Injustice Alive In America
Thousands of people are converging on Jena, Louisiana , a town of 3000 and symbol of ongoing racism, today to protest the criminal case of Mychal Bell, the 17-year-old high school football star, who a year ago was being eyed as a top prospect for Division I scholarships. Bell has been in jail since December for answering a classmate's racial taunts with a punch in the face. Just this week Bell's conviction was overturned, but he is still being held in jail, on $90,000 bail, which is completely excessive.The story begins at an assembly last fall, when a black freshman asked if he was allowed to sit under a large tree on school grounds that he had heard was "whites-only." He was given permission, but the next day three nooses were found swinging from its branches. The principal tracked down the offenders, three boys from the rodeo team, and recommended expulsion, but the superintendent insisted on only a three day suspension, explaining, "adolescents play pranks."
Racial tensions continued to escalate throughout the fall, with several incidents between groups. Then, on December 4, Bell slugged Justin Barker, a white student who had been taunting him with racial slurs and defending the noose-hangers, and the other members of the Jena Six joined in. During the skirmish, Barker smacked his head on the pavement and suffered a concussion. He was treated at the local hospital and released a few hours later, and was in good enough shape to head out and socialize that evening.
District Attorney Walters, who had earlier that fall threatened black students at school that he could "take away your lives with a stroke of my pen," pushed for maximum charges. The Jena Six were expelled, arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy--their shoes were described as potentially lethal weapons. Bell, the first to face trial, saw his murder charges reduced to aggravated second-degree battery. No attempt was made by his public defender to contest the racial makeup of the jury pool, nor did he call any witnesses during the trial. Bell was convicted by an all-white jury in June. Anger of the injustice has continued to grow since. [More here, here and here]
Here is a hunch, this prosecutor will not be disbarred....and conservative websites will be okay with that.
By Chuck - 9/20/2007
55 Comments:
In reading up on this case, I saw that David Bowie donated $10,000 to their legal defense fund.
I need to read more details on the case before coming to any conclusions about it.
Good post Chuck.
Chuck-
Obviously this is ridiculous, btu there is no case here for defending your abhorrent position on the duke kids incident. You can try and twist other people's idiocy into a defense for your own poor choice of actions/words/positions, but it in no way exonerates you of jumping on a bandwagon then. Also, slightly different here that this kid actually did punch someone in the face (though I would have done the same) where as the prosecutor in NC knew those kids didn't rape that woman and still went after them. I would say the PD should be disbarred for failing to make any effort to actually defend his client. The DA should also be removed from his position for the statements he made alone. Nice how you can't just point out how awful this is without using it as a backhanded way to attack conservatives.
In high school, I stabbed some Golden Gloves greaser in the neck with a number 2 pencil who was trying to kill my hippie ass.
I got sent to the principal's office. Three days detention. The asshole and his gang left me alone for the next three years too. Mission Accomplished.
Of course it was white on white crime. You know the " aw shucks, boys will be boys" type.
funny how this windbag is using this case as his defense for his awful hatefilled bile he spewed at the duke kids. What a hack
Chuck,
If you are looking for other overact acts of racism in the news today you could look into this espn story on Delaware/Delaware State. It is an interesting read on legacy racism.
TMI mencken
Menck, I can dig that - My HS was full of hoods and greaseballs and the whole routine.
By todays standards- 80% of the male students would have felony(s) records and I know damn well they would have given me the chair.
Anyhow - I just cant believe that that this brand of racism still lives. No doubt the black kids are getting the pipe.
Heard on the radio today that the school reacted by cutting the tree down. An alumni group from way back was utterly depressed about that because they planted it way back when (Arbor Day?)
Sounds like a breack of Justice - Sick EM Reverand AL
reverend AL is as much a reverend as I am an omnipotent space emperor,
HE can sick anyone he wants right after he retracts his anti-semetic statements and his support for tawana brawley, and his lambasting innocent people on numerous other occasions.
On the "Impediments to racial Harmony" wall Sharpton is up there with any other bigot.
Chuck: What exactly is the damage done to the victim? If its what I belive to be - that he hit his haed and had a concussion - I say Big Forkin Deal.
