Jena 6: Response to Jena Commenter
June 28, 2007 by Laura | Trackback URI
Please read the latest Jena Six post here.
The following is a comment from a Jena resident. I’m not going to fisk it, because that implies I think the whole thing is crap, but I am going to respond to it inline for clarity. My comments are bracketed.
I’m from Jena. It’s very sad how the media has created a frenzy over this incident, riding on the coattails of racism. People in Jena are going about their daily lives as we speak, as if little is going on. There aren’t white folks lined up on one side of the line and black folks lined up on the other. This town has its racist issues, like MANY towns in this area of the country. Most people in this town have friends across racial boundaries. Yes, there are some very racist people around, on BOTH sides of the fence. Some black citizens are as racist as some white citizens. Being from this town, I have several clarifications that need to be made that will paint a more vivid, less media-hungry picture: [Why have so many from Jena latched on to this "coattails of racism" talking point? Do you honestly feel this selective prosecution is NOT racist? I am aware that not every single soul in Jena is racist. I don't think you each have a white robe in your house. But overall I think you're all a lot more racist than you even understand, or you wouldn't tolerate this from your D.A.]
1.) Today, the prosecution had up to 20 witnesses, many witnessed one of the defendants coming up from behind Michael Barker and punching him in the back of the head, rendering him unconscious. The others proceeded to kick and stomp him while he was unconscious. One of the teachers that arrived at the scene thought he might be dead because his eyes were rolled to the back of his head. Black or white, this TRANSCENDS a typical “schoolhouse fight.” These 6 guys attacked and put a student in the hospital. I DO believe attempted murder is taking it too far. But they do deserve some punishment for what they did. Just because this guy was a friend of some of the students that hung the nooses didn’t give the others a right to resort to violence. By the way, for the Mychale Bell trial, not one person showed up as a witness in his defense. [First of all, the victim is JUSTIN Barker. How can you be from Jena and not know that? Second, the prosecution's twenty witnesses had many conflicting statements. Your description of this event is NOT AT ALL consistent with Barker's injuries. Yes, he was injuried, but certainly not to the extent that a beating like the one described would cause. No bodywide contusions/abrasions, no serious head injuries like a concussion, no broken nose, no loose teeth, no renal injuries even though he was allegedly kicked repeatedly... NONE of the above. If he had any kind of serious injury, you folks would be shouting it from the housetops to justify this criminal prosecution. They don't exist and it can't be justified. In short, that dog won't hunt.]
2.) Despite the media frenzy, Jena is not a bad town to live in. Like mentioned before, business is going on as usual here. I saw a black man that I went to school with today and we both waved at each other and smiled. Most people in this town have friends (even close friends) across racial boundaries. [I never said they didn't. But nevertheless, the problem is real. Read this description of your town by a pastor in your town:
"LaSalle Parish is awash in racism: True racism. Not the sort of affirmative action/name-calling/reparations-seeking fluff that keeps Jesse Jackson and liberal do-gooders in business, but a systematic, culture of bigotry, neglected by the scrutiny of time.
Here in the piney woods of central Louisiana, where some gentle, old, Christian, white women still call graying black men “boy” and some angry, young, Christian, black teens attack pizza delivery trucks that would dare enter their neighborhood, racism and bigotry are such a part of life that most of the citizens do not even recognize it. Cross Highway127 just south of Jena and you enter two different worlds, separated by class and race. If we as Christians face powers, principalities, and rulers of darkness in high places it is certain that part of the spiritual wickedness arrayed against the citizens of LaSalle Parish is hatred born of racism."]
3.) The media is pretending as if these 6 students were model citizens just trying to stick up for their right to be in a fair society. Most of these 6 have been in trouble several times with the school and the law. These aren’t straight A students whose lives have been ruined by a town of racist white people. Unfortunately one student had a football scholarship for college. It’s sad that this happened to him. But shouldn’t people be responsible for their own actions? He should have considered his future before doing what he did. [So the qualification to be angry about injustice is perfection? Martin Luther King, Jr. plagiarized a bunch of stuff in college, should we forget about everything he did? "Most of these 6 have been in trouble several times with the school and the law." Based on how they are being prosecuted now, I don't find the concept that black kids have been cracked down on hard for things that were overlooked in white kids surprising at all. Please give more information about the trouble they were in so we can all assess it.]
