Jim Crow Still Alive in Jena, Louisiana; Sign the Petitio

In Jena, Louisiana racism is still in effect and it is described as a segregated town. At Jena High School white people and black people sit separate from each other. There is a tree there called the "white" tree where only white kids sat under.

"One day, Black student asked permission from a school official to sit under the "White tree," and the official told them to sit wherever they wanted, so the Black student did. The following day, three nooses were seen hanging from the "White tree," which upset the Black students who make up only 20 percent of the school’s population."

This was the start of racial tension. To have the heads of school accept the notion that a black student had to ask if he could sit under that tree was evident that something must be done. This incident shows that Jim Crow is still jumping around in the South.

In Jena, Louisiana racism is still in effect and it is described as a segregated town. At Jena High School white people and black people sit separate from each other. There is a tree there called the "white" tree where only white kids sat under.

One day, Black student asked permission from a school official to sit under the “White tree,” and the official told them to sit wherever they wanted, so the Black student did. The following day, three nooses were seen hanging from the “White tree,” which upset the Black students who make up only 20 percent of the school’s population.

This was the start of racial tension. To have the heads of school accept the notion that a black student had to ask if he could sit under that tree was evident that something must be done. This incident shows that Jim Crow is still jumping around in the South.

So what happened with the three white students who were responsible for hanging nooses on the "white" tree?

"The school principal found the three White students responsible and advised that they were to be expelled from school permanently. The White superintendent of LaSalle Parish schools, Roy Breithaupt, overturned the principal’s decision and instead gave the White students a three-day suspension. In statements made to the media, Superintendent Breithaupt said "Adolescents play pranks. I don’t think it was a threat against anybody."

Ha ha ha! Aren't kids so funny? Mr. Breithaupt just laughs this off thinking that this is just a little prank. I am sure people consider lynching a laughable matter as well. To say it is not a threat is simply saying that hanging the nooses was okay. At my school someone woul've been in more trouble for throwing toilet paper around.

"According to the parents of the Jena 6 and a testimony given in Bell’s trial, White District Attorney Reed Walters then visited Jena High School to address a school assembly, making remarks directed at the Black students that if they didn’t stop making a fuss about this "innocent prank," he could take their lives away with the stroke of his pen. As a result of a fire that burned down the main building where classes are held at Jena High School on November 30, 2006, Whites in the community started to blame the Blacks students of the school as the cause of the fire."

Now we have the District Attorney making threats. This is how things operate down there. If you are black then you are on your own and anything that happens you will be blamed for it. A hundred years ago a black person would be put to death for the littlest thing if racism was this severe. When there is a super majority white town that has a situation that involves a black person, then the black person will most likely be blamed.

"On the night of December 1, 2006, Robert Bailey and his friends went to a party at Jena Fair Barn. Once inside the party, Robert was approached by a White male named Justin Sloan, who asked him "Is your name Robert Bailey?"

"When Robert said yes, Sloan, along with his sister Jessie, began to hit Robert, and from there, he was also attacked by several other White men before his own friends came to assist him in the brawl."

And that is not it.

"The next day, on December 2, Robert and two of his friends were at the local Gotta-Go convenience store. They spotted Matt Windham, one of White males who attacked Robert the previous night. An altercation started and Windham ran to his truck and pulled out a sawed-off shot gun, which Robert was able to wrestle away from him. The fight ensued and eventually all involved left the scene running."

So we have a black man who has been beat up and almost killed. You would think that charges would be pressed on this Matt and Justin, and anyone else involved.

"Two days later, on December 4 at Jena High School, a White male student by the name of Justin Barker had been allegedly making racial taunts at the Blacks, which included calling them "n——-s" and expressing support for the noose hanging, as well as the attack made on Robert Bailey at Fair Barn. Right outside the school auditorium, Barker was suddenly knocked down, punched, beaten and kicked by Black students."

This is what happens when racial tension reaches its height. It creates a warfare between black people and white people. You have young adults at it with each other who have not matured and still have to learn in life. Well I'm sure that this will just go away like the other fight.

"Moments later, after several statements were collected, six Black males were taken out of their classes, arrested and charged."

"Many of the Jena 6 remained in jail for several months due to the high bails set between $70,000-$140,000 on them."

"All are talented athletes with what their families called "bright futures."

Okay so we have a black man get beat up and almost killed. You have the black community who has been threatened by nooses and the district attorney. Three white students get a three day suspension for hanging nooses, and nothing happens when a white person beats up and tries to kill a black person. When black students attack a white person, then they file charges and arrest them. This is racism and it has not gotten attention from the mainstream news at all. Imus says derogatory comments on his show and get s attention because he was famous, but when something worse happens in America the mainstream news refuses to report it.

"Bell’s family was unable to bail him out and his father believed that is the reason his son’s case went to trial so quickly. A Black court-appointed attorney, Blaine Williams, represented Bell, pressuring him to plead guilty, but Bell refused. His attorney then gathered a list of proposed witnessed which included his father and mother, Michelle Bell. The judge put a gag order on all witnesses in the case and refused to allow his parents to be present in the court during the trial because they were potential witnesses although the victim, who was a witness, was allowed to stay inside the entire time."

"When Bell’s father asked the defense lawyer to appeal the gag order so they can be inside the courtroom with their son, the lawyer replied "The best thing for you to do is to get the hell out of my face’...At that point I smelled a rat and I knew my son was being set up," stated Jones to The Final Call."

"He also shared that the jury was all White, and that members of the jury were friends with the District Attorney as well as family members with the victim. The prosecution brought forth 17 witnesses of whom many stated that they did not see Bell hit Barker. The victim himself even testified that he did not know if Bell hit him or not."

"Now we have a probable cause that Bell may not have been part of this situation and the white man who was hit could not recall if Bell was involved or not. I believe it should be illegal to have an all white jury if it is a black person on trial. This was a losing battle for Bell from the beginning and the other 5 men will probably be convicted as well. Bell was convicted and now faces his sentence. He faces 22 years in prison."

Go to colorofchange.org to sign the petition.

Source - http://wilmingtonjournal.blackpressu...