Mychal Bell's Conviction Overturned

[admin]

'Jena 6' conviction vacated
Louisiana beating case stirred cries of racism

With the prospect of a major national civil rights protest looming next week in the central Louisiana town of Jena, a state appeals court on Friday abruptly vacated the felony conviction of a black teenager accused of beating a white student in a case fraught with racial tensions.

Louisiana's 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, acting on an emergency defense appeal, reversed the aggravated second-degree battery conviction of Mychal Bell, 17, ruling that the youth had been tried improperly as an adult in a case that has raised allegations of unequal justice in the small, mostly white town.

Last week, the judge who presided over Bell's trial in June, LaSalle Parish District Judge J.P. Mauffray, vacated a conspiracy conviction against the youth for the same reason, but inexplicably let the more serious battery conviction stand. Now the local district attorney, Reed Walters, must decide whether to refile the entire case in juvenile court.

Walters initially charged Bell and five other black teens, who have come to be called the "Jena 6," with attempted murder after the white student was beaten and knocked unconscious at Jena High School last December. The white student suffered cuts and bruises but was treated and released from a local hospital.

Walters later reduced the charges to aggravated second-degree battery, contending at Bell's trial -- the first case to go to court -- that the tennis shoes Bell was wearing constituted a dangerous weapon.

Walters said in a statement Friday that he intended to appeal the reversal of Bell's conviction to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

As the Tribune first reported in May, the beating incident followed a series of white-on-black attacks in Jena in which the white assailants escaped serious charges. And it capped months of escalating racial tensions in the town set off after three white students hung nooses from a tree in the high school courtyard in what was perceived as a threat to blacks. School officials called the noose incident an "adolescent prank" and declined to expel the white students, outraging black students and their parents.

National civil rights leaders, including Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, had been planning to join black celebrities and thousands of Internet bloggers in a demonstration in Jena next Thursday, the day Bell had been scheduled to be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison on the battery conviction.

Nearly 200,000 people have signed petitions criticizing the prosecution of the black students and calling on Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco to intervene in the case. Bus caravans headed toward Jena have been organized at scores of churches across the country, and organizers had predicted that more than 20,000 protesters might show up in the town of 3,000.

But with the reversal of Bell's felony convictions, the extent of next Thursday's demonstration is now unclear.

"The crisis is not over yet," Jackson said Friday. "This ruling still leaves in suspension what's going to happen to the other five. But the Jena 6 and their supporters are now on the offensive. So long as these kids were in the dark without representation, they were all going up the river. When the lights came on and the public pressure flooded in, it began to change everything."

Alan Bean, director of Friends of Justice, a Texas-based civil rights group that was the first to notice the Jena case, said he expected the reversal of Bell's convictions will turn next Thursday's protest into a "celebration" of the power of public opinion to influence the Jena 6 case.

"People across the country, both black and white, conservative and liberal, were just appalled by what had happened in LaSalle Parish and the embarrassment factor weighed in very heavily for the appeals court," Bean said. "I don't think the state of Louisiana wants this travesty to go on any longer. I'd be very surprised if any of these other cases comes to trial."

Bell has remained in jail since December, unable to post a $90,000 bond. But his attorneys said they would go before Mauffray on Monday seeking to have Bell released. The judge declined previous defense requests to reduce Bell's bond, citing several juvenile assault convictions on the teen's record.

Bell's pro bono attorneys, brought into the case by civil rights leaders after his conviction, have argued that his trial, heard by an all-white jury, was filled with irregularities, including a court-appointed public defender who called no witnesses on his behalf and a prosecution witness who was one of the white youths who hung the nooses at the high school.

The NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Congressional Black Caucus have all denounced what they view as the harsh prosecutions of the Jena 6.

On Thursday, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama added his criticism of what he termed the "excessive charges" in the case.

"When nooses are being hung in high schools in the 21st Century, it's a tragedy," Obama said. "It shows that we still have a lot of work to do as a nation to heal our racial tensions."

Link to Article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/saturday/chi-jena_satsep15,0,5258271.story


Conviction in Racially Tinged Louisiana Case Is Overturned

A Louisiana appeals court on Friday overturned the conviction of an African-American high school student who was accused of the beating of a white classmate in case that has become a flashpoint for accusations of racial bias in the state’s judicial system.

The student, Mychal Bell, 17, was one of six black teenagers accused in the beating of a schoolmate in the northern Louisiana town of Jena last December. Mr. Bell was the first accused student to face trial, and his conviction on charges of conspiracy and aggravated battery drew accusations that prosecutors were biased.

His lawyers argued that Mr. Bell was not old enough to be tried as an adult and that the maximum penalty that he faced — 22 years in prison — was excessive. Facing increasing pressure from national civil rights groups, prosecutors in recent weeks have reduced the charges against some of the other defendants, who are yet to face trial.

On Sept. 4, Mr. Bell’s conviction on conspiracy charges was overturned by another judge.

A lawyer for Mr. Bell, Louis Scott, said in a telephone interview Friday night that his client felt a sense of relief at the decision but is still concerned by the prospect of another trial in Juvenile Court.

