Ineffective Assistance of Counsel: What Blane Williams should have known
On Thursday, June 28, 2007, At the LaSalle Parish Courthouse in Jena, Louisiana, Mychal Bell was convicted of aggravated second degree assault and conspiracy to commit secondary degree aggravated assault. Mykal was convicted because jurors believed he had knocked a white student named Justin Barker unconscious with a single devastating blow to the head.
Mychal Bell was accused of participating in a conspiracy because his alleged victim was stomped by several other students as he lay on the ground. It was explained that the young black males who stomped Justin Barker were co-conspirators with Bell even if they had never agreed to a coordinated attack. According to law, because Bell’s single blow made the stomping possible, an informal conspiracy, or “combination” could be implied.
The alleged assault was “aggravated” because a dangerous weapon was used-namely tennis shoes. According to this reasoning, every fight
participant is guilty of aggravated assault unless he shows up naked. The law is designed to make it as easy as possible to put defendants away for as long as possible.
The Mychal Bell trial has attracted interest from around the globe-accounts have been published in South Africa, Russia, China, Australia and every flagship newspaper in America-with the curious exception of the New York Times. Correspondents invariably note that Jena has been the subject of public scrutiny since the morning in late August, 2006 when three nooses were found hanging from a tree in the high school square. The fact that Mychal Bell was tried by an all-white jury has fanned accusations of racism.
A gifted athlete and solid student with a promising future, Mychal Bell may be forty before he returns to the free world. Judge J.P. Mauffray will hand down his sentence on July 31st. Much has been said about the severity of the charges filed against the Jena 6, Mychal Bell and the co-conspirators. District Attorney Reed Walters originally accused the Jena 6 of attempted murder-charges sentences up to 100 years without parole. A worldwide outcry forced the prosecutor to back off a bit. Judge Mauffray’s sentence will
tell us how he views the proportionality issue.
But more basic questions abound. Is Mychal Bell guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Did he receive a fair trial? And did Blane Williams, Mr. Bell’s court appointed attorney, give the trial a moment’s thought before entering the courtroom?
I have grown accustomed to all-white juries convicting poor black defendants, but this trial was something new. When “ineffective assistance of counsel” is covered in law school classrooms, this case may become the standard illustration. Throughout the three-day trial you could hear jaws hitting the floor as Blane Williams stumbled through his ill-conceived defense of his client. Hardened journalists were left scratching their heads. This was supposed to be an important trial. Why then, was Mychal Bell’s attorney so ill-prepared?
It’s pretty simple, actually. Court appointed attorneys aren’t paid well enough in most jurisdictions to seriously research the cases they handle. Take a client to trial and you are almost sure to lose money. Some attorneys are willing to take the occasional financial hit in the interest of justice; others are not. Blane Williams wanted Mychal Bell to take a plea offer. Mychal refused. Williams had no choice but to take the case to trial-but he was determined to put no more work into this case than the law allowed. And the law, my friends, allows defense attorneys to do very little if they are so inclined. You get the kind of justice you can afford to pay for.
Reflections in the wake of the Mychal Bell trial
Partisan witnesses
* The ten student witnesses who testified at Mychal Bell’s trial were all white. In fact, most of them were part of a distinct minority within
the high school’s white student population who attended all-white schools in the country surrounding Jena until High School. (More on this below)
* Justin Cooper was the only witness at trial to testify that Mychal Bell kicked Justin Barker as the victim lay unconscious on the ground.
Since Justin Cooper was one of the boys who admitted to hanging the nooses at Jena High School at the beginning of the school year, he can hardly be seen as an objective or credible witness. Defense Attorney Blane Williams was apparently unaware of Cooper’s connection to the noose incident.
* Jessica Hooter was one of four trial witnesses who identified Mychal as the person who threw the first punch at Justin Barker. Two days after the assault occurred, Jessica was unable to identify the initial attacker. But as she explained at trial, “After I thought about it more, I remembered more.” In his closing remarks, Blane Williams never mentioned that she had embellished her earlier testimony. Perhaps he forgot.
