Justice for the Jena 6
I am certain you are as deeply troubled as I am by the disturbing events regarding the Jena 6, the case involving 6 young black men charged with aggravated battery, conspiracy, and attempted murder amid a climate of racial injustice this southern town not seen since the 50s and 60s. It has been shockingly revealed that racially motivated incidents by white residents are the norm in Jena, LA. This includes segregated practices where black people have to stay and move about within designated areas of town!, The problems in Jena finally came to light with the hanging of nooses from the "white tree" located on school property to send black students a message.
One of the students charged with aggravated battery said in an interview that he doesn't know what it is like to intermingle, going to the same supermarket, shopping areas, and participating in cultural events with white people. He and almost every black person in Jena are forced to live segregated and suppressed in this day and age in America. This is appalling!
It is time to take a stand against this injustice. The prison time these young men are facing is very real. 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. Yet, the DA may still decide to try him in Juvenile court and he still remains in prison, where he has been since December 2006. The charges against the other 5 young men still stand.
We cannot let this injustice go forward and the lives of these young people ruined because of illegal, racist practices in Jena, LA.
Many thanks to Sorors Joyce Johnson, Social Action co-chair and Barbara Crawford for sharing the following information we could also utilize to voice our protest:
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO!
A.
MARCH ON JENA, LOUISIANA, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
B.
MAKE A PHONE CALL and/or Write
C.
Write Letters (NAACP sample letter in
link below) to LA Governor and Attorney General
Below please find contact information for the Louisiana Governor and the Louisiana State Attorney General
The
Honorable Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
Governor of the Great State of Louisiana
Office of the Governor
Attn: Constituent Services
P.O. Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-90004
Phone: (225)
342-0991
Fax: (225) 342-7099
contact@la.gov
Charles C.
Foti, Jr., Attorney General
1885 North 3rd Street
P.O. Box 94005
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Phone: (225)
326-6705
Fax: (225) 342-8703
Executive@ag.state.la.us
D. Write and send Contributions:
Jena 6
Defense Committee
P.O. Box 2798
Jena, LA 71342
Jena6defense@gmail.com
E. Sign the Online Petition to the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Dept.
Respectfully,
Rosia Blackwell Lawrence
President, North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.