a little bit of protest today in West Chester
The steps at the Chester County Courthouse were a little busier today than usual. About 20 activists marched and joined other protestors around the country to raise awareness about the "Jena 6."
The issue started due to racially charged incidents at Jena High School, in Louisiana, last September. White students placed three nooses in what was known as “the white tree,” after a black student tried to sit under it.
Not long after the nooses appeared in the tree, authorities said a white student was badly beaten by six black students. The black students were originally charged with attempted murder and expelled from the school.
The state’s District Attorney, Reed Walters, denied Wednesday that racism was involved. He said the students that hung the nooses were not charged because he could find no state law under which they could be charged.
But in the beating case, he said four of the defendants were of adult age under state law, and the only juvenile charged in the case, Mychal bell, had a prior criminal record.
The charges of attempted murder were then scaled back to offenses such as aggravated battery and conspiracy.
For the protestors baring signs that read "Equality" and "Support the Jena 6," the case represents a throw back to racism in the south and shows this country still has a long way to go until race is no longer an issue.
The issue started due to racially charged incidents at Jena High School, in Louisiana, last September. White students placed three nooses in what was known as “the white tree,” after a black student tried to sit under it.
Not long after the nooses appeared in the tree, authorities said a white student was badly beaten by six black students. The black students were originally charged with attempted murder and expelled from the school.
The state’s District Attorney, Reed Walters, denied Wednesday that racism was involved. He said the students that hung the nooses were not charged because he could find no state law under which they could be charged.
But in the beating case, he said four of the defendants were of adult age under state law, and the only juvenile charged in the case, Mychal bell, had a prior criminal record.
The charges of attempted murder were then scaled back to offenses such as aggravated battery and conspiracy.
For the protestors baring signs that read "Equality" and "Support the Jena 6," the case represents a throw back to racism in the south and shows this country still has a long way to go until race is no longer an issue.
3 Comments:
If I was at that protest, I would have carried a sign that read "DOWN WITH WHITEY". Full Disclosure: I'm white.
While the concerns of the protesters are understandable, let's not lose sight of the fact that there is a victim of this crime. I wonder how many people are going to rally in support of him...
The extent of your so-called "victim's" injuries consisted of a black eye and bloody ear. He went to a school function that night. I think he'll be just fine. I think the real victims here are the black kids who not only had to ASK PERMISSION to sit under a tree (what year is this?!?!), but also are being railroaded by the Louisiana legal system. A little worse than a black eye.
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