I have had four head injuries one as an an umpire in service to OHSAA, and life goes on- like so what?
Really, the kid who hit him should have had his popo whacked by the school authorities and this should have never snowballed like this.
T-Dawg, I am not Rev Als apologist in any way. I think he may mean well but is in may ways warped.
The authorities who are persecuting the black kids need a rabid hound, like Al, on their achilles tendons
I just have to make this statement:
I think its a pretty damn tough time to be a kid growing up in America. How can they ever have any faith in anything?
How bout it Mencken, As screwed up sideways as the 60's were - do you think being a kid today would suck much, much worse?
Geez, the 60's now seem like good old days compared to today.
not sure what my position on the Duke kids that joked about "killing" and "skinning" a black stripper has to do with this. i guess i referenced how conservatives fail to get worked up about this radically unequal prosecution. but its true.
you can disagree with the punishment and the charges, but they did attack the kid, but that little fact doesn't matter to you, you're too busy trying to railroad kids who sepaking amongst themselves wished their lying accuser harm (yet they didn't follow thru)
you should have let someone else post this-your past statements and hatefilled racist rants tarnish the story, and most normal people would agree with you in this case
Anon,
Read some of the reports that indicate that the victim was NOT seriously harmed. Seems he was out and about a few hrs later.
I mean even you must admit that these black kids are getting railroaded there in sunny Loozeeana
There are conflicting stories as to what had happened. I dont know. I wasnt there. But if everything reported here is true, then yes, the DA should be scorned and booted like Nifong. The law is the law and everyone should be held to the same standard, male/female, white/black, whatever.
But is should be mentioned that Bell, the only one with a prior record, was the only one charged as a n adult, just for the record.
One thing I cannot understand is why these kids bond has not been posted? I mean, Sharpton and other guys seem to have some money and could get a bailbondsman involved. But maybe I am missing something, or the money just isn't there.
David Bowie alone gave $10K....that should spring him. And I am sure a good lawyer is doing this pro bono.
Messed up. The whole thing is messed up. I mean, "white trees" and nooses. This is not shocking to me, but just a reminder to those that seem to think racism is gone and and we don't need government policies that work towards greater equality.
In high school, I stabbed some Golden Gloves greaser in the neck with a number 2 pencil who was trying to kill my hippie ass.
Now THAT is hilareous.
Heard on the radio today that the school reacted by cutting the tree down. An alumni group from way back was utterly depressed about that because they planted it way back when
Tree-huggers in Louisiana? I bet right now there's five naked hippies, standing in a pyramid on the stump, trying to make some kind of point.
I have had four head injuries one as an an umpire in service to OHSAA, and life goes on- like so what?
Now that explains a lot. I'll try and be nicer to you Petey. And I'll type r-e-a-l s-l-o-w when I address you.
T-Dawg, I am not Rev Als apologist in any way. I think he may mean well but is in ma(n)y ways warped.
Sharpton and Jackson have made racism their business. They fuel it.
As far as the story goes...Wikipedia has a great timeline. Just search Jena Six. There's a lot more to this story. It seems both black and white students did some pretty stupid shit, but only the black kids were charged. Mychal Bell, in my personal opinion, had every right to punch the little cracker in the face. But then again, he had been previously convicted for four violent crimes. So punch him, yes. Stomp him...probably not a great idea.
The all white jury that convicted Bell was not a result of the jury selection process: 150 people were initially called, both black and white. Only 50 showed up, none of whom were black. [Abby Brown, The Shreveport Times].
One of the jurors, however, was a high school friend of the white victim's father. That's screwed up.
I'm curious though...all you Revere HS alums. How many blacks were in your graduating class?
Not many judging from your reunion pics.
I was introduced to black culture in my all boys high school where the ratio was about 60:40 white to black. It was fun. State champs in track, an 8-2 football record, state champs in wrestling and a decent golf team. I introduced Eric, my black buddy to Iron Maiden, and he introduced me to Run DMC and some kickass weed. Ah...I miss the '80's.
In my four years there, there was one racially motivated fight in the lunchroom, and quite frankly, all the white guys were rooting for Carl, the black dude, to kick Chris's ass. Chris was white, and quite the asshole.