“I explained it to Mychal in football terms,” Mr. Scott said. “We started the game down by a touchdown and a field goal. On Sept. 4, we got the field goal. Today, we got the touchdown. Now, we get to start the game all over again.”

The teenagers, who have come to be known as the Jena Six, were originally charged with attempted murder in the beating of a classmate, Justin Barker, who was injured in a brawl that was sparked by racial taunts, including the dangling of hangman’s nooses from a tree.

Link to Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/15/us/15jena2.html


Bell's Attorneys Speak

Shortly after the Friday's ruling from the Louisiana Appellate Court, Mychal Bell's defense team spoke publicly in Monroe.

An Attorney Bob Noel and Louis Scott said, LaSalle Parish District Attorney, Reed Walters has several options. He can charged Mychal Bell as an adult for attempted murder again. Or charged him in juvenile court for whatever charge he chooses or not charge him at all. Another option is Reed can ask the Louisiana Supreme Court to review the Third Circuit's ruling.

Link to Article:
http://www.kalb.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=KALB/MGArticle/ALB_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352761245&path=!frontpage

[jannaq2]

The Jena Roll

Like Other Acts Of Violence And Unfairness In Times Past
We Still See Blatant Racism To Stand Against And Fast
The Lives Of Ou-r Offspring Being Freely Snatched Away
In Matters Insignificant Through Hatred And Foul Play

A DA Named Reed Walters In His Power Crossed The Line
He Verbalized And Used His Pen To De-stroy Lives To Shine
Young Black Men In A High School Fight For Sitting Under A Tree
Face Twenty Plus In Prison While Noose-Hanging-Whites Go Free

How Balanced Are The Justice Scales? Blindfolded Who Can See?
This Justice System Just Ain't Just For E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y
There Was No Major Cov-er-age Or Word From Folk With Pull
To Use Badboy Venacular "A Bunch Of Frackenacklebull"

Now Mychal Bell The First One Tried Sat Waiting In A Cell
To Hear September 20th What Sentence They Would Tell
But Michael Baisden's Radio Fam' And Others As A Whole
They Joined Together For A Trip I Call "The Jena Roll"

Enough's Enough The Slogan Shouts, No More Unjust For Us!
We SHALL! Descend On Jena Via Cycle Car And Bus!

Some People Had Suggested That Louisiana State
Could Suffer Economically From Purchases In Wait
Such As The Entertainer Who Postponed His Movie Shoot
Suggesting Any Others Do The Same Type Thing To Boot

Judge J. P. Mauffray 9/14 In His Just-ice Depiction
Vacating The Conspiracy Kept Mych’s Battery Conviction
Despite His Act To Thwart “The Roll” It’s Taking Place There Still
‘Cause Folk Are Truly Fed Up With INJUSTICES AT WILL!

We’re Fi-nal-ly United In A Cause That’s “Just” For *Us
*All People Who May Find Themselves In “Circumstance UNjust”
For Those Who Cannot Make The Trip 9/20 Please Wear Black
Let’s Make A Statement To The World "We've Got Each Other’s Back"

Financial Help Is Needed For Those Helping With No Fee
So If You Can Afford It Send Whatever That May Be

Now Jessie Beard And Carwin Jones And You Too Robert Bailey
And Bryant Purvis, Theo Shaw, Mych' Bell We're With You Daily
What Satan Means For Evil, USING PEOPLE, God Can Fix
"Injustices By Unjust Folk And Healing For You Six"

Copyright
200709151610R2
Growth IN Grace
Custom Poems
giggreets@aol.com

[Jo Anne]

All I can say is, "Thank you God!" Even with this great news, I ask that everyone remain vigilant and still attend the rally on Sept. 20 to show that we are not going to go away until justice is achieved for all of Jena6.

[zion]

Bus from Toledo, OH


Anyone looking to go to Jena from Toledo, OH? I am looking into chartering a bus if I get enough people....if not,

I have a caravan that can hold 8 people. I am willing to drive if I can get a few people who are willing to split the cost of gas with me.

Please email me at pastorsmward@yahoo.com

Also have t-shirts for sale for $20. Proceeds will go towards the Jena 6 defense fund.

Please email me at: pastorsmward@yahoo.com


http://widget.slide.com/rdr/1/1/3/W/800000005df0b76/1/344/cMfu3jlHzD-ra1uD39HP3ch1xYFjoOyG.jpg (http://www.slide.com/s/DsQQkX5Q7T_RhZEzMsKqM0pBqWkacYZV?referrer=hlnk)

[Autoboxx]

May God be praised!! The Rednecks are beginning to feel the heat in Jena, LA. It doenst change my schedule though. I am still coming.. I want to see what a Jim Crow town looks like in 2007.

[mike63]

I have never been more ready to go anywhere in my entire life. LET'S ROLLLLLL.

[mizchandra]

Yeah !!!! :) for the boys. My best for all concerned and, I'm thrilled these boys in Jena 6 is finally getting out of jail. We have a lot to be grateful for and so much more to get right.

