The Jena 6

Parent Cafe
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<p>The situation in Jena is very disturbing and there has been a serious miscarriage of justice. The long sordid story cannot be understood by taking any piece of it out of context or in isolation. It is something that should never have escalated to the point it did and believe the local prosecutors actions long before the alleged “attempted murder” may be primarily to blame.</p>

<p>My fervent hope is that the marches in Jena remain peaceful and focus national attention on the situation and that the prosecution of these kids be stop. Whatever wrong they did was a schoolyard wrong and highly provoked at that. I also hope the people of Jena reflect on their actions and ask themselves what kind of world they really want to live in.</p>

<p>At this point in time there has been no loss of life nor any serious bodily injury and the focus should not be on prosecutions but on healing, understandng, and community.</p>

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<p>Oh and in case anyone missed what I meant there Free the Jena 6.</p>

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<p>The symbol of oppression is also a symbol of terrorism. The rules that we use in Iraq should also be used in the USA. As the guy in WH, said today, he “understands…” ,</p>

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<p>^I guess what I’m saying is that instead of, once again, focusing on why the Duke case is so darned ‘special’ perhaps it is more important to examine the disturbing similarities between the Duke and Jena cases…the granddaddy of which, imho, is the perversion of laws and prosecutorial power for unseemly motives such as political gain or racism. </p>

<p>(Btw…breaking the law is breaking the law. A minor under the influence and in violation of alcohol laws ceases to be a ‘winky’ sort of thing when that minor maims or kills himself or others. I think we’ve seen that firsthand here in the CC community.)</p>

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<p>Form the article the Jena situation sure sounds like a case of racism on the part of a number of people from the hanging of the nooses to the unfair decisions of charges and who to prosecute. It’s depressing to think that that level of racism still occurs in our country. I hope justice will prevail and things will work out okay in the end.</p>

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<p>I think there have been a series of overtly racial acts that have gone either without fair punishment, or without adequate punishment. IMO 3 groups of such a thing. 1)I’ve seen news of many examples of white teens verbally disparaging black teens, and other acts by whites that most any community would consider intolerable. I’m not sure nooses constitute a hate crime because that doesn’t necessarily target a whole group of a protected minority( such as drawing a swastica on a synagogue) it could be argued that the white students who did the noose thing were mad at a few who were black rather than mad at all who are black. BUT, that’s not why I’m writing.
The next group 2)is what appears to be the overzealous rush to charge too seriously those believed to be involved in the beating. Notice too, that not all are claiming innocence, but some are only claiming they were charged with a more serious crime than should have been.
The last thing I notice is what I consider the 3rd in a series of racist acts. 3)it certainly appears to be racist of good ol Jesse and Al, rushing to the defense of those charged, claiming they believe these teens have been the unfair victims of a rush to judgment, and are facing unfounded charges? Really? Wonder exactly what about this caught their attention? My gosh, I am surprised the media doesn’t jump all over these 2 to really really press them into explaining why a predominantly white neighborhood seeming to prematurely convict black teens of a serious crime without a thorough investigation draws them to come defend the accused teens, but why they didn’t do the same when the situation was the reverse at Duke? In fact, not only did they not come to defend the Duke fellows, they went a step worse; by actually helping inflame the predominantly black community who was judging these fellows prematurely. I wonder if they ever think “Oops, I guess I jumped in on the wrong side of that one.[Duke, Tawana, the Reverend Jesse’s love child denial]” Or do they just see it like is said about some celebs that say no publicity is bad publicity? I think their credibility is so “challenged” to put it nicely, that I think their jumping in on causes damages the credibility of the cause. I really wouldn’t want them to jump on my bandwagon.
I don’t know enough of the facts to say what those accused actually did, or how they should be punished, but i hope punishment is fair for those who are guilty, and neither given an advantage nor a disadvantage due to skin color or publicity.</p>

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<p>so are you saying Sharpton and Jackson aren’t being adequately punished or given a fair punishment because they didn’t rush to to Duke to defend whites, and that their ‘racism’ deserves punishment along the same lines as the kids involved?</p>