4.) The guys that hung those nooses deserve to be punished. Their actions were clearly wrong. But the actions that followed took a much more violent path. Over the next several months after this happened…there was several black kids (possibly the ones in trouble here) who were going around town trying to pick fights with white teenagers who were country-acting. Matter of fact, this was the case when the guy pulled the gun on the black guys. There were several of them about to start a fight. This is why he pulled out the gun. Whether or not you agree with his actions (pulling the gun), he was still trying to protect himself from getting in a fight with 4 or 5 people. The black student that got beat up by the white student was ONE of the guys that tried to “jump” that guy that night. The media portrays the gun incident as if they were going about their daily business when this white guy suddenly whips out a gun and aims it at them. That wasn’t the case. The town has been uneasy about this situation for several months and he felt a need to protect himself when 4 or 5 guys are approaching him with questionable intentions. [If you can't see that the nooses were a threat that the black community would take seriously and be fearful of, then you are being willfully dense. "Country-acting"? You mean acting like redneck tough guys. Given the racially charged environment, again, not surprising that they might do that. But I'm still not buying your characterization of this event; that the white guy was about to be jumped. Statistically and historically, 12% of the population isn't going to go around picking fights, especially when they know The Law is going to treat them worse for the same offenses whites get away with.]
5.) The comment saying “Teenage boys watch MTV, not Lonesome Dove.” I agree with the person above. This article doesn’t understand the culture we live in down here in the south. Teenagers listen to ’70’s country and older rock; they watch older movies; and most people (including teenagers) have watched Lonesome Dove. So think twice before you assume that every teenager is like the ones YOU are familiar with. [I understand it just fine, hon, I'm FROM Louisiana and I still live here. I have family out in various parts of the state. I absolutely DO NOT BUY the idea that the nooses were a harmless prank and that teenagers make entertainment choices similar to those of people my age.]
6.) This article also doesn’t mention something else: many of the white females at Jena High School were complaining about this particular group of black guys who were being overly flirtatious w/ them (pinching their butts). These black guys sat under this tree to get close to the girls so they could flirt with them some more. [Ah yes, the black man attacking the white woman meme. I knew that would make it out of the closet sooner or later. The Klan has gotten a LOT of mileage from that meme. I take it you are NOT a woman, or you wouldn't characterize a pinch of the butt as "overly flirtatious." It's not flirtatious, it's battery and quite possibly sexual assault. I don't buy for a single minute that such a vastly outnumbered minority would take their lives in their hands that way for the "thrill" of touching some white chick's behind. You have been sold a bill of goods. Hope you kept the receipt. Sorry, please play again.]
7.) I’m sure this article makes it sounds like the school is racially segregated, where whites are on one side and blacks are on another. The recess area IS segregated, but only by choice. Some white students talk to the black students and vice versa. No trouble ever occurs unless somebody starts trying to cause it. It’s strange how no one says anything about New York, where every ethnicity has it’s own part of town (SEGREGATED), but for this small town’s high school to be segregated, it is racist and unjust. [Do you not understand the difference between voluntary segregation which I agree happens all the time in all parts of the country, and feeling the need to ask permission to enter an area?]
I now realize the harsh realities of the American media. Take a story and put the spin on it that makes people feel passionate (even angry) about something. Racism is a sensitive issue and should be treated like it. This town is NOT the way the media has portrayed it, and most of the actions these articles and stories mention that the white people do in this town have a horrible bias.
In closing, racism is alive and well in this town, but across both sides of the train tracks. These series of events were provoked by both sides. Both were at fault, and all who have broken the law should be punished. End of story. [If "ALL" who had broken the law were, in fact, being punished, I wouldn't have much to write about, would I? Everyone isn't being prosecuted evenly. That's my whole complaint.]
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“New York, where every ethnicity has it’s own part of town (SEGREGATED) …”; ha-ha, ain’t THAT the truth. This whole pile of **** of: “Oooo, big cites are diverse and great and rich and spirited and wonderful blah-blah-blah…”
****.
Big cities are as racist as the smallest most isolated hick-town. Toronto, in Canada, is the same as New York: every ethnic group has walled itself in, keeping itself separate from the rest of Toronto. Diversity? Gimme a break. It’s a smokescreen to justify more population growth, plain-and-simple.
I agree there’s plenty of racism in big cities. But I do find that it’s less overt, “softened” if you will, because continued exposure to someone who is different will lessen hostility/fear/etc. My family is a perfect example of that.
Interesting. I just met a woman from Nigeria. She first moved to Memphis and hated it — then came to the DC area and appreciates the diversity that the Northern Virginia area has to offer. (I have many friends in Memphis — I went to college in Tennessee and they all complain how segregated their town is.)
You may say that all urban areas are segregated — certainly there are parts of town that have stores with Asian signs lining the streets, but we have neighbors who are Pakistani, Indian and black — even out in the suburbs.
The fact is that this DA needs to lose his job… he’s not enforcing the law equally.
Wow, what a vile little paragraph, dripping with ignorance.
