Please Stop This Insanity!!!
 

Dear friend,
I just learned about a case of segregation-era oppression happening today in Jena, Louisiana. I signed onto ColorOfChange.org's campaign for justice in Jena, and wanted to invite you to do the same.

http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/?id=2207-227649

Last fall in Jena, the day after two Black high school students sat beneath the "white tree" on their campus, nooses were hung from the tree. When the superintendent dismissed the nooses as a "prank," more Black students sat under the tree in protest. The District Attorney then came to the school accompanied by the town's police and demanded that the students end their protest, telling them, "I can be your best friend or your worst enemy... I can take away your lives with a stroke of my pen."

A series of white-on-black incidents of violence followed, and the DA did nothing. But when a white student was beaten up in a schoolyard fight, the DA responded by charging six black students with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

It's a story that reads like one from the Jim Crow era, when judges, lawyers and all-white juries used the justice system to keep blacks in "their place." But it's happening today. The families of these young men are fighting back, but the story has gotten minimal press. Together, we can make sure their story is told and that the Governor of Louisiana intervenes and provides justice for the Jena 6. It starts now. Please join me:

http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/?id=2207-227649

The noose-hanging incident and the DA's visit to the school set the stage for everything that followed. Racial tension escalated over the next couple of months, and on November 30, the main academic building of Jena High School was burned down in an unsolved fire. Later the same weekend, a black student was beaten up by white students at a party. The next day, black students at a convenience store were threatened by a young white man with a shotgun. They wrestled the gun from him and ran away. While no charges were filed against the white man, the students were later arrested for the theft of the gun.

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.

Six Black Jena High students, Robert Bailey (17), Theo Shaw (17), Carwin Jones (18), Bryant Purvis (17), Mychal Bell (16) and an unidentified minor, were expelled from school, arrested and charged with second-degree attempted murder. The first trial ended last month, and Mychal Bell, who has been in prison since December, was convicted of aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery (both felonies) by an all-white jury in a trial where his public defender called no witnesses. During his trial, Mychal's parents were ordered not to speak to the media and the court prohibited protests from taking place near the courtroom or where the judge could see them.

Mychal is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31st, and could go to jail for 22 years. Theo Shaw's trial is next. He will finally make bail this week.

The Jena Six are lucky to have parents and loved ones who are fighting tooth and nail to free them. They have been threatened but they are standing strong. We know that if the families have to go it alone, their sons will be a long time coming home. But if we act now, we can make a difference.

Join me in demanding that Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco get involved to make sure that justice is served for Mychal Bell, and that DA Reed Walters drop the charges against the 5 boys who have not yet gone to trial.

http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/?id=2207-227649

Thanks.

Man....It's hard to comprehend why and very sad that **** like this still happens in America. :roll: It's embarrassing for the country and backward progress of what so many have fought and died for. :cry:

thanks for the comment. i think we should all sign up to their petition. i would also like some of our own members who may live in the area to chime in. assault is one crome, but charging them with attempted murder and conspiracy to attemped murder is going a bit overboard.

It seems to me that Louisiana is the last place that needs this type of bad press. I mean I for one have been exposed to this all my life, and have never understood how people can act like this. I remember riding the bus with my grandmother in El Paso in the early 60s and asking why these people were treated different. Then when I moved to Lubbock, Texas in the early 90s there was a major divide, you really had to be careful what you said there. This last year I read another story about a high school prom where blacks and whites had their own separate proms. I’m sure that in some places this will never change, I just have a really hard time understanding. I agree this is unjust and I will be adding my name to the list of supporters.

Curtis

funny thing is that dallas/farmers village is segregated due to the Mexican immigrant issue. seems frisco and plano texas are now the new "white" communities. i am a member of LULAC and deal with issues like this on a weekly basis, but this is really absurd.

To say that that's messed up would be a major understatement.

What's sad is that it's nothing that I don't see every day as a public defender in southeast Missouri. Nothing but courts of patronage and prejudice, and if you're poor it's just as bad as if you're black and middle-class.