<p>If you don’t know enough of the facts, read up on it on Wikipedia; it’ll give you a quick synopsis; you’ll see the punishment was not doled out fairly. Well, they didn’t hang those nooses up because they loved the black kids; give me one plausible reason kids would hang up nooses after being told a group of kids who have been segregated and excluded from sitting under a tree are going to indeed sit there.</p>

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<p>“I’m not sure nooses constitute a hate crime because that doesn’t necessarily target a whole group of a protected minority( such as drawing a swastica on a synagogue) it could be argued that the white students who did the noose thing were mad at a few who were black rather than mad at all who are black.”</p>

<p>Huh?:confused: So, under your logic, if someone burns a cross on the lawn of a black family, it’s not a hate crime, because it merely means they are “mad at” THAT PARTICULAR black family—not all black families—am I understanding you correctly? Well, hate to break it to you, but the courts would seriously disagree with you on that one. It’s considered a Hate Crime, whether they burn a cross on a single family’s lawn, or burn it in front of a black church. What message do you think those kids were trying to send? That only the black kid who asked if he was allowed to sit under the “Whites Only” tree was “NOT WELCOME”, or that no black students were welcome to enjoy the shade of the sacred tree?</p>

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But they used symbology clearly associated with racially motivated historical lynchings of Blacks. They didn’t express anger at an individual, they expressed their anger at a race. Would it have made any difference which Black student chose to sit there? I doubt it - the reaction would likely have been the same simply because of the person’s race.</p>

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<p>“But they used symbology clearly associated with racially motivated historical lynchings of Blacks. They didn’t express anger at an individual, they expressed their anger at a race. Would it have made any difference which Black student chose to sit there? I doubt it - the reaction would likely have been the same simply because of the person’s race.”</p>

<p>Exactly. And it is the brutal history associated with the noose (5000 blacks lynched between 1865-1960,—1100 of those between 1900-1914) that makes the message sent to Jena High black students so racially charged.</p>

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<p>The judge has refused to lower his $90,000 bail, citing Bell’s criminal record, which includes four juvenile offenses – two simple battery charges among them. </p>

<p>“It breaks our heart to see him handcuffed and in leg shackles,” Sharpton said. “But his spirit is high. He has said that he is very encouraged to know that thousands are coming to this town to stand up for him and his five friends.”</p>

<p>Only 4 juvenile convictions? What a hero! Free him right away!</p>

<p>This kid doesn’t deserve to be tried for 2nd degree murder, but he doesnt deserve to walk free. </p>

<p>I also think it’s funny that we see jackson/sharpton in on this. Had 6 white kids beat up a black kid, provoked or not, I bet they would be calling for a hate crime. Fact is this kid has 4 priors and already has a 2nd home in the justice system and there’s nothing jackson/sharpton can do about it…like I said, he doesn’t deserve 2nd degree murder but people who are calling for his release have no respect for the rule of law.</p>

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<p>Why all the sympathy for black students? They could have killed the victim. Because blacks beating up whites is no crime? The law should come down equally hard on the white students for hang nooses as a hate crime, the same as spraying KKK on black churches. But lets not forget the Jenna 6 nearly killed another young man who may happened to be at wrong place at wrong time.</p>

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<p>On December 4, 2006, Jena High School student Justin Barker, age 17, was assaulted by other Jena High students. According to reports, earlier that day Barker, a white student, bragged about how one of his alleged attackers, Robert Bailey, Jr., had been beaten up by a white man the Friday before.[3] Barker, who denies making the comments, was then knocked to the ground after being hit in the back of his head. From there, according to some witnesses, a group of black students followed suit by repeatedly kicking him.[16] Barker, who was left unconscious after the attack, was examined by a doctor at the local hospital. In the meantime, the six students accused of the attack, eventually dubbed the “Jena Six”,[17] were arrested.</p>

