JENA 6
 

So, i searched and the only threads about this are in specific forums. i wanted to see if anyone will be attending the rally. roll call?

not attending, but will be in all black tomorrow.

same here. w00t.

I will be at rally, but not in Jena. I too will be wearing black today.

Why defend these thugs?

I guess if you say something stupid and racist, you deserve to be put in the hospital? Is that it? These kids resorted to violence -- that's illegal. They're now in jail or out on bail awaiting trial. What is the great societal wrong here? I just don't see it.

Why didn't the thugs who pelted a young black man with beer bottles before beating him, in the same town, receive the same charges? Why wasn't the thug who pointed a shot gun at three young black men, in the same town, charged with anything?

Whatever. I'm not even going to have this conversation.

^^^oh dear. (little32 you beat me to it, i feel the same way)
Not in Jena but wearing black, as are many of my friends.

Because that gentlemen was trying to force his way into a party he wasn't invited to. There are two sides to that story. It wasn't just one black man either, it was a "group" according to the media sources I've read.

Heck.. in Oklahoma, under the "stand your ground" regime, he could have been lawfully shot.

At any rate, that's a totally separate incident. These six are accused of an entirely separate and unrelated crime which occurred two days later.

OK, if you want to see it that way fine. There are a lot of folks who see this as the confluence of a lot of other issues and not just some "thugs" out looking for a fight.

I guess the fact that most involved have clean records with the exception of this incident does not change your opinion that they are thugs. I know lots of people who got into fights in middle school and high school that have gotten into fights, some that were not always fair, but I would not label those people thugs. But I guess you don't know anyone like that.

Not attending a rally but wearing black and praying.

You're right. I don't know any group of six or more people who beat the hell out of a kid for saying something offensive. That sounds like something a thug would do. I don't know these kids either. I'm assuming none of you do. Maybe they aren't thugs -- but they sure as hell acted like it that day.

They could have killed the kid they attacked. They clearly wanted to do some damage (multiple blows to the head) after he was knocked out. They deserve justice and punishment. Society cannot condone that sort of behavior.

I knew people who got into fights in school, too, but the injuries from those fights weren't anywhere near the extent of those suffered by the victim in this case. I'm not saying it's reasonable to call the boys thugs. Sure, the hanging of the nooses was a bad idea - completely insensitive and inappropriate. But I don't think beating a boy senseless is "equal" retaliation.

Then again, I'm not completely familiar with all the particulars of the case (which, I would assume, is reasonable to say for most of the country), so my opinion is based on the limited info I have. Still, I don't understand why people who are completely removed from the situation are protesting. I might even go so far as to say that if the situation were reversed (six white boys beating up a black boy), the protest would be in support of the victim.

1. Amazing...I have been running a thread on this for over a month and hardly anyone responds...interesting....

2. Kevin....you really need to take those rose colored glasses off...funny how a guy who clamms he got the snot kicked out of him by six people MANAGED to go to a party that night...and then 6 TEENS get charged with ATTEMPTED MURDER?? WHAT??

We just skip past assault and graduate to murder? WOW...and then you want to charge these SAME teens as ADULTS...wow

3. I guess nooses under a tree don't mean much huh?


Hey umm...kevin...define 'thug' in the context that you are using in please...?

There were busses that pulled out of here last night to go protest today. I wish I could gone with them but I couldn't.

However, I am wearing black today.

Wearing black, and reflecting on how far we've really come as far as disparities in this country...

@Kevin Good, so we are agreed. There was thuggish behavior all around, not just on the part of these young men.

For the record, I don't think that anyone is saying that there should be no consequences for their actions, but rather that the consequences right now are disproportionate to the act. Until just a few weeks ago, the young man in jail was face a potential 80 year sentence. He was charged with aggravate battery--his tennis shoes were labelled the deadly weapon. There is something wrong with that, bottom line.

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:

Kevin-
Just curious but why did you start this debate in a thread that was intended to be a roll call? Why not one of the many other threads? I honestly wanted to know if people were attending rallies, wearing black, etc., and you had to post inflammatory comments. And as a moderator and longtime member, I just thought you would have used better judgment.

His grandmother is speaking now....

he usually doesn't.......

Yeah I do. I'm just showing that kids find these high school traditions to be important. So long as the kid could walk, he probably would have attended. The fact is he left early due to the pain... just like my prom night ended due to a %^@*ing stomach bug.

It really doesn't "directly affect" me at all other than it being the current media cause célèbre. I do find it severely blown out of proportion a little annoying. I do find that the coverage has been painfully one-sided to be yet another example of junk journalism.

You're not directly affected either as best I can tell.

It was in the N&P forum. My original post was wondering why anyone would be defending these guys for their obviously criminal and violent actions. I followed the link from the GL forum to here. I didn't see the other thread to be perfectly honest.

And how are my comments really inflammatory? I merely disagree with those who seem to believe that these kids were justified in their violent and criminal behavior.

If you think the mere fact that I disagree with you is "inflammatory," that's on you.

ETA: This thread would have probably better served its purpose had it been posted in the "Events" forum where it really belonged in the first place.

I don't think the fact that you disagree with me is inflammatory, Kevin. I rarely, if ever, agree with you but I fully support your right to say what you think. Do not try to turn this on me.
That being said, most people recognize that there is usually an appropriate time and place to express their views, and I was wondering why in the world you thought a roll call thread was the appropriate place to start a debate. Instead of answering my question, you tried to flip things back onto me. I do not wish to take this thread further off track so I'm done, but you can feel free to PM me.

Although I can't speak for Kevin, when I posted in this thread, I saw only one other thread covering this topic. And that thread seemed to be more of a blow-by-blow or news-announcement thread than one where opinions might be shared. I chose to post in this one because I felt like it was the best place to do that (share opinions).

Maybe if the title of the thread were Jena 6 roll-call, I'd have chosen not to post at all. But, since the title is just Jena 6, I didn't see the harm in posting. Looks like I was wrong.

It is telling that folks are splitting hairs over a thread title and placement of said thread.


Oh wait, I forgot, this is GC. :rolleyes: Nevermind. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:



Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
~Martin Luther King Jr.

"It breaks our heart to see him handcuffed and in leg shackles," Sharpton said. "But his spirit is high. He has said that he is very encouraged to know that thousands are coming to this town to stand up for him and his five friends."

Give the kid a medal...

i'm wearing black


that's pretty much just a coincidence, i stay more in the loop

uh....

my society is broken

that is all i can say, although

one of the black kids was beat down, and then later one of the white ones was

i think justice has been served already