Buried in this hot little number, we have: a) a justification for segregation, b) slander by hearsay, c) implicit approval of racial separation, d) racial stereotyping of young kids, e) justification of the nooses(e.g. they had it coming)… gosh I could go on, it’s so perversely disgusting.
I commend whoever wrote this paragraph: you sir, are a worthless piece of ****.
There is difference between a white person being racist and a black person being racist. Being white is being part of the establishment thus a racist white person can turn their hate to directly affect a black person, while a black person can only hate/dislike or whatever. If the prosecutor was truly being fair, things would not be blow out of proportion. And not just the prosecutor it should’ve started with the school, expelling those students, like you said we are all responsible for our actions, just cause you watch people hanging a noose on TV doesn’t mean you have to go do the same especially in such a racially charged atmosphere. The issue is the punishment doesn’t match the crime. What would have happened if it was the black kids who pulled the gun on the white man?
Exactly; I’m all in favor of personal responsibility and accountability. And if the black kids had pulled a gun on the white man, they’d be under the jail right now.
How is this still happening? The father of one of the boys made a statement that his child has now learned what it is to be black. That hurts me so much and I don’t understand at all why no one sees that this is real bad.
I am a military wife, a mother, a verteran, a black woman and this is enough to make me move to another country so my children never have to learn what it is to be black, not like this.
Thank you for continuing to recognize and confront racism.
Jena,
I agree with you in some ways. I am sure those boys are not as innocent as they appear to be in the Media, however it is high school and the prosecuter should be equal with their due proscess of the law on both sides white or black.
What I have read so far leads me to believe that Prosecuter Reed has not attempted to do that at all. He has really made a mockery of the whole judicial system. So has the school board. Lets face it, the law only really favors those who are in the graces of the controlling members of society or have money.
I noticed one thing you omitted out of your response and that is the issue of the white person who pulled the shotgun on the 3 black teens. How this person was not charged with attempted manslaughter or even attempted murder as well. How can the prosecution only charge the black teen with that. That is absolutely ridiculous, someone defending them selves in a life threating situation and they are the ones to be charged. That is a complete farce. I believe a the supreme justices would certainly act differently.
These articles about the Jena Six shows that racism certainly thrives in the US in our so called modern era.
You mention that New York has several different ethinic neighborhoods which is true and no one seems to care about it. Well most of these neighborhoods are putting out nooses out in the school yard either. Nor are people pulling guns out because of skin color either. What these different ethinic neighborhoods consist of is what makes New York what it is. A diverse melting pot of cultures that are able to co-exist.
In Jena, a town of 3,000 people hanging nooses out in the school yard and pulling shot guns on people certainly does not sound like a homogenous community. Those appear to be racially motivated. I really can’t believe that in our day and time that hanging nooses in a school is only considered a “Prank”. I would certainly reconsider who I put faith into as leaders of the community and question the morals of Jenas’ political ethics.
Our planet is no longer a closed society. The world is changing and so are the peoples thoughts towards one another. Those who are not able to change and adapt to the modern world eventually isolate them selves and die off with old age along with their racist idealisms.
It is 2007, almost 2008, and the USA still have race issues? Sad but true.
Until all people simply understand this and open the lines of communication
nothing will change.
Education should be the key in resolving these issues. Teach the real
history, to EVERYONE, especially our children, so that these things do
not happen again.
The law should be equal, regardless of race, creed, color, MONEY, etc.
Then, when our society see the equality of the law, along with education
perhaps things will change for the best.
I am an American who lives abroad and I visit the USA because of my work
many times each year. It is sad how race effects EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE
in AMERICA. I hate using “color” adjectives to describe people… I have
all kinds of family and friends, different races, creed, nationalities, etc.
but, when these individuals, in conversation, ask me a question such as
“…is he black or white?” I simply keep talking because it does not matter.
No race has the market for being “this way” or “that way”.
But, the USA is a country with a foundation based on racism and injustice
and, we are a hypercrit society. We go to church, worship GOD and HIS
words then turn around and do things that would not be good in HIS
EYES. Even if we were aethesis, we know right from wrong. We try
to ignore certain things since it does not “affect us” directly but you
reap what you sow…
The entire Jena 6 incident is unfortunate and crazy but basically, it’s
both sides fault. If I lived there I would not tolerate racist behavior
whatsoever and it (racism) seems to be so deeply intergrated in their
community that it is accepted and, thus, not considered “racism” but
how it is… I am from New York City and lived in Charleston, S.C., Tampa
and Gainesville and each time, as a responsible member of society, came
across racism, I “nipped it in the bud” immediately instead of just walking
away and accepting it.
I, too, am a racist… towards hatred and ignorance… and, I do not care
if you look like me or not, I do not tolerate it around me and whatever
happens, happens..