Love whats going on here; the show/ the cause. Listen everyday when I'm coming home from work on WCFB FM ever since they started broadcasting here in Orlando .. Enjoy all aspects immensely except for of course - Fridays when the guys love to dis the women. not funny to me. Senseing some anger here ? towards women:rolleyes:
The music is off the chain. Keep that up, not to mention a great talk show. Awesome job, Can't say how great it is to hear real issues about us, the black experiences/ minorities/ Our children etc... There is so much issues in our society that need to be addressed and we should address it,,because we can. We need to. It is just porperous whats going on here. I have a lot to say.

In the South. I believe there is still a good ole' boys system still happening here as well as all over the country. It was a 6 months/ 10 month and longer after the election we were hearing on th news ballots being fond in the woods, the beach and other various places. We need to do something about voting rights for the poor. Who's running these offices, what kind of voting machines are being used/and is it fair and just how they are running it?

Why? Money of course Divide and conquer. See we think its all race. No, its money. You go to many other parts of the world and thier own governmentns are oppressing their own people for the money. We simply have to do something about it. Cursing out every white person you see won't cut it. We have to stay focused on the issues at hand. And stay calm.

Grew up in nyc and for the last 9 years live here in Florida with my children. Lot of rascism in the schools and environment. There are not unions. Hmm why is that. oh money. Its a mess here. My son was left back twice due to his behavior and not for academics purpose. Due to culural differences with his Dad's parenting skills. Dad is Jamaican. Wasn' thrilled to realize this is what my child is experiencing. He was eight the first time and 10 the second time. I thought did he really deserve to be left back twice due to his behavior. Nol Boys are often take longer to mature. I and my child was assaulted by this treatment. This is demoralizing and dehumanizing how the local government/businesses treats us and our children. . It's whenever they feel like it. Not right.
Child rapist and abductors/murderers have more rights. Now if anybody needs life; it might as well be a pedifile. Not my child. So he can't have a start in life. No financial freedom. No foudation.

We need to create a collbaritive of what is the problem here; prioritize and band together and address these issues. The gun issue is needed.
How do these gun companies get so many guns stolen so its on the street to invade my/our childs young life. How is this possible that our children are exposed to guns killing each other? The NCRA. How do they get away with this. Oh, the money and their supporters. It sickens me. And something still needs to be done concerning guns.That is reversed psychology again and how we are responding to these demoralizing events has been shaping us since the slave ships.

The consciouness is one that is self hate due to I think many years of the racist system now reversed mentality on our people. And now we/they think its Okay to hurt kill mame ourselves and each other and its like are we doing what the system so to speak did for so many years. That's what some of them want. Now they don't have to do it. cause we're doing it for them. We need to create centers all across the country where young people can go like Plan parenthood and create help. Life skills, exercise and so other things as well. We need to change our thinking on this. And set some presendences. So just maybe our grandkids can have it as MLK said it should be. And Let go of the negative hate feelings. Don't stoop to their level or that level. Rise above and show them how it should be done. Change the energy to what we're going to. Not letting thier energies be of focus.

No child should be trialed and convicted on adult crimes. I know there are some really bad kids who do so some haneous crimes. When need some determents here and it cost more to house them in jail than it cost to give a job and give them intensive couseling. We have some stuff to figure out here.

I appauld Rev. Al Sharpton. He's been here a long time now fighting.
We need to be proactive. Focusing on solutions. All this about Hillary Clinton. She is a woman. She is very busy. She responded even if she was late. That is Bill's Clinton wife. Remember him? Why do we feel we need to start all these wars when we have some at hand that need our attention. All this strife is not helping. We need to be peaceful and focus on the love and the solutions. Nothing negative to keep us back. I'm just concerned.

I am moving and wanted to say something. Won't be able to for about a week or so.And I feel what is happening here on Mike Baisden Show is so historical and I want to be a part of it. I care about us. We are one in essence.
I take care of my ederly mother /4 children and I work. Would love to be there IN Jena Louisiana. I'll be praying that it is a peaceful and civil demonstration and no drama happens. I will be there in spirit. Looking forward to success.


Songs of Inspiration

Notice you guys play a lot of the Elements Earth Wind and Fire. So here are some of my favorites.
And this is coming from an Earth Wind and Fire connsiror. Here are some to consider:

Be Ever Wonderful/ Earth Wind and Fire
Keep your head to the sky/ In the Stone/ Yearnin Learnin/ Sing a Song/ That's the way of the world/
The Emotions/ Anything from that album/ Best of my Love/ and or Rejoice/ These albums gave me alot of inspiration and joy in my teenage years.. I think we need to give thanks for all great things like what's going on now "the movement".
Caravan of Love/ The Isleys
O Jays/ Have a Message in our music
Teddy Pendergrass/ Wake Up Everybody.