* The single male juror graduated from High School with Justin Barker’s father. The tendency to sympathize with an old school buddy whosekid got punched and kicked in a one-sided assault is understandable. It also makes objectivity impossible.
* Midway through the trial, assault victim Justin Barker and his family were seen by ten witnesses (myself included) sharing a convivial meal with several of the students who had testified against Mychal Bell. This suggests that a number of “memory-enhancing” conversations about the incident have taken place between early December and late June. Jessica Hooter likely “remembered” that the unidentified attacker was Mykal Bell because this quickly became the orthodox story in the social circle she move in.
Ms. Martin’s list
* At trial, special education teacher Kristy Martin listed off the names of the boys who surrounded Justin Barker as if they were clear in her memory. Although she was forced to admit that she never saw a single student touch Justin Barker, Martin’s ability to name names seemed very convincing. Martin is the only witness thus far who has provided a list of attackers longer than three names.
* In a written statement, given immediately after the incident, Coach Wayne Spence states that he was taking names of rowdy students in the gym during the lunch hour. “I had a list that Ms. Martin obtained from me,” he wrote. This suggests that Kristy Martin specifically asked Spence for the list of names the day of the fight. This explains why she is the only witness to remember more than two or three members of the Jena 6. Most eye witnesses can’t identify a single assailant by name. Most of the students who gave eyewitness statements after the December 4 altercation at the school make references to “a bunch of black kids”.
The witness no one called
* Coach Benjy Lewis gave two statements immediately after the school incident in which he clearly states that Justin Barker was facing him when Malcolm Shaw (not Mychal Bell) struck Barker from behind. “I saw Malcolm Shaw hit Justin Barker with his right fist to the right side of Justin’s head, right around the temple,” Lewis wrote. “Justin went down face first, knocked out . . .” Most witnesses agree that a single punch knocked Barker out cold. The only adult who witnessed the punch says Mychal Bell didn’t throw it.
* In a signed statement given immediately after the altercation at the school, student Jesse Beard stated that moments after the assault Coach Manning asked him where Malcolm Shaw was.
* It isn’t hard to see why the prosecution didn’t call Lewis to the stand (his testimony would have devastated the state’s case); but how do we explain why defense attorney Blane Williams didn’t call the coach to testify?
* Several people (myself included) noticed Mychal Bell repeatedly handing his attorney pieces of eyewitness testimony during the trial. This suggests that Williams entered the courtroom utterly unprepared for trial.
The green jacket theory
* Two female students testified that the person who knocked Justin Barker cold was wearing a green jacket. Mychal Bell’s statement, given immediately after the incident, suggests that he was initially cleared of responsibility because he was wearing a black jacket. At trial, the “green jacket” witnesses were convinced that Mychal Bell was not the attacker-they knew Mychal and the guy in the green jacket was someone else.
* The “green jacket” identification means that we have at least three mutually contradictory eyewitness accounts of who struck Justin Barker: Mychal Bell, Malcolm Shaw, or an unidentified student in a green jacket.
* Both “green jacket” witnesses insist that Justin Barker was knocked cold, not by a punch to the temple, but by having his head slammed into a concrete bench. Coach Benjy Lewis says that Justin Barker was knocked cold from a punch from behind. Witnesses who name Mychal Bell as the attacker describe a face-to-face confrontation followed by a blow to the head that knocked Justin Barker out. Defense attorney Blane Williams never reflected on the evidence long enough to identify these obvious contradictions.
If Lewis is right; Bell is innocent
* The fact that Justin Barker cannot remember who hit him argues in favor of Coach Lewis’s blow-from-behind account. It must also be remembered that Lewis was the only adult who directly witnessed the assault. He was also the only non-partisan eye witness. If Lewis is telling the truth, the witnesses who identify Mychal Bell as the initial attacker are either confused or, like Jessica Hooter, they are victims of a false sense of concreteness produced by the continual retelling the story in the company of partisan friends.
* Most of the prisoners recently exonerated on the basis of unassailable DNA evidence were wrongfully convicted by confident
eyewitnesses. Memory doesn’t work like a photograph; recollections change dramatically with time. We often see what we want to see.
* All this contradictory evidence makes it impossible to identifyJustin Barker’s assailant with any confidence.
* All those identifying Mychal Bell were highly partisan observers clearly identified with one side of a longstanding and unresolved feud
between the “country” white students who hung the nooses in a tree at the high school and the black male athletes who were particularly outraged by this hate crime (see more on this below).
* On balance, the most persuasive testimony by far comes from Coach Lewis-and neither the prosecution nor the defense called Lewis to testify at Mychal Bell’s trial.
A chaotic scene
* In signed statements, several black and white eyewitnesses referred to students running to and from the scene of the assault. Justin Barker was clearly struck on the face and then intentionally kicked while he lay on the ground. However, it is impossible to determine which of Justin Barker’s bruises and abrasions were the result of intentional assault and which may have been the unintentional result of a panic-induced stampede. All witnesses agree that the scene was utterly chaotic with students moving wildly in every direction. Defense attorney Blane Williams never raised this obvious question.
* Several of the Jena 6 defendants freely admit that they were close to the altercation. This isn’t surprising when we realize that the shout of “fight” at a high school always brings students running to the scene.
“With a stroke of my pen”
* In early September, the three white students responsible for hanging nooses in a tree in the school courtyard were punished with a few days of in-school suspension. The noose incident was dismissed as a childish prank. The following day, black students staged a spontaneous protest rally under the tree where the nooses had been discovered. Several black male athletes took the lead in this protest-the same students who were eventually accused of attacking Justin Barker.
* The decision to treat the noose incident as a childish prank sparked a brief firestorm of media attention in which Jena school officials were frequently accused of racism.
* In early September, District Attorney Reed Walters addressed an emergency school assembly called in response to the spontaneous student protest. With a dozen fully uniformed police officers in the auditorium, Walters warned protest organizers that with a stroke of his pen he could take their lives away. Walters has admitted under oath that he made this remark. His words were not aimed at the entire student body, nor at black students in general-he was speaking to the student athletes we now call the Jena 6. After the demonstration under the tree, Robert Bailey, Carwin Jones, Mychal Bell, Theodore Shaw, Jesse Beard and Bryant Ray Purvis became
notorious.
A descending spiral of violence
* Evidence suggests that some teachers and school administrators were empowered by Mr. Walters’ “stroke of my pen” remark. Defendants report that in the wake of the school assembly, several teachers became increasingly strict and adversarial in relation to the boys responsible for associating Jena High School with Jim Crow racism. It appears that some students responded to this change in attitude by withholding respect and acting out in ways that encouraged an even more authoritarian teacher response. Discipline referrals for the Jena 6 skyrocketed during the fall semester.
* In the period between Mr. Walter’s “stroke of my pen” threat in September and the assault on Justin Barker in early December, a series of physical altercations played out between the Jena 6 and the circle of boys who supported the hanging of the nooses. The white students had attended all-white schools in the countryside prior to coming to the integrated high school campus. They felt reassured by the segregated school courtyard and were intimidated by the suggestion that black students could sit wherever they wanted. Hence the nooses.
* The laughably light discipline handed down for this “childish prank” was perceived, correctly, as a triumph for students wishing to preserve a segregated school square.
A fire, a fight, and a firearm
* In signed statements, several white and black students mentioned a series of verbal altercations during the lunch hour preceding the attack on Justin Barker. The trash-talking was directly related to a fight at the Fair Barn three days earlier. On that occasion, Robert Bailey and a few of his friends were invited to an all-white student party by some of their white friends. When Robert entered the building he was punched in the face by a 22 year-old white male. In seconds, Robert was assaulted with beer bottles, punches and kicks in a virtual mirror image of the altercation at the high school three days later. The only differences were that the identify of the instigator in the Fair Barn incident was undisputed and that Robert remained conscious after the initial blow and was thus able to minimize the impact of the attack.