But somehow, we made it work. I think what I am wondering is this: My friend in Highland Square described Revere HS as an over-privileged white-boy school. That definition, by the way, came from a very active liberal in the Akron area. I on the other hand went to a racially diverse school and have maintained relationships with my black C-High brothers. I work with very, VERY awesome black folks today. Chuck would call them "rich" because they make over $100k. Actually, they make more than $300k.
I'm Republican, yet get accused by default, and by Chuck, of being a racist...only because I am Republican. The liberals on this blog have had little exposure to blacks - unless you count the reference made by Timfitz to the black guys that mugged him).
Am I the only one that sees this? Or am I totally off base?
I think these guys have a serious self-hatred syndrome going on, mainly because they are 1) white, and 2) privilged.
And I am not saying that to be mean. It's an observation. You feel animosity towards the white, privileged faction of society, but in the same breath, you were white and privileged.
Ya gotta be able to love yourself before you can love someone else. Even if that someone is a Republican. ;)
Clarification:
When I said:
I think these guys have a serious self-hatred syndrome going on, mainly because they are 1) white, and 2) privilged.
When I said "These guys," I was referring to the authors of this blog. I have a feeling that we are dealing with writers who want to help the black man, if only by 1) voting for him in a presidential election and 2) who actually have never hung out in formative years with black people.
Call it a hunch.
White and privileged, boys. Please tell me I'm mistaken. Please tell me you had black neighbors growing up. Please tell me you had more than a few black kids in your graduating class at Revere (a statistic that can be dug up easily, by the way). Please tell me ONE OF YOU have at least dated a black girl at one point in time(I have - 2 to be exact).
I see the black and white poll, but how does the poll affect YOU personally? Chuck's engaged to a white chick (late congrats, by the way. I seriously wish you the best!). As far as the others go...what's your story?
All talk, all white-guilt action...but NO substance.
Thought so.
Anyway...I'm sleepy. Between this blog and my friend in DC calling and having a personal meltdown, I've gotten no sleep.
So when are we all going out for beers and a filmed debate? I call Ben on my side. I'll even buy the first round. Bring someone cute, and I'll buy the second round.
Rounds after that are debatable.
Russ,
Good comments.
The class of 98' at RHS had 1 black guy that I can remember and we were all friends with him so that makes everyone here cool with black folks (please please please note the sarcasim).
I was never lucky enough to date a black woman, but I married a Korean one. Does that count?
WOW.. Petey your view on concussions is very interesting and troubling at the same time.
Mencken... TMI... but at the same time I could not stop laughing.
Russ, why does someone have to be poor, or black, or both, to feel that the situation the vast majority of poor, or black, or both, people have to endure is inherently unjust?
I'm not going to do a rundown of my "street cred" on this issue because it really doesn't matter. Frankly, you sound a little like Stephen Colbert touting his Black Friend on this one, Russ. :)
(Unfortunately, it wouldn't let me inline the image. :( )
Am I white? Yes. Do I come from a privileged background? Absolutely - my parents are both middle-class white-collar workers who saved enough money to send both my brother and I to Ohio State with virtually zero college loans. Do I hate myself for it? No. Do I think everyone should have the same opportunities I did regardless of how well their parents succeeded? Absolutely.
Racism is everywhere.
73 year old Francis Semier has been appointed to the Kansas City Park Board. Fortunately LaRaza learned of her membership in the Minutemen and demanded she be taken off the park board(I was on the park board once--what a joke)or they would cancel their scheduled 2009 convention. Mrs Semier said she joined the Minutemen because the government refused to enforce the laws. I'll bet she is one of those racists sitting in her lawn chair at the boarder drinking a coke and looking for undocumented workers.
Any correct thinking progressive understands that her motivation is irrelvant and whether the Minutemen is a racist organization is not the issue. The only correct course of action if a minority group deems something to be offensive is to apoligize and take corrective action.