The kid that was convicted by an all-white jury has a pretty good Batson challenge for appeal, but it'll take getting picked up in federal court to make it happen. The problem with his case is that there were probably only the "victim" and the suspects present when the altercation occurred. The State will call the victim to testify, all you can really do at that point is cross-examine him, and your co-defendants certainly aren't going to testify for you because that would open themselves up to making incriminating statements. The defendant's friends and family could testify at the sentencing hearing, but that hasn't happened yet and probably won't help anyway.

The justice system in Louisiana is abysmal, at best, worse so in New Orleans where the judges just removed the public defender board because they didn't like the fact that they were trying to defend cases rather than rubber stamp them like before Katrina.

good to see input from a pro, but i think we all know that public opinion and media attention has changed cases like these in the past when it WAS tolerated behavior. so if you can and feel compelled to help...just sign up to the petition.

You Have My Support!!
 

Hi All,Very sad indeed!! I have sent my "VOICE OF THE PEOPLE" comments,heres what i sent:

It FIGURES YOUR A ANOTHER DEMOCRAT WITH NO BACKBONE AT ALL!! GET READY FOR RUDY CAUSE HE'S COMING IN 2008!!

A Floridan Republican,Craig Dxxxxxxxx

:confused:

wow, this is about peoples civil rights being violated....the same civil rights which you have. the same rights your republican counterparts have sought to erase or enhance their control over them over the last two terms. that is besides the point either way. thank you for showing your ignorance.

ignorance is the new smart

BTW Rudy's own daughter is interested in Obama's views...that says alot about the integrity of your candidate.

Because throwing low blows at the party of and personally at the politician you're trying to convince and warning them of the other party always helps put that politician on your side. :roll: Growing up in NY my whole life I wouldn't vote for Rudy Giuliani in a million years. ;) The guy is an ass clown. :lol:

Im not saying that the town is not backwards, havent been able to find out enough info on the net to make that claim but as far as the law usually goes, the charges are correct.

Anytime you knock someone out (which they did) you are charged with battery, anytime you kick someone in the head (which they did) you are charged with attempted murder. Because there was a group (six of them) that jumped the other student, there is a conspiracy charge) Kicking someone in the head is usually an automatic attempt murder charge, and is usually followed by 2nd degree battery (use of a weapon in a fight with the leg being the weapon since it was used in the commission of a felony, attempted murder)

So basically...

Rodeo Team (all white) hangs out under a tree, therefore it is now the white tree.

Black students (including bailey and the others charged in the fight) hang out in front of the auditorium, but its not called the black auditorium:confused:

Black students (including bailey and the others charged in the fight)want to "take over" the "white tree"

Told No by the "White Tree Sitter Unders"

Small skirmish ensues.

Three nooses are hung from tree. (obviously escalates tension)

Black teacher (one of two), laughs and asks the other black teacher "well one is for me and one is for you, whos the other one for?"

Black students form protest by sitting under tree (further escalating tensions)

White students given 3 days suspension (further escalating tensions as the black communities cries for blood went unheard)

Someone burns down the high school, whites think blacks, blacks think whites and yup tensions are further escalated.

Black students (including bailey and the others charged in the fight) crash a mostly white party, words and fight ensues (tensions blah blah)

Four black students (including bailey and the others charged in the fight)exchange words with white student who is chased to his car and he grabs a shotgun, as he gets the gun the black students take the gun and go home. They are charged with theft, shouldnt have been but as there were four of them and they pursued and fought with the other student they cannot claim self defense. Its usually only self defense if you are the one being pursued or are in fear of life or bodily harm. As they chased him they cant use the self defense.

Because they are charged with theft it stirs they pot a little bit more and more people get angry.

Then a white student is jumped by six black students (including bailey), is knocked out by the first punch and kicked repeatedly in the head.

BTW the student charged with attempt murder refused to cop to a lesser charge of aggravated battery. Prosecutors always charge you with the stiffest they can in the hopes it scares you into pleading to a lesser charge. This kid didnt plead and the prosecutor won.

And now there is a internet petition and lots of people up in arms that a group of black students who jumped another student would be arrested and possibly jailed for a "schoolyard fight"? If it had been a group of white students that had jumped, knocked out and repeatedly kicked the head of a black student, would you be calling for mercy or blood?

