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Jena 6 Noose Rally Will Be Huge: 30,000+ Expected
Compiled by the DiversityInc staff
September 19, 2007
Jena, La., home to the Jena 6 noose incident, is gearing up for what is probably the largest influx of people in its history. More than 30,000 protestors from every corner of the United States are expected to convene on the town's courthouse lawn tomorrow, the original sentencing date for 17-year-old Mychal Bell, the first of the Jena 6 to face a judge.
Caravans of college students, churches and civil-rights groups are traveling to the small town of 3,000 to rally over what they say is a grave injustice.
For an in-depth perspective on the Jena 6 case and why it has triggered such outrage, read the October 2007 issue of DiversityInc magazine, out shortly.
Civil-rights groups are asking Jena 6 supporters to wear all black. Businesses are expected to close tomorrow for the rally, and all of the town's hotels are booked. City officials are unclear exactly how many people will travel to the town of 3,000; however, they are calling on the support from other precincts to help control the crowd and keep the demonstration as organized as possible.
National outcry has intensified. Today, rock star David Bowie donated $10,000 to the Jena 6 legal defense fund.
Bell, along with Carwin Jones, Theo Shaw, Robert Bailey Jr., Bryant Purvis and an unidentified juvenile, were all originally charged with attempted murder after beating white schoolmate Justin Barker unconscious. The fight happened after three white students hung nooses from a tree after a black student was seen sitting under it. Barker was taken to the hospital after the beating but was released the same day.
Bell was found guilty on secondary-degree battery charges by an all-white jury. However, on Friday, the federal appeals court dismissed the second-degree battery charge against Bell, saying the case was improperly tried. Bell, who was 16 at the time of the incident, was erroneously tried as an adult for battery—a violation of the Louisiana law. Prosecutor Reed Walters plans to appeal this decision.
Bell remains incarcerated, unable to satisfy the set $90,000 bond, unlike his counterparts, who were able to raise the money to satisfy bonds ranging from $78,000 to $130,000.
Shortly after the decision was overturned, Bell's attorneys filed a motion to have him released from prison. Federal appeals courts deemed the motion "premature" and it was denied.
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