17-year-old Bryant Purvis, 16-year-old Mychal Bell, and a 14-year-old boy -- are arrested in connection with the assault. All but the 14-year-old are charged as adults with attempted second-degree murder. All six are expelled from school.
June 26, 2007 -- On the morning of Bell's trial, the district attorney reduces the charges against him to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy. Bell is tried and convicted by an all-white jury. He faces up to 22 years in prison.
Sept. 4, 2007 -- A Louisiana District Court judge dismisses the conspiracy charge against Bell but lets the battery conviction stand, although he said Bell should have been tried as a juvenile. Charges against Jones and Shaw are reduced to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy.
Sept. 10, 2007 -- Charges against Bailey Jr. are reduced to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy.
Sept. 14, 2007 -- The Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals reverses Bell's aggravated second-degree battery conviction, ruling that he had been tried improperly as an adult. The local district attorney may appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court or refile the case in juvenile court.
Attempted murder my ass. The kid that got beaten up went to a social function that very night. Oh yeah, he was nearly murdered. While I think it was wrong that the kid got beat, there's a bigger story here. And the fact is that there's major injustice going on in the town of Jena, Louisiana.
So everyone, the least you can do is wear black tomorrow. If you want to do more, that would be awesome too.