I would like to know what does the phrase "dirty south mean? I don't preferable understand what does that mean???. Is it connected to Dirty Deeds in some way??? Why do people say that? Is it to justify a dirty deed, and if so why do we have to treat each other in that regard? What's the purpose? --I am just wondering what does this all- mean.
I keep coming to a conclusion that It's like the" N" word. It's like hate/ hate from what the south deemed black people to be. Not human. The civil war was a factor for my reasoning and, they won't let go of this cancerous hate. It is an absoultue insult to me and what I try to teach my children. I don't feel all white people are like this. There is good and bad in every race. We are one people.and its not what they call you but what you answer to that is crippling us. :cool:

The mass networking tool of the radio/internet is certainly showing its power.and I hope we take full advantage.. You could not of arrived at a better time. Now we can all do something for the cause. Much love and honor to you and your staff and to all listeners. Keep up the great work People!!!!!!

Would like to hear responses so a dialoge/ understanding can be created .... but dunno how to work the modules here on mingle city. would appreciate any help received. How do I find any posts I have created? If I don't respond, you'll know why.

signed a mike baisden fan/:D
free the jena 6 and the rest of our youths/:cool:
we need some resounding results/:eek: :eek:

[Justiceforall.com]

This injustice has been going on to long ....we are long overdue in what we are doing for the jena 6.....How many of are black children are already in jail, because they had no one to fight for them...I cry because of the injustice and for the parents of the children that had no one to fight for them ....Thanks to all who are participating in the Jena 6...I will be there in Jena Louisiana on Sept. 20 2007....Justiceforall.com

[Blackman7]

God Is Good!!!!! :)

[uncdec01]

They are shaking in their boots. They are afraid of what will happen when we realize our true power to affect change. They are trying everything in their power not to get us to go down there. It is even more important now that we show up and speak out.

[mjackson2318@ao]

I am so proud of Michael Baisden's courage to stand unyielding in the face of this overwhelming injustice and unfairness. He had the resolve and the inner fortitude (he wasn't scared!) to go forward and see this thing through. I don't think the "powers that be" saw him coming. He took them all by surprise. I believe they thought (that) they had neutralized all the threats to their authority in the black community. (All the other black leaders and radio hosts were either minimized in the press or threatened with the loss of their revenues).

Michael (and "troublemaker":)) George Wilborn said, "Let's do this!". And, black America primarily, (But, the most beautiful thing is) as well as people of all other races and the young people, said "Let's Roll!" The civil rights warriors immediately stepped up with happiness and joy to say thank you to Micahael Baisden. Because they've been fighting the good fight alone in the wilderness for so many years. They're getting older (and they must be tired) but still they will continue to fight until there is no more breath left in their bodies. You could hear the happiness and joy in their voices when they spoke on Michael's show. At last, someone has come along to pick up the "blood stained banner" and reenergize the fighting spirit of the people. And we are so ready to go get our sons and bring them back home where they belong! LET'S ROLL!!!!

[robinso5]

I was so happy when i read this till it wasnt funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thanks for all the help that everyone gave but this isnt over we have to make sure this doesnt happen again!

[sweetheart112]

'Jena 6' conviction vacated
Louisiana beating case stirred cries of racism

With the prospect of a major national civil rights protest looming next week in the central Louisiana town of Jena, a state appeals court on Friday abruptly vacated the felony conviction of a black teenager accused of beating a white student in a case fraught with racial tensions.

Louisiana's 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, acting on an emergency defense appeal, reversed the aggravated second-degree battery conviction of Mychal Bell, 17, ruling that the youth had been tried improperly as an adult in a case that has raised allegations of unequal justice in the small, mostly white town.

Last week, the judge who presided over Bell's trial in June, LaSalle Parish District Judge J.P. Mauffray, vacated a conspiracy conviction against the youth for the same reason, but inexplicably let the more serious battery conviction stand. Now the local district attorney, Reed Walters, must decide whether to refile the entire case in juvenile court.

Walters initially charged Bell and five other black teens, who have come to be called the "Jena 6," with attempted murder after the white student was beaten and knocked unconscious at Jena High School last December. The white student suffered cuts and bruises but was treated and released from a local hospital.

Walters later reduced the charges to aggravated second-degree battery, contending at Bell's trial -- the first case to go to court -- that the tennis shoes Bell was wearing constituted a dangerous weapon.

Walters said in a statement Friday that he intended to appeal the reversal of Bell's conviction to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

As the Tribune first reported in May, the beating incident followed a series of white-on-black attacks in Jena in which the white assailants escaped serious charges. And it capped months of escalating racial tensions in the town set off after three white students hung nooses from a tree in the high school courtyard in what was perceived as a threat to blacks. School officials called the noose incident an "adolescent prank" and declined to expel the white students, outraging black students and their parents.

National civil rights leaders, including Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, had been planning to join black celebrities and thousands of Internet bloggers in a demonstration in Jena next Thursday, the day Bell had been scheduled to be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison on the battery conviction.

Nearly 200,000 people have signed petitions criticizing the prosecution of the black students and calling on Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco to intervene in the case. Bus caravans headed toward Jena have been organized at scores of churches across the country, and organizers had predicted that more than 20,000 protesters might show up in the town of 3,000.