* The following morning, Robert Bailey and two of the friends who had come to his aid during the Fair Barn assault were leaving a local
convenience store when they encountered one of the country white males who had jumped Robert the night before. Fearing retaliation, the boy retreated to his truck and pulled out a pump-action, pistol-grip shotgun that looks like something the Terminator might have fancied. When Robert and his friends wrestled the weapon away from their would-be assailant they were charged with assault and theft. Once again, Jena’s New Jim Crow regime was reinforced.
* It is not unusual for residents of rural LaSalle Parish to drive around with firearms in their trucks. On May 10, 2007, Justin Barker was
arrested for bringing a rifle to school in his vehicle. A thorough search probably would have turned up several more illegal firearms in the school parking lot.
* The violent assault at the Fair Barn, the convenience store incident, and the assault at the school followed in the wake of a traumatic
school fire in late Novermber. Everyone associated with the school was in a state of shock akin to post traumatic stress syndrome. Concerned by the wave of violence, several teachers asked administrators not to reopen the school the Monday morning of the assault.
Running his mouth
* Student statements suggest that the student who attacked Justin Barker was responding to taunts that Robert Bailey “had his butt kicked” at the Fair Barn. In the course of this verbal jousting, several students report that Justin Barker “got up in Mychal’s face” and gave Mychal the finger. Tony Knapp, one of three boys who admitted to hanging nooses earlier in the school year, was also involved in this lunch hour altercation. At trial, District Attorney Reed Walters created the misleading impression that Barker was attacked by black thugs looking for a random white victim. He knew better.
* Several eyewitnesses recall that the initial punch was preceded by the shouted words, “This will teach you to run your mother f***ing mouth.” This statement, repeated by too many witnesses to be seriously doubted, makes no sense apart from the trash talking described in student statements.
The sins of the fathers
* This background information demonstrates that the black male students who attacked Justin Barker were bound to a steadily escalating chain of violence and counter-violence.
* This spiral of action and reaction was initiated by the September decision of school administrators to treat the noose incident as a childish prank. When Reed Walters threatened the Jena 6 with life imprisonment if they didn’t relinquish their constitutional right to denounce injustice, the boys were left with no legitimate avenue of protest. In the end, immature white and black males were left to their own devices. The consequences were as predictable as they were tragic.
* The ultimate responsibility for the violence at Jena High School lies at the feet of public officials who refused to acknowledge a hate crime
for what it was. The sins of the fathers are now being visited upon the children.
***
Please consider supporting the work of Friends of Justice, and keep us organizing across Texas and Louisiana! You can donate securely on Paypal by following this link. Thanks to all those who have already given!
Sign up for Action Updates by clicking the link to the right of this post, and entering your email. You’ll get an email when we post to the blog and when we have opportunities to take action!
mdm said,
July 2, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Comprehensive! Thanks for this. I’ve read some of the documents your referring to as well. I’ll send a link over to this page straightaway.
All About Race » Blog Archive » School Desegregation: It's in our Hands Now said,
July 2, 2007 at 7:32 pm
[...] Read More - NAACP Legal Defense Fund site: Supreme Court - School Integration Read More - Inside Higher Education - The comment thread is particularly informative and entertaining Read More - Another opinion: Integration Defeats Quotas - Reason Online FREE THE JENA SIX: UPDATES More About Mychal Bell’s Disaster of a Trial, including how the mom of one accusing witness wa… [...]
chad said,
July 3, 2007 at 3:27 pm
It is unfortunate, that in the year of 2007 and 2008 steadily approaching - in our own country, and in my state, such turmoil has arose from insecure individuals that have played a vital role in this Gobal Case.
6 Individuals, Americans.. High School Students, stand trial for what they feared would have been the rest of their life if they refused to take a stand.. Not agreeing to the physical altercation, but the mental pressure that one can assume after dealing with such hatred can only provoke an interest of self defense, self-acknowledgement and determination. I think that for every step, those 6 Individuals took towards their undisclosed trial date, they were unaware and uneducated of their potential outcome… I’m more than sure, it could have been just anyone of us.. who have lived in rural Louisiana.