The mayor refuses to accept her resigination under the quise of diversity. While his motive may be laudable he needs to understand that one can not use diversity as an excuse if it furthers inncorect thought. It is no different than equal under the law. They are both concepts that are to be used for positive social enginerring
Brian: Good comment
On the concussion thing: I have had some real true concussions- My point was that I dont think that kid in LA had much , if any of a head injury because 1.)He was not hospitalized 2.) he was out and about within a short time
A Real head injury requires some treatment and observation and is treated very very seriously by todays medical community - unlike how lightly it was taken when I was a kid.
Hell, the whole damn issue is now so distorted and twisted - one would think that that whole community was just itching for an excuse for a fight (including all involved authorities)....stay tuned folks for the whole doggie/ponies show to unfold.
At least it knocked OJ off the front page.
Anyone know what OJ realy means?
Orange Jumpsuit
Good one, eh Russ?
I have to say that Colbert is mocking racism. How can that bastard beuppity when he is irish/catholic scum?
(just kidding, Mrs. O'Neil)
I think the fact remains that white people in this country have no organizations that stand up for its own. The blacks have the NAACP, I think it's time to form a similar organization for white people. I get so tired of seeing all this black on white crime that goes unreported. The media gets off on stories that depict black people as supressed. Of course racism remains a problem in this country. I'm sure it's a huge problem in Jena, but racism goes both ways. So many on this website and in this country continue to forget about this. This story points to how ugly racism can be. I, for one, am writing this post in support of the white men and women of this country. Not because I am racist, but because this silent and forgotten voice needs to be heard.
There is only one "race" of human- we are identical genetically and are all descended from the same mother
Anyways, I'm going to disregard that last post. There are numerous races, all of which need to be embraced equally. No more only embracing the African American race.
Hooray Brian
There is no "African American race"
Russ FYI,
I am the salt of the earth- grew up in the city which had segregated neighborhoods. My steet was exactly two blocks from the (I cant say it) but locally known as the XXXXXX section.
Went to school and was around so many people of different backgrounds, Mexican, Blacks....You name them - I dont talk diversity- I have lived it and its American and just fine as apple pie.
I know damn well that I am no better than anyone else (unless you are a lowdown criminal - irregardless of complexion or a late model Republican)
A while back. I read Richard Leakey's Origins and discovered that race is a fabricated divisive concept- we are all genetically the same only we look different.
No need to trot out the bleeding heart liberal rubber hose for me because I am informed enough to know that cultures do clash-but I in no way endorse the concept of different "races"
My buddy at work , Josephus and I have a contest in which I constantly win because I am darker that he is.
I have been told that I have soul- "for a white dude" of course
As far as soul food (chitlins) - I pass but have eaten Hungarian Hurka which smells worse
You may have guessed it - I dont hate anyone because of what he/she looks like and I believe that human nature is so - submission: we have NO "raceriots" in the winter
Some people just need a quick beating in order to learn a lesson... but I don't feel as though the kid deserved to be brutally beaten.
anon, agreed. no one deserves a brutal beating, or any beating (note: i don't think it is clear that the white kid was "brutally" beaten...we went out partying that night). someone being a racist does not mean another person has a free pass to beat them. they should be dealt with. and that may mean criminal charges.
the problem and outrages is from the original attempted murder charges, along with dubious comments by the prosecutors, while not doing anythign to the white kids involved in similar incidents. and the absurdly high bond. and a lot of other factors.
but i do think the "jena six" should not receive punishment. it should just be treated normally. but it is not. and i think the sentiments of a racist rural area is the problem.
and i tried to see this one black girl once, and like most other girls, i was rejected. maybe that will make russ feel better.
and i work with other minorities.
but the whole notion that i am unworthy of commenting on race because i live, like most, the de facto segregated lifestyle that is the American suburbs is just absurd.
Its not segregated by race its segregated by $$$$$
why is this so hard for your to grasp?
when have i ever denied that?
i just add to it that opportunities have been more limited for certain groups, which creates racial divides as well.
why is this so hard for your to grasp?
name me opportunities that are currently more difficult to have based on race?
that type of statement presumes employers, apartment owners, etc. do not discriminate. that is retarded and out of touch.
I think everyone get discriminated against. I usually get crapped on for bieng a new england type smartass in NE Ohio.
It is just plain F/Ud ...say for a family w/two kids denied an apartment because of their looks.