It took quite a bit of scroungin to get that much information, i never believe anything i read on a pro anything website. The are always two side to every story. True the whole situation and the events leading up to it are shameful, but so is this.

I am Not gonna start a long DEBATE but EVERY BODY BETTER GET USED TO IT >>>RUDY'S GONNA WIN!!

http://elleabd.blogspot.com/2007/05/jena-six.html
I read about the Jena (Louisiana) Six on Vox's blog a couple of weeks ago (she updated here). Before I go any further, here is the situation, summarized by Shawn Williams from an article by Howard Witt who writes for the Chicago Tribune (though this may be the same story here at the Baltimore Sun--doesn't require registration)


In his May 18, 2007 story, Mr. Witt tells of an incident that happened at the local high school in Jena where black students decided they wanted to sit under a tree whose shade had been reserved for white students only for years. When campus officials gave their blessing to the students request to sit under the tree, a series of events began that have apparently launched the town into a downward spiral.

According to Mr. Witt's article the following events have occurred since the initial action by the black students last September:

* The next day three nooses were hanging from the tree
* Once three white students were identified as having hung the nooses on the tree, the school superintendent suspended them for only three days. (The principal had suggested expulsion). The superintendent felt the nooses represented a "youthful stunt."
* Fights broke out at the high school between black and white students.
* Unknown arsonists set fire to the central wing of the school (November)
* A white youth beat up a black student who showed up at an all-white party
* another young white man pulled a shotgun on three black students at a convenience store
* A group of black students at the high school allegedly jumped a white student on his way out of the gym, knocked him unconscious and kicked him after he hit the floor (December)
* LaSalle Parish district attorney, Reed Walters, opted to charge six black students with attempted second-degree murder and other offenses (for their involvement in the above incident).
NOTE: The white youth who beat the black student at the party was charged only with simple battery, while the white man who pulled the shotgun at the convenience store wasn't charged with any crime at all.

Even if so it's bad when you can't get someone from your own state to vote for you.......especially a fellow Italian. :rof: IMO about the only positive if he becomes president is the fact that he would be our first Italian American president. Putting a minority in office would definitely be a step in the right direction for America but I wish that minority wasn't an ass clown. :lol:

another better detailed report.
http://lapda.org/Jena%20Racial%20Iss...012%202006.htm

first hand reports from an alumni and some pictures. much more details of the exclusionary attitude of the city.
http://listentomeforaminute.blogspot...iana-town.html

want me to post more detailed reports? doesnt get better than what i have posted and gives much better insight to what is occuring. first hand accounts of the climate in that town mean alot.

well we all know Floridas votes are for sale to the highest bidder.

heres another blog, but it has links to the NPR, BBC, and CNN covering the story. sad thing is CNN pushed this story aside for the much more important even of the release of Paris hilton. shows you where Americas heart is. in these issues.

http://www.whileseated.org/photo/003244.shtml

Justice must be served. HHR Owners for Justice!!! Unite!!!:thumb:

that would be cool. show up to the protest with 100 HHR's

No way no Sir not in Louisiana they would confiscate our HHR’s for un-peaceful assembly, arrest us, fine us, and as soon as all our fines were paid they would bus us to the swamp and tell us bayou. The judge has already made it clear protesting anywhere near the court house will not be allowed. No way to win in the state of Louisiana, especially if you’re from Texas.

Huh? You must mean Al Gore since he couldn't even manage to carry his own state in 2000. Italian American is a minority? If so, then all the front runners are a minority. Rudy, Italian American. Mit, Mormon American (?). Hillary, female American. Barrack, black American. You mean they are all ass clowns? And, BTW, what is an ass clown, I couldn't find the definition in my American Heritage Dictionary? Also, what has any of this got to do with the origins of this thread? From what I understand, the jena six, or whatever they are called, are being prosecuted by local Democrats.

Later,
Pat

Nope. I meant Rudy because I won't vote for him.


Yup. We always have been. Here's a map from the 2000 Census that breaks down the concentration of Italian Americans. We live in like 6 states. :nuts: :lol:
Attachment 40270
And the numbers:
http://www.niaf.org/research/2000_census_1.asp?print=1&




Nope.