But with the reversal of Bell's felony convictions, the extent of next Thursday's demonstration is now unclear.

"The crisis is not over yet," Jackson said Friday. "This ruling still leaves in suspension what's going to happen to the other five. But the Jena 6 and their supporters are now on the offensive. So long as these kids were in the dark without representation, they were all going up the river. When the lights came on and the public pressure flooded in, it began to change everything."

Alan Bean, director of Friends of Justice, a Texas-based civil rights group that was the first to notice the Jena case, said he expected the reversal of Bell's convictions will turn next Thursday's protest into a "celebration" of the power of public opinion to influence the Jena 6 case.

"People across the country, both black and white, conservative and liberal, were just appalled by what had happened in LaSalle Parish and the embarrassment factor weighed in very heavily for the appeals court," Bean said. "I don't think the state of Louisiana wants this travesty to go on any longer. I'd be very surprised if any of these other cases comes to trial."

Bell has remained in jail since December, unable to post a $90,000 bond. But his attorneys said they would go before Mauffray on Monday seeking to have Bell released. The judge declined previous defense requests to reduce Bell's bond, citing several juvenile assault convictions on the teen's record.

Bell's pro bono attorneys, brought into the case by civil rights leaders after his conviction, have argued that his trial, heard by an all-white jury, was filled with irregularities, including a court-appointed public defender who called no witnesses on his behalf and a prosecution witness who was one of the white youths who hung the nooses at the high school.

The NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Congressional Black Caucus have all denounced what they view as the harsh prosecutions of the Jena 6.

On Thursday, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama added his criticism of what he termed the "excessive charges" in the case.

"When nooses are being hung in high schools in the 21st Century, it's a tragedy," Obama said. "It shows that we still have a lot of work to do as a nation to heal our racial tensions."

Link to Article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/saturday/chi-jena_satsep15,0,5258271.story


Conviction in Racially Tinged Louisiana Case Is Overturned

A Louisiana appeals court on Friday overturned the conviction of an African-American high school student who was accused of the beating of a white classmate in case that has become a flashpoint for accusations of racial bias in the state’s judicial system.

The student, Mychal Bell, 17, was one of six black teenagers accused in the beating of a schoolmate in the northern Louisiana town of Jena last December. Mr. Bell was the first accused student to face trial, and his conviction on charges of conspiracy and aggravated battery drew accusations that prosecutors were biased.

His lawyers argued that Mr. Bell was not old enough to be tried as an adult and that the maximum penalty that he faced — 22 years in prison — was excessive. Facing increasing pressure from national civil rights groups, prosecutors in recent weeks have reduced the charges against some of the other defendants, who are yet to face trial.

On Sept. 4, Mr. Bell’s conviction on conspiracy charges was overturned by another judge.

A lawyer for Mr. Bell, Louis Scott, said in a telephone interview Friday night that his client felt a sense of relief at the decision but is still concerned by the prospect of another trial in Juvenile Court.

“I explained it to Mychal in football terms,” Mr. Scott said. “We started the game down by a touchdown and a field goal. On Sept. 4, we got the field goal. Today, we got the touchdown. Now, we get to start the game all over again.”

The teenagers, who have come to be known as the Jena Six, were originally charged with attempted murder in the beating of a classmate, Justin Barker, who was injured in a brawl that was sparked by racial taunts, including the dangling of hangman’s nooses from a tree.

Link to Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/15/us/15jena2.html


Bell's Attorneys Speak

Shortly after the Friday's ruling from the Louisiana Appellate Court, Mychal Bell's defense team spoke publicly in Monroe.

An Attorney Bob Noel and Louis Scott said, LaSalle Parish District Attorney, Reed Walters has several options. He can charged Mychal Bell as an adult for attempted murder again. Or charged him in juvenile court for whatever charge he chooses or not charge him at all. Another option is Reed can ask the Louisiana Supreme Court to review the Third Circuit's ruling.

Link to Article:
http://www.kalb.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=KALB/MGArticle/ALB_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352761245&path=!frontpage

Has anyone seen the news coverage that the Jena Six story is now starting to get on TV?? This weekend, the NBC nightly news with Lester Holt did a 30second bit on it. And today, Comcast is finally reporting something about it on their webpage. You know they are going to start reporting now, because God forbid a group of socially aware people of color are about meet about injustice. If they showed interest about the story in the beginning, young Mr Bell, would not have spent one night in jail.

[Reppin BKLYNbwoNJ]

I guess the train the squeaks the most does get the oil. I saw the broadcast of the Jena 6 on CNN and MSNBC this weekend. The mainstream media is definitely concerned about the noise we are making--keep on squeaking....

[riwdmej]

Thank God, We Did Something Right As A Family :) :)


Lets Keep It Up There's So Much Injustist In This Country

[Dawnelle]

I just wanted to say outstanding and the fight has only just begun and I will hopefully see you in Jena.... Will there be a bus leaving from Indiana. I am in Merrillville but would like to attend the march can someone let me know. Thank you.
Dawnelle

I also wanted to share the two poems below:


Watch Out!

Oh Sweet America the land of the free, the home of the Brave,

you rob and steal, molest and kill

you take from the poor and give to the rich.

You paint a picture of perfect serenity.

A place where all can come and be free.

You give so generously to those all around you while you destroy



those within your boarders with a lethal grasp.

You keep us right were you want us by saying;

"Here come the terrorists. They're coming for you!"

Then you assure us that if we behave

you will protect us from what is trying to invade.

You say that you care and we trust you

and fought for you.

But just like a thief in the night while the ignorant

have fallen fast asleep

you planted your weapons of masked destruction right in our mist.

You say when they have awakened

"It is only for your own good and protection"

that's why eagle eyes are watchin' your every move.

We take the bate

and we run around like mice in a maze

looking for the next fix, or the next high.

They entertain us with nonsense hoping we won't realize.

When will we open our eyes and look seeing

that the only way out is up.

Look up--Look their watchin' you,

analyzing you,

studying your every move

so what you gonna' do?

He will suppress u by your own agenda,

your words,

and your own thoughts.

He's watching you so what you gonna' do?

Look around he is under your feet crawling like a serpent in the gutter.

He waiting for you to make a mistake and realize what he is doin'

that's when he will lay down his attack.

They'll be no escape I can guarantee

watch out he's comin' for you

just wait you'll see.

When he arrives he'll say it's for your own good

and that it to protect us from the hidden perils.

Pullin' you in as he always does.

Give you the same old lies and hoping you will never rise.

Don't speak out

be silent caus' master will hear u

then he will have to make an example of you

cause you not followin' orders

you not fittin' in.

You're causin' a rebellion to spread.

And He callin you a terrorist.

He will make others think you're the great assassin

And that you have a plan

to hurt those who are free under their reign we see

---who u, who me?

Why you are so blind to what is taking place

the sign of the time has happen and you will soon be too late.

They gonna' brand you with their symbol

across your head and your hand.

You're gonna' be their little puppet in their great evil plan.

Watch Out! He's coming for you

to bring you back to your knees.

Hear the cry of your Elders

telling you, beggin' you, hear them as they plead.

Watch Out master comin'

with his whips and his chains.

I can hear the roar of thunder as his approach is made,

but you're like a deaf person, a mute and you can't see.

You won't look up and see what is happening.

Watch Out!

Look Up!

Rise Up!

Wake up your sleepin' eyes

take your stand

you may never get this opportunity again.

copyrighted 2005

A Silent Voice

There is no justice in a silent voice.
We will only hear the screams
of those bruised and dying
because we said nothing.
Speak out for what is right,
for those who can not,
or we are as guilt
as those who struck the first blow.
Don't be silent again.
Let your voice be heard.
There is power in one voice.
No Suga' Coatin'.
No Excuses,
No Reasoning.
No Apologizes.

Copyright ©2007

[HaitianVoice]

thank god,
however, let's not foget it's not only Mychal Bell who's on trial, By them overtuned the conviction, thet want to tell us that "Happy, we have five more to go are which could take months". These kids did nothing wrong, but stand up for injustice in the area that they live. That's something that's going on in many small town across the US, I hope we can still come together as people no matter what color, race, or nationality to fight injustice.

[whybnrmal1]

thank GOD!!! I will continue to keep ther Jena 6 in my prayers

[uneeksistah]

I wish 2morrow was the 20th, cause i'm ready to go!!!!

[withluvnrespect]

I Was Happy To See They Overturned Him Being Tried As An Adult. Right Now This Has Me Bothered Quite A Bit And I'm Going To Sit Down With My Son And Go Over Some Laws Here In California... To Let Him Know To Be Safe And Make Sound Decisions. Those Boys Didn't Know The Laws And They Really Didn't Know The Laws Against Being Black In America. As A Precaution I Want My Son To Understand His Rights. But Most Importantly To Be Careful And If At Any Time He Feels Threaten To Report It... I Know Some Males Have Egos And That Is The Last Thing On His Mind But I Just Feel I Should Tell Him To At Least Put It On His Mind. Race Is Still A Big Thing And That Is What I Want Him To Understand. I Wish I Could Make The Rally But I Will Be At Work In Black And We Are All In Support... And Have Spread The Word. We Will Be There In Spirit.

[drtruth]

I was born and raised in New Orleans and can honestly say Thank God that I never experienced racism while living there. I've been in Georgia a small military town her for about 8 years now and I know that racism is alive and healthy in this country. You'd think that after all we've been through as people in this country that color would not be an issue. We're divided in so many ways econimically, socially, spiritually, morally and still in 2007 racially. I come from a culturally diverse family so I guess I'm one to treat people the way they treat me. But sometimes I feel (Now) that enough is enough. I'm a mother now and I pray that we would all stand for these children as if they were our own. I've come to realize that these children in Jena are my children they are your children too. Because if we don't stand for them who will stand, who will stand for your children and mine if we are unable to? Michael asked for everyone to wear black on the 20th if we're unable to stand in Jena on that day. I say that we also need to pray and think about what we need to happen in Jena to show this country and others around the world that God has not forgotten nor forsaken us. We are a strong people and a proud people...we built this country, we fight for this country, we have a voice and we will be heard, we will make a stand! I didn't plan on saying this much but my heart is heavy on this. Not just because I'm black nor because I'm a mother and a wife of a black man but because I'm tired of my people being underestimated by the people who owe us what they expect from us. Respect! I along with my family will be in Jena on the 20th to show our support and to give our love. I hope you all will too.

Thank you Michael and may God continue to Bless you!

Dr. Truth

[yemf1966@yahoo.com]

This is just a ploy to stop the protest. It must go on. Just like in the Duke Rape Case. There should be a trail and disbarment of the DA. The Jena Six and their familes need to file a lawsuit. Before going to Jena; let's have a day of prayer. Tuesday should be "A Day of Prayer". Give this whole situation to God and let Him be the pilot of the protest. With the KKK marching; there should be no fear. You Shall Overcome. I will be working on that day but I will have my black on. Be BLESSED and Safe.

Yolanda in Baton Rouge via Yazoo City, Ms

[mwilliams]

the new song

"get up ,get into it ,get involved"-james brown featuring the late bobby byrd

the lyrics.."dont raise your hand doing nothing,say your doing something
"dont raise your hand and expect me to call you the man,don't
raise your hand and say there goes my man...

"everybody over there(get on up)everybody right there
(get into it)everybody over here(get involved,get involved)

[reebaby]

Serious…Business

I am happy for Mycal and his family, that his conviction has been vacated, but it is not over. Of course, Mychal cannot be tried twice on the same charges-double jeopardy estops the district attorney. However, the D.A. may consider filing a lesser charge in juvenile court. In reality, the D.A. should recuse himself from all of these cases and bring in a special prosecutor. Otherwise, he should reduce all of the charges to misdemeanors to preserve the students’ career potentials. There’s a lot of corrective work for the judicial system.

I was so elated to hear that Obama spoke out on this mockery of justice in Jena. The new president of the United States has a duty to tackle the tough domestic issues which impact the daily lives of adults and children. Mr. Obama - we are ready for a change, the historical event and the make-over of the White House in Washington, D.C.

I am more impressed that the Black Men In Media (BMIM), Michael Baisden, Steve Harvey, Rickey Smiley, Tom Joyner, Ms. Cheryl Smith and scores of others for using their voices and mediums to bring awareness and action to the masses of the people.

The Jena 6 cases are only examples of what goes on within the schools, communities and cities on a daily basis. Many of the cruel and inhumane acts become commonplace until it strikes home. This case reinforces the need to have judges which adheres to the rule of law, fair in the administration of justice and who will make the tough decision when an injustice occurs in his or her courtroom, despite the ethnicity of the judge. Further, it raises the need to have diversity among judges at every level of the judicial system and within every city in the United States. This is a case which demonstrates the urgent need for Blacks to serve on grand juries and trial juries whenever summoned to do so. It is time to stop providing frivolous reasons to avoid your civic duty.

This is a case where the pressure must be constant on the each elected officials, included but not limited to, members of the senate, congress, legislature; school board members, superintendents, and others to serve the public aggressively and zealously. It is time for spiritual leaders, ministers, bishops, priests to preach about injustices from the pulpits without fear of repercussion from the establishment, or the fear of losing fait-based government funds. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did so.

This is a case where we must make the schools, teachers, and administrators accountable for their actions and their duty to protect students and implement fair policies, despite the ethnicity of the student. This case demonstrates the importance of parental involvement in a child’s education, teaching them morals, to obey the law and to respect others’ person and property.

This is a case where Black lawyers are speaking out- not just for publicity but in a sincere way to uphold the rule of law and dispelled the actions of the Jena 6 District Attorney. The lawyers know that the district attorney could have elected to charge the Black and White students with misdemeanor charges for the school yard brawl; instead the more serious felony charges were filed to ruin their careers and lives. Here, the District Attorney can be disciplined for prosecutorial misconduct. He was on a mission to do what he allegedly told the young men that he would” …ruin their lives”. It is my belief that threat has racial overtones and disqualified him from prosecuting these cases.

This is a case where reading and analytical skills are fundamental, particularly among Blacks. This is a case where the police, sheriff and state trooper departments should not abuse their authority to further violate constitutional and human rights.

This is a case to increase voter registration. This is a case primer for boycotting and BUYING BLACK. Restrain from spending money in Jena on September 20, 2007.

This is a case where adults must stress the importance of reading, defending your rights, accepting responsibility and finding solutions which are fair and non-discriminatory.

This is a case, where the justice system is broken. A case where the district attorney is over zealous and angry – on a mission to destroy the lives and dreams of 6 Black young men because he knew that they are the future district attorney, judge, lawyer, doctor , juror, superintendent or school board member, etc. and he needed them to become non-competitive.

It is another reason why we should be vigilant in making sure that the school board members, principals, administrators, teachers and the superintendent of the schools must` act to protect the rights of the entire students body and implement fair policies that keep students INSIDE THE CLASSROOM, instead of making them numbers or commodities to enrich the status quo, and filled the inmate beds of the private and state institutions.