Thank you!
Here we are again… I won’t , I can’t even begin to mention the counltless valuable lives and spirits that have been murdered by racism. First comes the lies, denial , outrage, anger, retalitation and ultimately ignorance. I am Black, White, Latina, Arabic, Japanese NOT!!!. My point is that almost everyone who has posted a message has directly or indirectctly referenced their ethnicity as if it really matters at this point. It is time we identify ourselves in the forefront of reality not in the face of adversity.
I have news for you all, regardless of your ethnicity if you live in this universe you are affected or or infected by a hate to be cliche but if you are not part ofthe solution then you are part of the problem.
No more questions, we know the answers, I know which community based organizations I suppoort, I’m fully aware of what I say in public and private. No judgements, do the work. Is it more fabulous to work with movie stars and entertainers or is it just the money. Either way “where on earth” would we be if those countless others I couldn’t bare to mention earlier thought the same way. DO THE WORK NOW!
People in Jena are going about their daily lives as we speak, as if little is going on
Doesn’t exactly paint the good folks of Jena in a non-racist light.
I agree with most here. Racism is definitely still thriving big in america and mostly in the south. Being from Louisiana I feel I have a right to comment. This whole Jena 6 incident is Bullsh*t. The DA is clearly racially biased and it is evident by the statement he made to the kids, threatening to make their lives disappear with the stroke of a pen. Just because of that, there is nothing else to say and the boys should all be let go with some type of school suspension. It was a fight and we have all had them. The white students and adults didn’t get charged with anything serious and neither should they. End of Story. I am tired of blacks always getting the short end of the stick and the judicial system always trying to lock them up and throw away the key. We are always made out to be the bad guys in the media and it’s time that stops. yes, people should be punished for crimes they commity but, a school fight, come on.
Christie:
THIS IS NOT A SCHOOL FIGHT!! A boy was SUCKER punched from behind, his head smashed against concrete and he was rendered unconscious. Then six black students continually KICKED him WHILE he was laying unconscious on the ground. Meanwhile several other black students held the doors to the entranceway to keep teachers from saving the boy from being beat to death.
If your son was done this way, how would you want his ATTACKERS to be punished?
There is a zero tolerance policy at Jena High School that has been in place for several years. If you are involved in a fight, you are going to jail for it. The severity of this crime is much worse than a “school fight”. They beat a man who was unconscious. They didn’t stop to think “Wait, he’s just laying there..is he dead?” NOOOOO! They kicked his body as much as they possibly could until teachers broke it up.
Maybe if this happened to one of your children you’d take a different stance. I personally don’t want a group of individuals who is capable of this on our streets for awhile. I think they should be punished for their VIOLENT crimes. This isn’t about black & white, it’s about justice.
Jennifer:
This paints NO light on my town, except for the acknowledgment that the media is twisting facts in this case to make it sound totally different than it really is.
My comment was said because the black & white people in Jena are getting long as if nothing has happened. This was the case of a few rotten eggs (on both sides) who made very bad decisions. All should be punished for their crimes. The rest of the town gets along perfectly fine.
I by no means agree with violence but where is the zero tolerance policy at Jena High School regarding hanging nooses in trees? The kids only got suspended. We all know what a noose hung in a tree by a white person means.
Umm… why wasn’t he beat to death then? It makes no sense whatsoever to think that not only that this was planned, but that it was attempted murder. If you’re planning to kill somebody, you’re not going to create a plan that guarantees you’ll be caught at it. You can’t have it both ways. A planned beating, possibly. But not attempted murder. You don’t account for rage overtaking a person and for the way things can go down in the heat of the moment; and there is NO WAY this took longer than five minutes. Again, I’m not now nor have I ever defended Justin Barker’s beating. But what you’re describing is a group of people clustered around a boy (not a man) laying on the ground, few of whom have a clear look at him. You need to leave room for the very obvious possibility that they just didn’t realize he was unconscious. Furthermore, lay off the savage beating line. Barker was in the ER less than three hours. Yes, he was injured, and I know from experience that he felt like **** for a couple of weeks. I’ve experienced much worse, many years ago, and I’m not making light of it. But as I’ve told people on BOTH sides of this argument, the plain facts are bad enough - don’t dramatize them.
I’ve stepped back from the comments and let everybody do their thing - and I’m more than willing to look at new evidence that has not been seen in the media before - but I just can’t agree with you here.
