Racism, Hatred and Southern Justice are Alive and Well in Jena, Louisiana

"Outsiders need to stay away." That's what Billy Fowler of the school board in Jena, Louisiana, said about those who have raised concerns about the sentencing imposed on six African American boys -- ages 15-17 -- facing 100 years in prison.

Outsiders are always what people in the South have called those who challenge racism. But the story of Jena is not an outsider/insider story. It's a story about the worst tradition of what is known as Southern Justice. And like in the days of Jim Crow, it's a story where any shades of grey matter far less than black and white.

The issue by now has become well known: discussed on CNN and in the pages of USA Today. At Jena High School, a black student received permission from school authorities to sit underneath what was known as "the white tree" (remarkable that he felt he had to ask!) The next day, in retribution, three nooses hung from the branches, threats that they would soon be harvesting "strange fruit."

In protest black students collectively decided to sit under the tree. This a bold and beautiful act in the spirit of the best traditions of the '60s. They refused to comply with racist terror, even when those threats are as drastic as being lynched for simply not staying in your place.

And just like in the old South, the state made clear which side it was on. The town DA, Reid Walters, actually had the audacity to threaten only the black students, telling them that he had the power to ruin their lives with the stroke of his pen if they continued to make trouble.

Tensions escalated over the course of the semester. Two black students were beaten by a white student while another group of black students were threatened with a shotgun by a former classmate. Surprisingly, none of the white students or former students were punished in any way for these incidents.

But the following Monday when a white student was beaten up by six black classmates, they were immediately arrested and charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, charges that would put them in jail for 100 years without parole. The Jena 6 ranges in age from 15-17. The white student spent three hours in a hospital emergency room and required no further medical care.

Mychall Bell was the first student tried. He was represented by a public defender that called no witness, and was quickly convicted by an all-white jury, white judge, and now faces up to 22 years in prison.

Recently, in response to a public outcry about the case, prosecutors have announced that charges against Shaw and Jones had been reduced to lesser felonies. But the need to be heard on this continues. Two other students, Robert Bailey Jr. and Bryant Purvis, still await trial for attempted murder. Bell's conviction has been allowed to stand even though the judge ruled he had been improperly convicted in an adult court when he should have been tried as a juvenile. Shaw and Jones still face years in prison.

As Billy Hunter, the head of the National Basketball Player's association, said:

"The situation in Jena, Louisiana is abominable and rotten to the core. The actions of the District Attorney demonstrate that "racism and bigotry are live and well in Jena ." As a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California and Assistant Chief in the S.F. District Attorney's Office, it is my opinion that the District Attorney's has severely overcharged the case revealing his bias against the six black Jena youth. His actions should serve as a wake-up call for all Americans who believe in an impartial and fair criminal justice system."

This is a case that should outrage any individual regardless of the color of their skin. When the justice system can be a direct symbol of racism, injustice and terror, the very moral fiber of our society is threatened. This is not a time for neutrality. Insiders and so-called outsiders will be marching in Jena on September 20th. We will also be circulating a statement in the world of sports for those who choose to support the efforts to have the charges against the Jena 6 dismissed. The simple truth is that when it comes to issues of basic justice, there are no such thing as "outsiders."

Comments

[1will]

Michael Bell faces a maximum of 15 years in prison not 100. www.thejenatimes.net has a bit of coverage on this story.

[Msquad99]

When the ropes and nooses were hung from the "white only" tree was the first window for the States Attorney, and indeed, law enforcement in general in and around Jena to act. I can only speculate on why they did not immediately take action. The ensuing chain of events are and were not difficult to predict absent an initial, firm first response from the judicial establishment there. Any other response, a shown, would be taken as tacit consent from law enforcement that the statement made by the act of hanging the nooses from the tree was a statement agreed with by local law enforcement. It escalated from there. I have to pinch myself to remember that this is the 21st Century and these things still exist.

[gonx]

From what I've read the white kid that got "beat" up ended up with a few bumps and bruises...doesn't sound like a 6 on 1 fight to me...I don't believe it was like I said I've read a lot on this all accounts are the same.. I'd like to know number one why in hell is there a white only anything in America in 2007 and why did those white kids get away with hanging 3 nooses from a tree and not get charged with a hate crime?? they got a 3 day suspension and the principal called it a prank..are you kidding me...WTF...why was a grown white man allowed to point a shotgun at them??? And why was the Atty gen allowed to make the statement I make you life disappear with the stroke of my pen again I ask WTF... Spears, Lohan, Hilton on the news daily... this I had to learn about on Bill Maher (I love him to death) and on Blogs..Why aren't people screaming at the top of their lungs?? I cried when I read this I cried when I told my children this story...I come from an interracial family this could be one of my nephews...If I'm not mistaken the Senator is that David Vittner...you know the one..you'll have to double check it but I'm pretty sure it is...everyone needs to do something even if you don't live there...I have a sign in my yard "free the jena 6" hoping if people look it or ask they'll do the same I live in Delaware no where near Jean but I feel I have to do something...Ive written my Congressman, I've written my Senator (Joe Biden, Yup the pres candidate)show me your worth my vote...Please make you voice heard...these are children help them.

[Independent voter]

Six (white/black/red/brown/yellow) people beating up one (white/black/red/brown/yellow) person is abhorrent and should not be tolerated.

The fact that black people were treated horribly in the past does not serve as an adequate defense for this kind of gang violence.

Nothing can change the past. We might be able to learn from it, but only a sense of individual responsibility can mold a positive future in which we all live together and respect each other.