Rudy, Italian American. - True
Mit, Mormon American (?) - Religion doesn't make you a minority. Especially so if it's a Christian religion.
Hillary, female American - You're kidding me right?
Barrack, black American - True but the correct term is African American

Nope.

Ass Clown


It doesn't, I didn't start it (started by a Republican that wanted to take cheap pot shots), and I'm not going to carry on. :nuts: :lol:

But I do have to add how can you trust a politician that jumped ships? :confused: Rudy started off a Democrat and became a Republican. :roll:

Not necessarily true. The prosecutor has discretion to determine what charges or information he's going to file against a suspect. If it's a felony, the grand jury will issue an indictment or a judge will bind the case over to a court that may hear felony cases. It is up to the finder of fact whether the suspect has committed the alleged acts as charged in the information.

Kicking someone in the head is NOT an automatic "attempted murder" indictment, and a leg is NOT considered a weapon or dangerous instrument everywhere except maybe Kentucky.

BTW, it is interesting that the kid refused to "cop" to a lesser charge, but he may have truly felt that he was either not guilty of anything, or the time he would have to serve on the lesser charge would probably be equal to what he's going to have to serve on the more serious charge anyway.

You are now classifying someone with Italian heritage as a minority? You have to be kidding me...Italian, English, Irish, German, French or whatever your roots came from White Europe..unless you live in some parts of the country with an overwhelming Hispanic population you are just awg and not a minority.

Maybe if we were at all not caught up in classifying ourselves into some special sect we would have a lot less problems in this country. Black, white, Hispanic, Asian whatever....if you are a citizen you are an American plain and simple....I belong to the White American community...how friggin stupid does that sound?? Not to mention that you'd be classified as the biggest bigot since Archie Bunker by the PC police who tell you "you must say this now" and "you must not say this now"

Says who??? You??? Is it written into law that we must say that now :confused: I have a black friend who lives in the inner city who would beg to differ with you 10 fold. I thought he was gonna punch someone in the face the last time someone called him an African American. To paraphrase "I've never been to Africa, I don't want to go to Africa and I don't know anyone from Africa...last time I checked I have been an American for 42 years and that suits me just fine" We were having a sports debate the other night trying to remember the name of a NBA player...'' Was he a black dude or a white guy?" No "was he an African American or a Caucasian" I'm not saying this applies to everyone much less by the same regard you cannot blanket statement that "African American" is the "correct" term

Was eating breakfast at a local place a few weeks ago...while waiting to pay the bill a kid with an Obama sticker comes up with a pamphlet asking if I would consider supporting Mr Obama in the NH primary. I said no because I'm a registered Republican and I really would not be of any use to any Democratic candidate until the general election. Sounds pretty clear as day doesn't it? Well that translated to this wank much differently as he replied "Oh, so I guess the real reason you won't support him is because he is black"(notice he did not say African American) I just looked at him with a blank stare with You have got to be kidding me written all over my face....when I got over that I told him "No, more so that you are an idiot who has no concept on how primaries are run and furthermore that if you claim to represent the Obama campaign and that is your standard answer to everyone who says no to you, it is no wonder he is running way behind Hillary oh and not to mention he is 1/2 white so maybe you should really investigate the real roots of the guy you are supporting" And to even drive my answer further I let him know that if Colin Powell or Condi Rice ever threw their name into the ring that they would be near the top of my list.

Anyways...lots of reasons Obama is not on my radar but being a black guy is not one of them.....none of the Democrats have me going "yeah that is a great idea" but then again none of the Republicans do either. I don't vote based on if it is a woman, black, Asian...I vote based on their values and ideas...not one person is ever gonna be perfect and that I am going to agree with 100%...right now the most important things to me are Foreign policy, National Defense, gun rights and the War on Terrorism.

I don't agree with everything George Bush does but I sure as hell agree with a lot more than anything that Albie Gore or Kerry believes in

Sorry to rant away on your thread questie


Goose

I dunno, my heritage is White Europe but I keep getting mistaken for Mexican because my White European blood is from northern Spain. :poke: