What is this Jena Six thing about

[Beta]

What events are being ignored? The noose-hanging kids that got suspended and apologized several times for the "prank"?

It looks to me by the signs of the protesters that the "Jena 6 Should Be Freed!". Which is very cute that they think that violence should go unpunished.

[BucLax13]

Is the nooses those kids hung up a crime? I undersand the symbolism, I think it is deplorable hurtful gesture, but I want to hear from one of our legal scholars what law or crime are we talking about? Hate crime...threat....? What did the DA do wrong there?

[TexOle]

If you stop it at the noose incident the rest of the actions might not occur. The community needed to take a stronger action by addressing the noose immediately. I also think that some of the Jena 6 leaders feel that all of their actions were provoked.

Racism in America today is still a problem, and unfortunately it became violent in this situation.

[BucLax13]

I understand that the nooses might have inflamed racial tension, but how do you rally for violent criminals? (no one is doubting that a crime occurred here, right?)

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/19/jena.six.link/index.html

[Beta]

I understand that the nooses might have inflamed racial tension, but how do you rally for violent criminals? (no one is doubting that a crime occurred here, right?)

Quite ironic that a peaceful protest is occurring to protect violent offenders.

[Adam Gamradt]

What events are being ignored? The noose-hanging kids that got suspended and apologized several times for the "prank"?

It looks to me by the signs of the protesters that the "Jena 6 Should Be Freed!". Which is very cute that they think that violence should go unpunished.

Several events could be consider to have been ignored by the authorities.

Nooses hanging from the tree, kids given a three day suspension.

Guy who pulled the shotgun out and was never charged.

The quotes from the DA that appear to threaten the black students who peacefully protested the lack of action were pretty egregious.

It's pretty clear this town is stuck in the 60's, and there are distinctly different standards of justice being used for white people than the standard of justice used for blacks. Even if you don't agree with that statement, you have to see how people could come to that perception.

Here is another quote from a school administrator that seems to prove this point.

"I think it's safe to say some punishment has not been passed out fairly and evenly," Fowler says. "I think probably blacks may have gotten a little tougher discipline through the years.

Even today, folks were confident enough to drive their pick up around with a noose hanging off the back, even with all the attention from the press.

This is more complected than a run of the mill high school fight, and I fail to see how keeping this kid in jail serves justice, especially when you consider the fact that even the reduced charges were reversed. Seriously Beta, did you not witness people who "got jumped" in high school? I bet the reasons were a lot more ridiculous than what led up to this fight.

I think it's safe to say that due to willful ignorance, that people have a right to differing views of justice, and those charged with enforcing justice, depending on the color of your skin, down in good ole Jena, LA.

[Adam Gamradt]

I understand that the nooses might have inflamed racial tension, but how do you rally for violent criminals? (no one is doubting that a crime occurred here, right?)

Might have?

Here's an another example of why people are protesting.

A 22-year-old white man, Justin Sloan, attacked a black high school student with a bottle. Sloan was charged with simple battery. His subsequent punishment was probation.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/21/je ... pstoryview

[Beta]

Beta, did you not witness people who "got jumped" in high school?

The protesters are wanting the Jena 6 freed/not-tried-for-2nd-degree-assault because of people not involved in the case hung a noose up on a tree. Therefore saying violence is ok because someone (at most) threatened violence with a symbolic statement. Translation: "It's ok for them to assault you because someone different one time threatened to assault them". AHHHH

I say equal justice all around. Kids with the noose, punishment. Beer bottle, punishment. Gun pulled (there's not enough public information on this one yet, but if he did it...) yayyyy punishment? 6 students beat 1 student...I could care less about skin color....punishment.

Violence deserves freedom:
http://www.cafepress.com/jenasix

[sohotrightnow]

Things getting more interesting:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/21/car.nooses/index.html

[semilaxed]

Everyone has to admit that there is a lot of things wrong in this situation. But legally speaking doesn't the facts of the case determine the punishment. I'm having a hard time linking the two events together. why was this kid targeted if he wasn't involved in the nooses. It seems that the only reason he was targeted was because he was white. I mean, are all these people protesting for a racially motivated gang beating. The only white people that would protest for 6 white kids that did this would be the KKK. If it was the opposite situation i wouldn't care if these kids went to jail.