[jhill3rd]

It's interesting how you say nothing of the "individual responsiblity" of the white citizens that where involved. Do you think that the actions of those individuals wasn't tolerated? Fact is that it WAS and that is where the injustice of this whole situation lies.

You state that the horrible treatment of blacks in the past does not justify "gang violence"(Wow! I knew someone was bound to take it there). The same can be said about the supremacy of whites in the past does not justify the actions of the legal system in Jena. It goes both ways my friend.

[Independent voter]

I don't disagree with you; however I don't think you understood my post.

My point regarding individual responsibility was intended for all people - don't try and read between the lines. There is no racial bias or inuendo there.

I am saying that this type of behavior should not be tolerated - no matter what the race of any of the involved parties.

Six on one (independent of race) constitutes gang violence. It goes for six blacks attacking one white and it goes for the six rednecks in Virginia who kidnapped and assaulted a black woman.

[tjnikides]

All the segregationist Dems jumped to the Republican Party after the multitude of Civil Rights bills were written into law. Why should we expect anything other than the obvious pattern so evident in this story out of Louisiana.

[steamboat]

But the state government in Louisiana is predominantly democrat.

[uheardme]

CORRECTION

SOME segregationist Dems jumped to the Republicon party after the multitude of Civil Rights bills were written into law. Ask the black democrats in Mississippi.

[GuyRC]

It's natural to get angry and resort to violence when you are mistreated but it would have been smarter to hold a rally and get the media there to see the nooses. Why do something violent that puts yourself in the hands of the man? One of the best things MLK did was teach young people to be smart about how they react to discrimination. I could think of lots of things to do to a shade tree and the surrounding grass to make it a very unpleasant place for white racists to socialize...

[Geriann2]

I really have a hard time with all these comments about "Southern bigotry". My mother and stepfather live in a suburb of Cleveland,Ohio and people there won't even put For Sale signs in their yards so that black people won't know they are available. Here in the South, many very beautiful upscale neighborhoods are now integrated. I wish you people would get your facts straight.

[Lilly06]

This story literally kills me. The legislative and penal system of the South has been imbedded in racial and class discrimination for many years. This whole case stinks of bureaucracy and my heart bleeds that America continues to tolerate injustice like this.

[nihilon x]

America needs to have a serious dialogue.

There need to be monthly forums on these issues, publicly, in the mainstream media.

Honest views from ALL kinds of Americans -- and not only grouped by race, but by religion, sexuality, ethnicity, and more...because at the root of all of this conflict is fear -- based primarily on ignorance, distrust, and misunderstanding.

By 2050, we will most likely be a nation where the "minority" becomes the "majority".

With that said, we need to resolve these issues with constructive dialogue now, rather than destructive conflict later.

[zaft]

Absolutely, fear is at the root of all negative reaction. Here's a good but simple example: My son and daughter in law had a baby girl this past May. They also have a 5 year old daughter. After the baby was born, I noticed my grandaughter watching her daddy through the nursery window with the new baby. Everyone thought she was jealous but I knew it was fear. Fear that someone was taking her place in her daddy's heart. My son came out and told her "this doesn't change anything" I could see that she didn't believe him. The next day I told her "I have a question for you" "Who do you love more Nanna or Grandmother? She looked at me and said "I love you both" "If you can love two people the same. Don't you think that your daddy can love you and the baby the same"? That did it.

[jhill3rd]

Very true.

[Nicolja]

As someone who lives in the south I can assure everyone on this board that racism is not practiced by everyone and both whites and blacks are guilty of it. This post was a one sided argument that blacks are the victims and whites are the guilty party. Both parties are guilty for the escalating tensions. Whites had their “tree” and blacks had their “benches” and both sides were guilty of segregation. If 6 white students had jumped 1 black student at school, charges would have been filed. You can’t go around assuming other wise. When the nooses happened, long before national media grabbed the story, the students guilty, were punished. Hanging nooses is repulsive but not worthy of criminal charges. The bottom line is that there are still some issues in the US with race but it’s not rampant hate for one another and it’s not all coming from whites.

[steamboat]

But now that Jackson and Sharpton have finally arrived, the media will now finally be there. Trust me.

[1will]

There seems to be alot of support for the Jena 6. I hope it's justified and this doesn't turn out to be another Mumia or Tawana Briley BS cause.

[steamboat]

Thats why I am sitting back and waiting. And asking questions.

[HaveFaith]

The Judge and the prosecuter should be disbarred for this blatent miscarriage of justice.

[katlade]

Nooses hanging in trees? Threatened with a shotgun? Aren't those considered terroristics threats against black students? Was there an investigation into who took part in that because they are the ones that started the ball rolling the events that came after. If you ask me the authorities were not doing their jobs to try to quell the situation. Bunch of redneck white folks if you ask me. How many of them belong to the Klan? The KKK by far is one of the most absurd groups ever, not only for the racism but the fact that they think they have God behind them and they still don't want to show their faces instead choosing to hide behind white sheets. I guess if you were a black person growing up in the South they would represent terror but when I a person from the North ( a educated person that is)views these goons they just have to chuckle as how absurd they look. I mean really if you think you are right you don't try to hide your face do you? Unless you are a coward.

[Motherfunner]

This is the first I have heard of this story and it is outrageous and unacceptable. The adults who ran this school and allowed there to be a whites only tree need to be held accountable.

[aedelbert]

For all the righteous indignation coming from other parts of the country, I'd suggest you all look around your own playground. It's convenient to scapegoat the South, especially small backward parts of it that have little or not ability to respond to a national media onslaught. Trouble is that the same thing goes on across the country in a terrifying variety of ways. Honestly, having grown up in the South, I've always found the worst racism well north of the Mason-Dixon.