Statement of
Darryl R. Matthews, Sr.
General President

( BALTIMORE , MD ) – It is sobering to know that in 2007 Martin Luther King’s dream of equal treatment, respect, fairness and opportunity is still not realized. For any court in the United States of America to deny African Americans their constitutional right to due process, equal application of the law, to a fair hearing, and the administration of justice with prejudice is inhumane and downright wrong.


It was wrong in the Dred Scott case before the Missouri Supreme Court in 1850 and before the United States Supreme Court in 1857. Justice Taney's outrageous notion that a black man has no rights that a white man is bound to respect was wrong in 1857; it was wrong in 1957; and, it is wrong today in 2007. It is unfortunate, even tragic that 150 years later, there are apparently still some who believe Taney's ill conceived logic.


The judicial railroading suffered by Adolph Plessey here in Louisiana was wrong in 1892 and 1896. And, the judicial railroading of the Jena 6 in Louisiana in 2006 and 2007 is wrong today. The racially motivated rush to prosecute, convict and execute the young black men known as the Scottsboro nine was wrong three-quarters of a century ago. And, the racially motivated rush to prosecute, convict and imprison the young black men known as the Jena 6 is wrong today.


The decision to overturn the original charges is a good first step, but it is not a closed case. These young men still stand the chance of going to jail unjustly. So like Amos who spoke out against injustice in his day, and Martin who spoke out against injustice in his day, I stand here today and commit the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to stand up and speak up on behalf of the Jena 6 “until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream!"

The plight of the Jena 6 should serve as a wake up call to black, white and brown America ; we can no longer continue to live in denial with the belief that racism and hatred no longer exists. We must embrace the thought, and demonstrate through our actions, the realization that we are responsible for more than our own front walk…as long as one person is experiencing injustice, we all are experiencing injustice. I ask people of good will everywhere to let your voices be heard. We are not satisfied and will not be satisfied until justice is served.


The members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated have historically engaged in the struggle to uplift the downtrodden in their efforts to achieve the promise of social and economic parity described and prescribed in the pledge of allegiance to this great republic that declares liberty and justice for all.


For over 100 years brothers of Alpha have given of their time, talent and treasury to combat the sinister forces of injustice and unfairness, so prevalent during the years of Jim Crow, as well as the denial of civil rights to some.



And, by my presence here today, we declare that as conscientious African American men dedicated to making a positive difference, not just a statement or symbolic gesture, but to make real for these young men of Jena, Louisiana and others who experience this tragedy each and every day, the promises of democracy guaranteed by the founding fathers of this nation.



I close with the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of god's children”


To make a financial contribution to the “Jena 6 Legal Defense Fund”, make your checks payable to the " Jena 6 Legal Defense Fund" and mail them to:
Attention: Jena 6 Legal Defense Fund

NAACP National Headquarters
Development Department
c/o: Frank A. Humphrey, Assistant Treasurer
4805 Mount Hope Drive
Baltimore , MD 21215


ABOUT ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.

Founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca , New York , Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has continued to supply voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community's fight for civil rights, through Alpha men such as W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Andrew Young, William Gray, and Cornel West. Within the 110th United States Congress are eight Alpha men including Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO), Danny K. Davis (IL), Chaka Fattah (PA), Al Green (TX), Gregory Meeks (NY), Charles B. Rangel (NY), David Scott (GA), and Robert C. Scott (VA). The fraternity through its college and alumni chapters serves the community through nearly a thousand chapters in the United States , Europe and the Caribbean For more information, visit www.apa1906.net.

Media Contact:
MWPR, Inc. ¦Monica Wood Public Relations
704-430-6300
mwood@mwprinc.com

@Sen...I am going over to the Capitol around noon...if you **think** u see me.....ask me about my iPod.....heheheh

LOL!!!! Shut up! I will be embarrassed about that for life. But no, I won't be near the Capitol today.

Not really, I generally don't pay attention to the random "injustice du jour" claimed by Al Sharpton, et al. It's just that now that we have this media circus, I feel compelled to comment on how utterly ridiculous this whole thing is.

I don't know about the party. I haven't read about that anywhere. He did testify as to this, however:

[quote]
Barker said he had a badly swollen face and temporary blindness in one eye that lasted three weeks. He also said he still suffers recurring headaches since the beating but, under cross examination, acknowledged that medical tests have found no cause.

He joined fellow juniors that same night at the school's annual class ring ceremony. "I waited 11 years to go to it. I wasn't going to let that get in my way" he said. But, he said, pain drove him to leave the event early, after getting his ring.[/[quote]


http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=6719374

Apparently, you have to minimize Barker's injuries so that you can justify your views here. He was knocked unconscious by someone who attacked him from behind, then kicked repeatedly in the head and face by six thugs (now called "defendants"). The SOB had it coming to him, is that it?

Attempted murder in the second degree... yes, kicking an unconscious person repeatedly in the head could justify that sort of a charge. It's clear that the DA was trying to send a message with these charges -- that as a society, we find this behavior unacceptable.

Message sent.