<p>Barker’s injuries
Barker was released from the hospital after two hours of treatment and observation for a concussion and an eye that had swollen shut.[7] The emergency physician’s record shows that he also had injuries to his face, ears and hand.[18] He then attended his school’s Ring ceremony that evening,[7] though he later testified, “I waited 11 years to go to it. I wasn’t going to let that get in my way,” and that he ended up leaving early due to pain.[19]</p>

<p>During the trial, Barker also testified that his face was badly swollen after the attack and that he lost vision in one eye for three weeks. He also stated that he suffered recurring headaches since the attack, though tests have detected no medical cause for them.[19]</p>

<p>Yes, those who hung nooses deserved to be punished. However so do these 6 kids who beat the hell out of a kid who didn’t break a single law.</p>

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<p>edvest: Could have killed the boy? Yeah, with those deadly tennis shoes, absolutely. No telling what kind of mortal damage a rubber sole will inflict.</p>

<p>I mean, seriously, come on. The kid’s injuries were so minor that he was able to a school event later that day, though it’s true that he was in pain. There was no danger of him dying, and I’d think you’d be very hard-pressed to claim that the black students had any intention of inflicting mortal injury.</p>

<p>But to answer your first question: All the sympathy is because the circumstances that led to the crime involved essentially an entire town’s educational, governmental, law-enforcement and judicial institutions turning a blind eye to the incredible, pervasive racism at this school. These black students were in a situation I’d never wish on anybody.</p>

<p>Also, a bit more cherry picking: nearly killed another young man who may have been at the wrong place at the wrong time? Can you clarify? Are we talking about the guy who pulled the shotgun on them (and should be charged for it), or the guy who initiated a fight with them because they were trying to get into a “white” party?</p>

<p>Finally, with regard to Bell’s priors: who’s to say that those are necessarily totally on the level either, given what we know of how the justice system there functions?</p>

<p>Like I’ve already said:</p>

<p>1) Charge the students who hung the nooses with hate crimes in federal juvenile court, and convict.</p>

<p>2) Charge the white student who pulled the shotgun with attempted murder or something like that, convict, and drop the charges against Bailey related to that altercation.</p>

<p>3) Charge and convict the Jena 6 of assault, then give them a suspended sentence to reflect the unbelievably adverse conditions that led to the assault.</p>

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<p>Concussion, eye swollen shut, couldn’t see out of it for 3 weeks? Who are you to deem what can and can’t be deadly? During my time at west point we were taught hand to hand combat and, when you get your enemy on the ground, you were supposed to take your boot (rubber soled by the way) and slam it into their face. Why? Because it is the most effective way of killing somebody quickly with your bare hands. Kicking somebody in the head can certainly kill them and if you believe otherwise you are, dare I say it, ignorant as hell…</p>

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<p>Nobody is to say, however they are convictions no matter how you slice it. It’s not like we’re talking murder here…this guy has assaulted people twice before, and pleaded guilty on one such occurance. Are you telling me he’s admitted to beating the hell out of someone before, and then does it again, and we’re to assume the other 3 intances were because of a racial justice system? Please…way to many “ifs” in that equation. Bell is a criminal and he should be treated as one. The other 5 no, but bell yes. If you let him get away with this then what message does it send to the white kid who got his ass beat? </p>

<p>1) Charge convict white students who hung the noose with hate crime</p>

<p>2) Charge and convict the white student of producing a gun (stories are too conflicting for attempted murder, plus producing a gun doesn’t get you attempted murder…never has and never will)</p>

<p>3) Charge and convict every member of the “jena 6” who particpated in the beating of the white student with assault and battery.</p>

