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Jena 6 Noose Case: Black Student Gets Reprieve, Protest Still Planned
By Daryl Hannah
September 17, 2007
The Jena 6 noose saga has turned a new page. On Friday, a Louisiana federal appeals court threw out second-degree aggravated-assault charges for 17-year-old Mychal Bell.
Bell, the first of the six black students to stand before a judge, was found guilty on aggravated-battery charges and faced up to 15 years in prision, the maximum for the offense. However, the federal appeals court dismissed the charges citing that in Louisiana, minors cannot be tried as adults for battery.
For more on Jena 6 and why they have had such an impact, read the upcoming October 2007 issue of DiversityInc magazine.
Despite the ruling, Bell remains incarcerated, unable to satisfy his $90,000 bond. He has been jailed since December. The other five students involved are out on bond. Carwin Jones, Theo Shaw and Robert Bailey Jr., all initially charged with attempted-murder charges, now face aggravated-battery charges. An unidentified minor is being tried in juvenile court.
In a public statement shortly after the decision, Bell's attorneys shed light on the different scenerios Bell faces. As it stands, Bell can be tried as an adult for attempted murder, can be tried as a juvenile for whatever charges match the case, or can have all the charges dismissed. While the district attorney's office has rendered no indication as to whether it will persue the case, District Attorney Reed Walters has said he will ask the appeals court to review the decision. Bell's lawyers say they are ready for that contingency.
Despite the recent turn of events, civil-rights groups still plan to demonstrate on Sept. 20, the day Bell was set to be sentenced. Participants plan to gather on the LaSalle Court steps and wear all black to show their support for the six young men.
"It is important that we take a stand for anyone, regardless of race, who has suffered an injustice," Tony Jones, an organizer who plans to lead two 55-passenger charter buses from Virginia to Louisiana, tells DiversityInc. "It is important that we take a stand and let people know we aren't going to stand for [injustices] anymore."
Caravans of organizers will head to the town of 3,000 starting Wednesday, say organizers. Coming from as far as New York and Chicago, supporters are packing buses, church vans and cars to travel to the small town. Nearly every hotel in town is booked for Wednesday, occupied by demonstration participants.
"It is important that we take a stand for anyone, regardless of race, who has suffered an injustice," says Jones.
City officials are seeking support from across the state to help keep the demonstration organized. "We are trying to make sure things remain peaceful," Louisiana State Police Sgt. Markus Smith tells DiversityInc. "We don't expect it to get violent. We do have a coordinate plan to control the crowd and traffic."
Petitioning has been protest method of choice for those unable to travel to Jena or attend local protests. At the time of this writing, ColorofChange, a member-based web site devoted to racial equality, said 210,453 people have signed its petition to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco.
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