It is not only sad but depressing that the youth in this town Jena, Louisiana have the same mind set as the families that they have been raised in. You really need to step outside of your box and try to but these black young men shoes on your feet and see how you would handle such a evil racially
situation. So you are okay with the previous incident of the white young male betting this young black man with a beer bottle. THAT’S AGGRAVATED
ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON!!!! You might want to check your library or even law library for resources!!!!!! The school brawl is not justified. However
everyone should have been prosecuted the same. Those young white boys
that bet on M. Bailey deserved to have their lives ruined just like these six young black men. Two of these young men have been in prison for over six months!!! Time that can never be returned. You however continue to live
your life as you have free will. They do not and will not. What would you do if you were facing 22 years in prison or even 50 years to life. My guess is that
you as well would fight. No one is innocent in this case not even the white young males who are the very cause of this situation. Jena is a great place to live GREAT REAL!!!! and be honest with yourself. Because half your town
thinks otherwise. You can only speak for yourself you can not speak for
every person in that town. I’m sure if they had even courage they would be
singing a different tone!!!! I hope that that town and they District Attorney pays through their noise when this injustice is said and done!!! It’s said that
in the year 2007 we still must make an example about closed minded people
taking advanced of the system. Wake up Jena resident!!!! Everything is not okay!!!! Wake up
Get out of the box:
Please read this.
The black boy showed up at a party with 2 or 3 other black boys. They wanted in, even though the party was invitation only. A white guy jumped Robert Bailey and the black boys and white guy (one who started it) were told to leave. Then the 3 or 4 black boys got in a fight with several white guys. The white boy who started the fight plead guilty to misdemeanor assault. No medical report was filed by anyone. This is all according to several eye witness accounts which were discussed by the FBI after they investigated the incident.
Regarding the beer bottle, Robert Bailey put absolutely nothing in his original statement he made that night about a beer bottle. It was never mentioned, and keep in mind no hospital trip was made and no medical record of it exists. Only several months after this incident when the media started covering this story did Robert Bailey claim he was hit over the head with a beer bottle.
Also, keep in mind that these black students, who had ALREADY been involved with fights before the Fair Barn incident, showed up at this invitation-only party. Many of the partygoers were close friends with other guys who had been involved with fights Robert Bailey had been in. Do you think he was here just to “kick back a few beers”? You can form your own judgement.
You don’t find all this a little suspicious?
How do you expect the DA to prosecute someone with aggravated battery if there is no medical record or eye witness statement claiming this beer bottle was indeed used?
This situation at the Fair Barn is vastly different from the situation at the school, where six ganged up on one.
Laura:
I’m assuming he wasn’t beat to death because either
1.) They didn’t want to kill him, they just wanted to badly injure him, or
2.) People got to him in time.
I don’t know the specifics as far as that goes. I’ve heard stories but let me elaborate on that more after I look into things.
Keep in mind that this fight was outside, so the students holding the doors were only restraining people who were inside the building.
“It makes no sense whatsoever to think that not only that this was planned, but that it was attempted murder.”
I’ve heard from someone that there is an eye witness (who made a statement) who stated that they heard them planning to attack a white student that day. Again, I plan to look into this further. And no, I’ve told everyone I’ve talked to about this that it will be very difficult to establish intend on attempted murder. The DA definitely made the right decision by not sticking to that charge.
“there is NO WAY this took longer than five minutes”
I’d be VERY surprised if it lasted longer than a couple of minutes.
“Furthermore, lay off the savage beating line”
I don’t feel I’m dramatizing this at all. I know you’re very sternly sticking to your argument because of your past. You may have a valid point, but I feel I do, too. We’ll just have to agree to disagree on this one.
Laura… Although you make some compelling points abouts practices in Jena, and the day to day at this High school most readers know nothing about the matter at hand is JUSTICE. Let’s examine the issue at hand……. We have a 17 yr old boy sitting in jail now for to date 7 months for a school fight. Reportedly the Jena school rule book states that fights in school are punishble with a 3 day suspension,which was never even offered. Instead a young black man who uses his fist in a fight be it self defense or not is always deemed criminal by whites that has been the case since forever. While I agree that the 17 yr old should be punished for his role in the fight, a 3 day suspension would definitely fit the punishment. Everyone is stating oh he needs to be punished, but what kind of punishment do you propose to fit the crime. Your attorney general was initially saying 100 years, now 22 years both outrageous and overly inappropiate. I reside in New York, born and raised and our public schools are common grounds for fights and in a city where we have medal detectors in most if not all of our public schools not one student faces jail for a school fight. there are even cases where students slip into school with a weapon that might be used in a fight, still not one student ever faced 22 years in prison. This is still a minor we are talking about where is the JUSTICE in that minor serving 22 years in prison. Now I know you said that these black boys weren’t the best kids in school, but niether one of them have a criminal background, no prior arrest.
[I'm not sure you meant to direct that at me, Big City Res - I have so far been very supportive of the Jena 6. There may be some new info on the case soon, and based on that I may change my mind, but up until now I have been in agreement with your comment. If you check the archives you'll see that it is so.]
Like you said…both sides provoked this mess, so why aren’t both sides being treated equally? Why is that only one race of people end up in jail. No matter what the color, this situation is just WRONG! But, God is watching.
Big City Res:
“Now I know you said that these black boys weren’t the best kids in school, but niether one of them have a criminal background, no prior arrest.”
Read this.
http://pursuingholiness.com/2007/08/28/the-jena-6-mychal-bells-criminal-history/
The others are juveniles and their backgrounds are not open to the public, so no one knows if they have a criminal background or not. You probably read one of a huge number of articles that are misinforming everyone (and not taking credit for it).
“We have a 17 yr old boy sitting in jail now for to date 7 months for a school fight.”
This is pure debate here, but my impression of a school fight is a one on one fight, with two people fighting face to face.
According to multiple witnesses (I suspect anywhere from 10 to 30 of them) said that this white student walked past Mychal Bell. Mychal Bell punched him in the back of the head from behind. The white student hit concrete as he was falling and was rendered unconscious. Then five of Mychal Bell’s friends stepped in and kicked the boy while he was laying there unconscious. Do you call this a “school fight”? I SURE as hell don’t.
“a 3 day suspension would definitely fit the punishment”
Again, I completely disagree with you here. I think this was a beating, not a school fight.
“there are even cases where students slip into school with a weapon that might be used in a fight, still not one student ever faced 22 years in prison”
One of the benefits of living in a small town like Jena is that crime can be controlled easier. Jena High School has a great educational system (in my opinion) and the police department and the town consider it a valuable asset (as should any community should feel about it’s local high school). Jena High School initiated a zero-tolerance policy in regards to fighting. If you get in a fist fight with someone, they arrest you. Plain and simple. Things are done different down here because one of our strengths in our community is the lack of crime. New York has different strengths and tends to focus more on other qualities of the town to make it a good town to llive in. Obviously the towns are vastly different. Jena’s population is about 1/6000th the size of New York’s.
Spiffy:
“Like you said…both sides provoked this mess, so why aren’t both sides being treated equally? Why is that only one race of people end up in jail. No matter what the color, this situation is just WRONG! But, God is watching.”
Both sides did provoke this mess, you are right. If you will read each case at a time, you’ll understand that every incident in Jena is uniquely different. Both races DID end up in jail. The white guy who started the fight at the Fair Barn was arrested and pled guilty to misdemeanor assault.
Big City Res:
“Now I know you said that these black boys weren’t the best kids in school, but niether one of them have a criminal background, no prior arrest.”
There were 6 african american students involved in the altercation. Using neither makes it seem like there were only 2. This site has a lot of good links to factual info on this case that you should take a look at.
This situation makes me sick all the way around. First let me say the kids were not dealt with correctly on either side of this situation.
The “Pranksters” should have been dealt with more harshly, while they were not violent in their statement it was made in poor taste. But lets not forget High School boys and girls, when the new/unpopular/ugly/shy/loser kid sat at your table at lunch you made him unwelcome. These kids just did that in very poor taste, and should have paid a much higher price. Oh and just a side note (quick history lesson), the noose (as we know it now) is an execution implement invented and used agaist british criminals, not primarily black people. Not saying it is OK to be used as it was, just giving food for thought.
These six young men took this problem way to far. If you have a problem you talk it out, or avoid conforntation. You do not band together and ambush the person you have a problem with. And anytime the person you having a fight with stops being a threat (able to effectively fight back) it is not a fight it is a beating. If it had been six white kids and one black kid, the prosecution would be the same but the vilificatoin of the six would be amazing. Terms like klansmen would be thrown around, Mr. King would be brought out of the closet. No one would be defending them.
As far as the post at the top of this page goes, were the writer states that 12% of the population would not go around stirring up trouble. You may want to rethink that statement. The reason these kids are getting in trouble is because they are 85% of the people in the “fight”/beating. Any time you get 5 to 10 people together and more than 50% of the people present are on one side, no matter the lager picture, they are not a minority any longer. And will act accordingly, and if agression is there desire violence is not far off. You are right if the whole town were standing at the gas station those black kids would not have acted like they wanted to start a fight. But the whole town wasn’t.
“Shotgun” should have been charged with intimidation at the very least. But if as I suspect the weapon wasn’t loaded, that is all he is guilty of. More likely and probably better suited to the situation would be brandishing a deadly weapon. That he was not charged is a horrible oversight to say the least.