In my experience with a huge victorian house next door wich has recently become a rental, I never know who will be a scumbag renter. More often than not , the worst look just like me.
Once, the poorest were the best
But if you excercise prejudice - you never really know (ignorance)
Chuck, where you are in AZ, I suppose Mexicans get hammered with prejudice
Oh now we have your traditional strawman argument where it is the hidden hand of racism. Wow impressive, are you and Donovan Mcnabb sitting around discussing how tough it is to be the minority?
OR as you like to say
SHOW ME YOUR DATA!!!!!!! WHERES YOUR FACTS!!!!!
You live in a dream world, where the "white man" is the cause of all of society's ills.
chuck hates white people
ps buy my album
Hey Kanye: did you really say this:
"George Bush doesn't care about black people"
Who would ever know?
& wow man, you must NOT support the troops (yuk, yuk)
Hint: W doesnt care about anyone
I dont think Chuck hates anybody , except possibly for the Bush admin and REps in congress....forgot that bealzebub Cheney
t-dawg, A Q: tell me who do you think the "man" is in today's America?
I hate racism in principle and in effect - It is also a much used/abused/overused lameass excuse that can be tendered in many cases.
Alleged Racism in the LA STUDENTS case is true racisism in practice, from what I have read so far.
racisism - like that word
plesae ecxusemy dlyslxia
petey, like most of your posts, you are hearing and parroting back a small smidgeon of the story in regards to Jena. Chuck deliberately makes his case while leaving out key details or massaging/glossing over other relevant details (as has been pointed out by others in this thread) to paint his picture of some organized systemic racism that is the root cause of every issue. HE is constantly engaging in victimizing the criminal when that criminal is a minority, the irony (and hypocrisy) is that he is viscious in his condemnations of any white accused. His inconsistency is what leads me to believe that he is more concerned with his own opinions' advancement and acceptance than any notion of justice. Chuck should have had kyle post this story, from him it comes as tainted, and of course he did leave out information that a reasonable person would use to formulate an opinion on this case (Thanks to Russ and others who did the leg work to at least try and present a more accurate picture)
sort of like OJ talking about feeding the homeless, the message gets lost because of the messenger
T, I dont agree with your opinions of what the author is doing as far as the hate whitey thing. Coming thru to me clearly is his sense to provoke - that is very evident to you reactions.
Call it "license" (of some sort), Chuck is doing nothing unusual.
On the Jena issue, I have just read some more about it and the longer the story goes and snowballs the media circus - I will say that no matter how much "Homework" Russ, you or I do, we could still derive three different viewpoints.
I still think Bell is being railroaded. And knowing about that area - its likely its bold faced racism driving it.
Parroting? No T, just doing what Chuck, Russ, all do- provoking and having some head butting brain farts.
Thanking you, Russ, et al for your patronage
Update: White kid attacked from behind, hit in the back of the head, knocked unconscious and kicked/stomped (according to witnesses) by six black kids, all athletes.
A black U.S. attorney, Don Washington, investigated the “Jena Six” case and concluded that the attack on the white kid had absolutely nothing to do with the noose-hanging incident three months before.
Bell was also on probation for assault at the time he attacked the white kid.
Not to say Jena doesn't sound like a completely racist area, but this story at first glance looks like it the white kid is at fault, when the more you dig, the more you see a different perspective.
And thank you, Petey!
if the races were reversed it would be a hate crime carrying more severe punishment. I wonder how chuck feels about Russ's latest information.
The one kid should rot in prison. Blacks don't understand what to protest. They should be protesting the senseless killings that take place on the city-streets every day. Instead, they protest and support a criminal. The other day, a black kid was shot and killed because he walked on gang turf "without permission". Talk about the new KKK.
Philip Morris wrote a good article on the "Jenna 6" in the Plain Dealer today. Maybe you close-minded fools ought to read it.
Russ, if you are not bustin my cojones on this, it sounds like nothing short of another Media doggie show with racism as the driver.
Just today read how some bigot groups came out for the festivities.
So maybe the kid got railroaded, maybe he didnt - one sure thing, NOW there is racism in Jena, La and it has a life of its own
and still no defense of his position by chuck? makes you wonder.
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