It seems that the DA did make clear that any elevation in the situation would be punished worse. In the same way that in lacrosse the person who retaliates is more likely to get the penalty. To say it was directed at the black students is a Duhh....? comment because that is the group that has to bite there lip and just let it be. In the same way the Duke case happened the lacrosse community didn't become violent and start gang beat black strippers. We discussed it and supported each other through it and everything kinda worked out in the end. But don't forget the accuser was never charged after ruining these kids lives. Still we let it go. We defended our community and never attacked another.

these kids deserve to be punished based on what they did. But not long sentences. We in the US use our legal system as a deterrent and not for rehabilitation. So it doesn't matter whether they learned their lesson. What matters is that people will think before committing a similar crime. The protesters can protest the town and school in general but if these GUILTY kids are freed than that is because their race and not their actions.

[Adam Gamradt]

"I say equal justice all around."

Since this clearly hasn't happened, would you agree that equal justice may be what's motivating the protesters?

[Adam Gamradt]

"The only white people that would protest for 6 white kids that did this would be the KKK."

Wow.

What an audacious statement.

This assumes they selected the victim based on the color of his skin. Quite an assumption.

What the heck do you mean by this? "To say it was directed at the black students is a Duhh....? comment because that is the group that has to bite there lip and just let it be."

[semilaxed]

I'm just trying to get across my point that if it was the opposite nobody would care but the extremist groups. I personally wouldn't care if some white high schoolers beat up a black student and got 20 years. I say screw it they deserve it for making racial tensions worse in America.

I agree that the punishments being sought on these kids are to harsh. But the DA's always do that so that people will plee.

Yes i am assuming that the kid was picked only because he was white. Until i here other wise. But it seems that there were a lot of witnesses and they claim he was hit from behind. I don't think its quite an assumption because you know we would know everything about it if he had done something. instead people are citing an event months before.

The black students said that they had been warned by the DA that if anything happened in retaliation they would also be punished. Maybe he was out of line for stepping in at that point and time, but it seems unfortunate that he predicted future events quite well. It seems that the
DA tried to deter further incidents and is now throwing the book at these kids because they disregarded his warning. If it were a black DA would his warning be seen in the same light.

Its like when someone tells u to be a bigger man and walk away. Of course it was directed at the black students, because they are being egged on by current events. He probably just came off quite aggressive towards them. I don't know what you are hunting for in my comment but if you think it means anything other than what I have specified here you are wrong.

[Gvlax]

its always easy to now sit back and say that things should have happened different but until you are faced with the same racial tension that these kids face everyday then you have no idea what was going through their head.

Although it is 40 years after civil rights movement things are not 100% perfect. Just reading some of the things that these kids have to live through i can sympathize more for them. Its easy to say well they are just nooses its not criminal. Just remember that these kids parents or grand parents did see their friends and relatives hang from tree from these nooses. Jim Crow era was not that far in the past. I couldnt imagine seeing a symbol like that and be able to go on with my day like nothing happened. You never know what other racial event occured in their schools that are not in the media. Im sure we are not hearing the whole story.

The kids did jump a white kid, ok give them assault with probation maybe a short jail sentence but punish all kids no matter what race by the law as it it written not by their skin color.

[Beta]

"I say equal justice all around."

Since this clearly hasn't happened, would you agree that equal justice may be what's motivating the protesters?

I'll be the one first one to say that the original charges of attempted murder were too harsh, but they've since been replaced by suitable charges. Another problem is that the Jena 6 could get off from the crime they committed simply because of a mass protest putting pressure on the town.

I wish that's what was motivating them...but it doesn't appear that way. It's not "justice" for the Jena 6 for the other people involved in OTHER crimes to be punished more harshly than they were. So "justice" for the Jena 6 is defined as punishing other people more solidly?

The other crimes that have been committed in the last year aren't involved with 6 kids beating up 1 kid. To say that they beat that student because of past racial tension is in itself...a hate crime. If 6 white students beat up a black student and people said "it's ok guys...trust me it's ok...we did it because a black student completely unrelated to this made a threatening object", that would be pretty stupid.

Ok ok, let's say hypothetically you walked out to the crowd and said "OK people...anyone that has committed a crime in the past year in Jena...will be given harsher sentences. And the Jena 6 will do the sentence for the crime they committed as clearly defined by Louisiana law." You honestly think that crowd is going to say "Oh alright, justice is served!" and go home?

Those "free the 6" tshirts blatantly say that it's not wrong to savagely beat a student a commit a felony that is clearly defined in Louisiana law.