They're completely irrelevant.

Unless you actually think that someone hanging a noose on a tree justifies a beating two days later.

Someone who uses violence to solve his problems. Someone who shows no respect for society and its laws. You know.. someone who hits someone from behind and beats the heck out of them while they're unconscious.

[QUOTE=Kevin;1523302]Not really, I generally don't pay attention to the random "injustice du jour" claimed by Al Sharpton, et al. It's just that now that we have this media circus, I feel compelled to comment on how utterly ridiculous this whole thing is.



I don't know about the party. I haven't read about that anywhere. He did testify as to this, however:

[quote]
Barker said he had a badly swollen face and temporary blindness in one eye that lasted three weeks. He also said he still suffers recurring headaches since the beating but, under cross examination, acknowledged that medical tests have found no cause.

He joined fellow juniors that same night at the school's annual class ring ceremony. "I waited 11 years to go to it. I wasn't going to let that get in my way" he said. But, he said, pain drove him to leave the event early, after getting his ring.[/

Quote:

http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=6719374

Kevin...you are a real peice of work.....see and your PROBLEM you don't read and you hear what you WANT to hear...this is MORE than just sound bytes from Rev. Al...there are SOOO SOO SOOOO MANY MORE involved that the ONLY name you can pull out is Rev Al and Jessie.

This is more than them....

It's MLK III, Mos Def, the NOI and so many more BUT IT'SNOT JUST ABOUT THE CELEBS....

It's about wanting fair justice and you need to read and understand the whole story before you cats this off as a 'media circus'

And you didn't know about the party? Tsk tsk...you can't possibly know about this incident and not know one of the most important aspects of this was the seveve beating he got at the party.

Come on...11 years for a Ring Dance you got beaten nearly to death? And you still go...then that means he wasn't that hurt.....riiight....


And this is a media circus you say?

Tyring to sentence a boy to 80 years and the closest thing he had to a weapon was a SHOE and you expect people to say "it's justice"?

Right ok....

I guess no one decided to charge the young man who pulled out a shotgun on some others from Jena with possesions of a firearm or attempted murder...and please tell me you didn't hear that.

Without the outcry from across the nation, Mychal Bell would still be facing those ridiculous charges.


So, to get this thread back on track, Daemon, are you attending a rally or wearing black today?

Got my black on...going to the Capitol in an Hr.

for those who care to read and care to be educated on the totality of events, here is a time line. draw your own conclusion.


from:
http://www.digtriad.com/news/nationa...9266&catid=175

thank you so very much for that, sands....

you're welcome.

Hey.. my prom date had a stomach bug (wasn't the greatest of nights). Yes, kids place a high value on these events and will go even when their health doesn't allow. The ring ceremony is hardly a "party." He had to leave early due to the pain. Further, due to swelling, he was blind in one eye for three weeks.

-- now who is only hearing what they want to hear?

You're going to have to start using names. By "he" in this case, I'm assuming you're referring to Mr. Bailey? The kid which tried (along with some friends) to force his way into a private party he hadn't been invited to and was not welcome at? Yeah... what a victim.

Like I said, in my state and others, he probably could have been lawfully shot for that stunt. Property owners are generally allowed to use force to remove trespassers.

Strangely, again, the media is silent as to whether he came and refused to leave, came and threatened violence, etc. I think it's safe to assume that he (and his friends who are for some reason never mentioned) weren't exactly Christmas Caroling.

That may be the max. I doubt seriously that if there's a conviction anyone will get the maximum penalty. It's possible though. The sort of beating they gave this kid could have killed him.

Did they fire the shotgun? Nope. Were they stupid for pulling it out? Perhaps. For all we know, the person in that case may have felt it necessary to have that weapon for self-defense.

I don't see anything criminal about what he did though. It's still legal to own firearms in this country.

And as for the comment about "attacking with shoes..." These were shoes attached to feet attached to the legs which were attached to six cowardly attackers. You're an intelligent person, use some common sense.

My grandfather was beaten to death in a similar manner -- no guns, knives or anything in a bar fight in Eastern Oklahoma -- probably over an oil deal gone bad. At any rate, hands and feet can be as deadly as guns -- especially when you're kicking an unconscious person in the head.

we're >>>>>here<<<<<

U know what Kevin...we did this when we discussed Katrina...so...no more....

Kevin...smh...you are either really just that dayumed ignorant or.....wow....you compared a stomach bug to a boy who got the living crap beaten out of him...do you know how that sounds?


**sidebar** any ladies here who went to thier prom while suffering thier menstrual please raise your hands....any gents who did likewise after a brutal stompong do likewise?

You have a right to your opinion but I see now you form your opinion due to the fact that if it doesn't somehow affect you directly it doesn't matter to you but that's par for the course with most people in this country so...here is where my discourse ends with you.

**UPDATE** LIVE ON CNN
 

Mychael Bell's parent's allegedly are not being permitted to attend the rally at the courthouse.....

this is coming from the live feed from cnn.com.

If it changes all will be informed.

I thought it said they could not go into the jail. :confused: