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Categories: Civil Rights and Equality, African-American Issues, Criminal Justice Reform
As the Jena 6 incident is gaining media attention, people may feel a disconnect between what happened to students in Jena, LA, and what happens in their daily lives. They think, "Whew, I'm glad such blatant racism isn't in my backyard." But let's look at the bigger picture. Jena 6 is more than just a racial issue. It's about demanding a fair and just legal system. If our system fails the Jena 6, will it fail you, too?
An estimated 20,000 people filled the small town of Jena to protest the unequal punishments for two racially charged incidents at the local high school.
On Thursday, the Third Circuit Court of Appeal ordered a hearing within 72 hours to determine if the only one of the six still behind bars can be released.
I first found out about Jena 6 through an online petition started by ColorofChange.org.
Please click here to read great commentary from CNN contributor Roland S. Martin.
Background:
In August 2006, black students began to sit under a tree that white students normally congregated under. A day later, three white students hung nooses from the tree. The guilty white students were suspended in spite of the principal's recommendation for expulsion. When black students sat under the tree to protest the unfair punishment, the District Attorney and town police demanded 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 racially-charged incidents occurred at the school, but the DA didn't intervene until a white student was beaten up in a school yard fight. And not surprisingly, the punishment for the six black students, dubbed the "Jena 6" was far worse; they were expelled, arrested, and charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Five of the six students have been released from prison.
Visit ColorofChange.org to learn more.