In closing is this a case of racism, yes of course it is. Is it only white people to blame? No. This is a case of racism on both sides, and should have been taken care of at the origin of the problem by the parents. Not the school, not the DA. The “Pranksters” parents should have stepped in right away, and conversly the “Six” have parents as well who should have made it clear to their children that violence is not the way to deal with a problem. Same goes for the idiot at the party that hit a kid with bottle. But instead adults who knew how to deal with the problem correctly made statements and affermations that fired up their kids. I know we all were children once and in High School we were all idealist with no fear, who would do anything to protect our beliefs.
Italian: “very poor taste” ? Are you insane? I almost didn’t approve your comment because it was so ludicrous. FL must have been the one state in the south free from Klukkers, and you must live in a cave, free from history and most current knowledge if you don’t know what a noose means.
Laura:
I know you don’t like to present town gossip in here. So you’re free to remove this if you see fit.
I’ve heard from several people it’s become a tradition at Jena High School to hang nooses on that tree before a football game between certain adversaries. Now when I was in high school, I don’t recall that, but it’s been quite awhile back.
I’ve also heard that several black & white students were putting their heads in the nooses joking around about it. Also, that none of the black students were very angry about it until they told their parents about it. That is when the issue came up.
But again, that’s only town gossip. I have nothing to confirm that. I’ll try to talk to some high schoolers and find out. Some “eye witnesses” if you will.
And I’m not trying to defend anyone’s action or plead my case by saying these things, I’m simply noting what some people in town have said consistently.
A little more here say not my normal absolute fact. The kids were playing around with the nooses and no one thought nothing of it until. One black teacher and another black faculty saw the nooses and said well there is one for me and one for you, I wonder who the third is for. These two called a local S**T stirrer who for years worked for the school system and the school board. He then called everyone one he could think of and it snow balled. You know the funny thing about the S**T stirrer is he went on record as saying Bell had a absolute fair trail and that the lawyer done the best he could have done given the evidence. That is FACT NOT HEAR SAY.
James Black:
Did he go on record anywhere as saying that? I’m not doubting you or anything, I’m just trying to collect all the documented information I can about all of this.
Are you reffering to Riser if so it was in the newspaper. OOPs I said his name.
Were it six white kids beating 1 black kid unconcious, wouldn’t that be deemed a “hate crime”. So, why is it that everyone feels since it is the opposite that the offenders are the victims? I’s disgusting and pathetic, and were it my kid, white or black, I would want justice. I’m not saying they deserve an attempted murder rap, but def. more punishment than a small suspension from school. And for them that defend the actions of the aggressors, take a moment to listen to the words coming out of your mouth…. white, black, red, green, no child deserves to be ambushed and beat at school. Even if it was “only three hours” in the ER. “Shameful!
GIVE ME A BREAK!!!
IF 6 WHITE GUYS BEAT 1 BLACK MALE YOU PEOPLE WOULD DEMAND ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES FOR ALL 6 WHITES.
YOU VILE ********…
I truly like how people are forgetting the bigger issue here. Why is it that when the white people commit a crime - pulling a gun or mob beating black kids, what punishment did they get? MINOR.. but some of you are VERY QUICk to point out that this boy got hit from behind. Why is it that they are being charged to the full extent of the law but the white people get less charges? How does someone pull a gun on black kids and the kids who took the gun away get charged with theft? Are you people for real? Help me understand this, please. The bigger issue is that if they were not charged with such unfair crimes in this “LAST” incident in this town(cause there have been many) and the media not getting involved… this southern town would being going on with life as it is and has always been. This is about fair justice. The punishment should fit the crime. Black or White. And the black people in this town do not get the same justice as the white.
I’m not sure, but I have one question from you, have you ever (or anyone else who made comments about racist New York) been to New York? I was in the Marines, I have spent time with good ol’ boys from the south. Some of which are still my freinds. I was sation in several places in the south and have been to LA. I’m sorry, but you are way more racist then the City. Also, a hanging of a noose is a death threat and a Hate Crime (look it up). If you can’t see or understand that, then this is pointless.
I do not condone violence, but they should not have been tried as adults. They should be tried and convicted as minors (if found guilty). The ones that hung the noose should be tried under the Hate Crime laws. If these boys that played the “prank” are sent to prison, maybe you will have real progress in your town for race relations.
OK, SO ALL THESE COMMENTS KEEP SAYING THAT THERES ANOTHER SIDE TO THIS STORY.
BS!!!
YES I AGREE THAT JENA MAY BE EQUALLY RACES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE, HOWEVER AT THE END OF THE DAY TWO BLACK GUYS ARE STILL IN JAIL AS WE SPEAK, WHILE THE WHITE OFFENDERS ARE NOT!! IT DOESN’T MATTER IF THE BLACK GUYS ARE JUST AS RACES BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT TREATED THE SAME. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ANSWER ME???