In closing, if Barker had been punished, he would not have been the bully on campus the Jena 6 would not have emerged. This case is a travesty of justice. It is a case of disparate treatment. In a nutshell, the White kids should have been severely punished and charge felony offenses for beating the Black student off campus. If this had been done, Barker would not have been on the school ground to spark the lynching of 6 Jena.

Peace,
reebaby

[Mahogany Love]

I was looking for something else yesterday and “accidentally” came across this article. Know when you read the article you as well as I know I didn’t not come across this article by accident. Our Lord & Savior made sure I read this article to make everyone aware of what is going on. The world really and truly is going backwards and I always thought they said that because of the fads that always repeat themselves. Take a look for yourself:

Greg Siskind's Blog

August 21, 2007
IMMIGRATION RIGHTS GROUPS CLAIM POLICE CAPTAIN KIDNAPPED GUEST WORKERS
Just got this press release over the transom. These are pretty serious allegations. I'm not a believer in trying people via the Internet, but the charges certainly should be investigated to see if there is anything to them. I also know that MIRA and ACLU are groups that are serious and credible and not likely to trump up baseless allegations and I would imagine you'll be hearing more about this story.

MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release Contact: Saket Soni 504/881-6610
August 21, 2007


PASCAGOULA POLICE CAPTAIN KIDNAPPED GUEST WORKERS

Mexican H2B visa workers charged kidnapping with intent to enslave, false imprisonment, and gross civil rights violation; demand justice from US attorney general Alberto Gonzalez

WHAT: Press conference featuring Mexican guest workers, civil rights advocates on steps of the US attorney’s office. Guess workers and advocates will expose Captain George Tillman of the Pascagoula Police Department. They will demand that US attorney General Alberto Gonzales launch a full investigation into charges of kidnapping with intent to enslave, false imprisonment, and gross civil rights violation. The workers arrived in the United States on H2B visas.

Tillman arrived in uniform and a patrol car at the door steps of the workers in Pascagoula, Mississippi, accompanied by a US recruiter on the night of August 2nd, 2007 Tillman claimed that recruiters owned the workers. He then kidnapped the workers, moved them to another location and threatened them with deportation if they attempted to leave.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 22

WHERE: New Orleans, Louisiana
Steps of the Federal Courthouse
500 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA
10:00 AM

Jackson, Mississippi
Steps of the Capitol
400 High Street
Jackson, MS
3:00 PM

WHO: Workers kidnapped by Captain George Tillman, Pascagoula Police Department
Alliance of Guest Workers for Dignity
New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice
Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance
ACLU Mississippi
Louisiana Justice Institute

VISUAL: Guest workers and advocates will hold wanted posters prominently featuring Captain George Tillman. At the close of the press conference advocates and workers will leave for Pascagoula, Mississippi in a pickup truck in an effort to negotiate a resolution with Captain Tillman
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Comments
This would be th counterpoint to Talk radio, the better bits of which do know what "svengali" is. Limbaugh and paul harvey both occaionally refer to themselves as such.
Posted by: Honza P | August 27, 2007 at 11:35 AM
Yeah. It seems that in some parts of the US, foreign workers get the same treatment as those in Libya.
Posted by: big tuna | August 21, 2007 at 02:52 PM

Always: Love, Peace & Harmony all over the world

[Mahogany Love]

To all the Kanya West’s & 50 Cents of the world that seem to think record sales are the most important things going on in today’s world SHAME ON YOU! I continue to stress that our ancestors did not work as hard as they did for this. It seems to me that these people are working against us and for the INTELLEGENT GOVERNMENT by continuing to disgrace our once good name, the good name of minorities working together to get something better (there were even thousands of white people that died to provide something better for us minorities). But instead they continue to feed our children what is forbidden by our HEAVENLY FATHER, to BOAST is something that is deserving of eternal death according to the GOOD BOOK that has been watered down throughout the years.

Furthermore if you read the last bulletin I put up it is apparent to me the main reason our GOOD NAME continues to be tarnished by a select few; Michael Vick was in the news more times than the weather, O.J. Simpson has graced our headlines yet again and I’ve seen him more times than the weather. Why are minorities in the negative news lime-light all the time? I’ll tell you because they want the public to get a look at the “animals” (minorities) to have a good excuse to put us back in slavery, just as they are doing.

The corrupt minded person looking at the television at our women dancing across the stage half naked would say they deserve to be slaves. Or watching the news and see O.J. in the headlines again would say he deserves to be a slave. Or the Mexican that was in a car accident that killed three people would say they deserve to be slaves. But they keep their dirt HUSH, HUSH why because they don’t want the corrupt minded person to WAKE UP and say this happens in ALL RACES and the BIBLE says to forgive how many times? The Bible says we all are created equal. GET IT TOGETHER PEOPLE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

What do you think would happen if the Mexicans that work for pennies doing jobs we refuse to do refuse to do them any longer?

Always: Love, Peace & Harmony all over the world