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<p>I don’t know that anyone is arguing that the blacks are innocent of their crimes. I think the argument is that the charges were inappropriate, which I’m sure impacts the amount of bail set. If the charges were more appropriate, he might have a better chance of getting out on bail to await his day in court. No one is saying he’s innocent - they just want equal justice. That won’t happen unless somehow charges are filed against the white guys, too. Despite all this mess, the only consequence the white guys have faced is three days of in-school suspension. The principal must have pulled his hair out when he recommended expulsion and the school board overturned it, and the superintendent supported them. I can’t imagine being a principal in an environment like that, trying to deal with the day-to-day fighting, and not getting an ounce of support from either your school board, superintendent (who called it an adolescent prank), or the district attorney who didn’t want to be bothered. How are these kids ever supposed to care about anything when the adults who are supposed to protect them, look the other way? This is the time for people to stand up and rally against the deep racism that permeates this community, and it can be done so without jeopardizing appropriate consequences for everyone. Frankly, the one person who scares me most in all this is the kid with the shotgun. If someone I’m in a confrontation with produces a gun, I’d do anything to get that gun away from him (and thank anyone who did get it away), and assume any altercation involved in getting it away would be considered self-defense. But no, the black kid gets charged with burglary because they took the gun away.</p>

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<p>On Saturday, December 2, 2006, an incident apparently stemming from the Fair Barn fight the day before occurred at a local convenience store. A white student who had attended the party encountered Bailey and several friends. Reports from the involved parties are conflicting,[15] but indicate that an argument occurred, the white student produced a pistol grip shotgun from his pickup truck, and that the gun was ultimately taken away from him by Bailey and his friends.[3] Local police reported that the accounts of the white student and black students contradicted each other and formed a report based on testimony taken from eyewitnesses. The white student testified that Bailey and his friends shouted and ran after him, that he ran to get his gun, and that the students wrestled it away from him. [16] According to the black students, as they left the convenience store, they were confronted by the white student with a shotgun. They then claimed to have wrestled the gun away from him and fled the scene.</p>

<p>They based the report off accounts of eye-witnesses. Sure, the accounts could very well have been biased, however saying it’s as clear and dry as “a white kid pulled a gun, the black kids wrestled it away in self deffense” is not telling the whole story.</p>

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<p>No LaxAttack, in the climate of incredible racism, I’d put very good money on the “eyewitness report” being biased. You don’t just pull a shotgun in public innocently. I suspect it’s a bit of a hybrid of both accounts - that words were exchanged in the store, then the black students started getting annoyed, and he opportunistically decided that he could use some self-defense and grabbed the gun. The fact that the black students got all the charges there seems ridiculous to me. Again, take the environment into account - clearly the town is extremely racist in a lot of ways - would it surprise you that an eyewitness account is biased?</p>

<p>As for Barker’s injuries: those are the injuries he said he had - including “recurring headaches” for which no medical cause was found. Hmm.</p>

<p>I’m mostly in agreement with you regarding the charges as a whole. The only thing I disagree with was the shotgun incident. He **pulled a gun[b/] - what do you think he was intending to do? That’s like me pulling a knife on you, and claiming I didn’t intend anything. Pulling weapons = intent to do harm. I don’t know what kind of charge that should be, but there has to be something.</p>

<p>As for how I can decide that it wasn’t a deadly assault? These were tennis shoes, not military boots. On the other hand, I’ll grant you that it is conceivable that if one planned it, one could easily kill someone with only one’s feet. However, if you really think the Jena 6 planned to kill the student in front of a bunch of witnesses, you’re delusional. </p>

<p>Assault, yes, anything more, no.</p>

<p>One final question: what kind of sentences do you think they should get?</p>

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<p>The doctor said he had a concussion and eye that was swollen shut. Also I don’t think it’s fair to use racism as a cop out and assume that every white person in jena is out to get black kids. </p>

<p>I pretty much agree on everything else you said. As for the sentances? I think that those who are minors should be treated as minors and those who are adults as adults. They should all receive the sentances that anybody in their position would get. Guilty for assault and battery gets you X…that’s what they should get. I think Bell should get whatever someone with 4 prior convictions would get after assault and battery, which more then likely means some prison time. Will this ever happen? No…because giving Bell what he <em>deserves</em> at this point will be considered racism.</p>

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<p>This entire incident smacks of racist double standards.</p>