THERES NOTHING ANYONE CAN SAY THAT GIVES JUSTICE TO THIS SCENARIO. I DON’T KNOW HOW ANYONE CAN NOT OPEN THERE EYES AND SEE THIS.
YALL SOUND GOOD AND CRAZY!!!
IF 6 WHITE GUYS WERE TO BEAT 1 BLACK GUY UNCONSCIOUS I PROMISE YOU THAT NONE OF THE OFFENDERS WOULD BE IN JAIL NOW! END OF STORY.
MAYBE COMMUNITY SERVICE BUT DEF WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUNISHED BY JAIL TIME, AND IT PISSES ME OFF THAT WHEN THE TABLES ARE TURNED, EVERYONE WANT JUSTICE. GIVE ME A F*** BREAK
[Lay off the all CAPS, please, Leonard. That's SCREAMING. Thanks. - Laura]
“YES I AGREE THAT JENA MAY BE EQUALLY RACES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE, HOWEVER AT THE END OF THE DAY TWO BLACK GUYS ARE STILL IN JAIL AS WE SPEAK,”
one is still in prison
In order to put all of this into perspective, one must know ALL of what happened before this fight. No one is reporting that one of the Jena 6 was assaulted in a barn by a 22 or 23 year old white man. Then had a shot gun pulled on him and two others at a convenience store. And when they took the weapon from the white male, they were charged.This case is not based on ALL of what happened, but race for political reasons.
[Karen, there have been many reports in the MSM that Robert Bailey was jumped at the Fair Barn by several white people including Matt Windham, a Jena High graduate. There may be more to that story than a flip side of the Justin Barker beating, but I'm waiting for verification on that before I post on it again. - Laura]
This is quite a bit late but after reading everyones opinions I felt compelled to give my own.
The first issue I have is how everyone is referring to these children in terms of colour. They have names, use them.
Second issue, all of you saying that this should not be considered a “high school fight” because of the fact that he was “sucker punched from behind” should be thrown into one yourself because you clearly have never seen one unfold. How would you propose it happen? would you like them to square up in a ring and be supervised? Ridiculous. Kids fight and that’s what happened here, it may not have been fair, but most fights aren’t. Some are saying he was “savagely beaten”, I don’t know where you’re from but that is most definitely NOT a savage beating. Most responded to that saying that it is for poor small town Jena… bullshit. I’m from a town half the size of Jena and silly highschool fights turned out much worse and guess what? no one was charged with attempted murder and the parents of the kids that got beat up didn’t sue the other kids parents, both parties disciplined their kids because they were both at fault just like BOTH Justin Barker and all of the other boys are at fault.
My biggest issue of all is that people are actually defending the boys who hung the nooses saying that it was “just a prank” and it “didn’t mean anything”. They knew damn well what they were saying, ESPECIALLY being from the south they would know what hanging a noose would mean. They may not have intended to actually USE the nooses but everyone age 10 and up understands completely what is implied by it. I can’t even believe being Justin Barker or his parents for that matter, if I had done that, my parents would have beat my *** so ******* hard I would probably be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. In my opinion, Justin had it good.
The last thing I would like to say is that although I think Justin Barker is a whiney little **** who deserved to get his ignorant *** beat up, that’s not to say that I don’t think that Bell and the rest of the boys involved shouldn’t have had some sort of punishment, just not jail time. It makes me absolutely sick that serial killers like Karla Homolka get 12 years in prison and are allowed to just disappear of the radar after the sentence is done, and a child who makes a bad judgement call and gets into a silly fight in high school faces up to 22 years in prison BECAUSE he happens to be a minority (anyone who thinks that Bell is not a victim of prejudice is ignorant and should maybe get some more education). That’s all.
Chris, please read my final Jena 6 post - http://pursuingholiness.com/2007/10/10/the-jena-6-my-last-word/
I had intended to close comments on all Jena posts, and evidently I missed this one. As it turned out - and obviously I didn’t know this early on, as you can see from my earliest Jena posts - there is reason to be believe that the attack on Barker was planned. Reading the witness statements certainly gave me a reasonable doubt in that regard. I was quite wrong about other things too, on both sides of the argument. I hope you’ll read that last summary post for more info. That doesn’t excuse, in my view, the excessive charges… the whole thing is a mess, and I’m taking some satisfaction in the fact that the judge may be removed from the bench before it’s all over; it was in the news recently. I hope Reed Walters is sanctioned in some way too. I don’t know what type of punishment is fair for the 6… certainly less harsh than what was originally planned, and 5 still have to be tried, but my prayer at this point is for them to get a fair trial outside of LaSalle Parish - which they apparently will have. I may have a final, final post later - I’m not sure. I kind of hate to open the can of worms again, to be honest.