“Hail our Great State for the Laissez-faire attitude, but yield to the unconditional values and traditions of rural life.” This should be the new state motto - if we all agree to the terms and conditions of the sentencing over these 6 Individuals. Not to state that they should not be upheld to the law, but to the full extent is without question… In addition, how cowardly sustained are the school administrators for allowing such disdain and hatred to channel their hallways and learning facility…. with the least amount of effort, ISS - In School Suspension, was the most that they could do without upsetting some of the towns most prideful individuals.. It is a mockery to the statement, “America, the land of opportunity, ” and “the great melting pot.”
In conclusion, this is not the first time such incidents have arisen in rural Louisiana… Surely it will not be the last, should the families, friends, neighbors, schools, state officials and the government address such issues in a timely manner that are concurrent with the ideals and principles of education that we have in the years to come.
The Pride of Louisiana
C. Bailey
Borderland » Blog Archive » What’s going on said,
July 7, 2007 at 9:04 pm
[...] Friends of Justice challenges the defense attorney’s effectiveness. [...]
Alas, a blog » Blog Archive » Links About The Jena Six said,
July 9, 2007 at 7:59 am
[...] post at The Friends of Justice blog has the most detailed account of the case, and of Bell’s trial, I’ve yet [...]
teddi richman said,
July 11, 2007 at 8:59 pm
How can this still be happening//// ?????
WE MUST DO SOMETHING. Where IS the ACLU?????
As MLK said “There comes a time when silence is betrayal” surely this is one of them.
Does the naacp have defense teams? How do we organise to get the word out and get these kids a real defense . This just can’t be happening in 2007 CAN IT ?
Eric W. said,
July 14, 2007 at 12:23 am
This article is good work. I’m white and I’m highly offended, and frankly embarrased by what white people have done in Jena. It’s disgusting and the resulting treatment of the boys involved makes the whole thing even worse.
What causes me even more frustration is that in your portrayal of the story, the black boys all have names. The only white boy, Justin Barker, who was knocked unconscious, has his name published in the account you tell. The black boys shouldn’t be the only ones ’shamed’ with their names in your article. The real shame should fall on the white boys. Please reprint your article so that anyone can see who are these terrible young men!
This case puts black-white relations back 50 years. And the fact that the whites don’t know that they are racist, and government and local leadership supports the white boys is disgusting!
Shame on the Jena, LA legal system. SHAME!
Update: The Jena Six Need Your Voice! at Trying to follow said,
July 15, 2007 at 6:30 pm
[...] June 28th. A comprehensive look at the case, the trial and the verdict was published on July 2nd at friendsofjustice. Plus, Democracy Now did a full [...]
Malinda Miles said,
July 16, 2007 at 1:31 am
Comments are good. These young people need our FINANCIAL SUPPORT. So, in addition to your comments, PLEASE make a monetary contribution to the Firends of Justice in the name of the JENA Six, and Mychal Bell’s family.
They NEED money to fight this in the courts — all the way to the Supreme Court!
Malinda Miles, Mayor
Mount Rainier Maryland
Jena 6: a brief timeline « The Education of a Bookshop Clerk said,
July 18, 2007 at 9:09 pm
[...] Friends of Justice: analysis of Mychal Bell’s trial and ineffective counsel. This is by far the most comprehensive legal analysis of Bell’s case so far. It provides context of how Jena’s racial tensions have played out in the courts. From reading this document, there is much to gain to support the work and understanding for the other upcoming trials. [...]
Amanda Johnson said,
July 24, 2007 at 2:43 am
We are in the year 2007!! We really need to get over racism!
Claire Theobalds said,
July 29, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Mr. Richman asked whether the NAACP is on the case and whether there are defense teams. The answer is YES, the NAACP is involved and monitoring the case. Information with regards to “Support For the Jena 6″ has been posted on the NAACP website. Members across America and all concerned about this unjust system have been requested to sign Petitions, Donate to the Jean 6 Defense Fund, Call the Governor and Attorney General and Sample Letters To Ensure That Justice is Observed In The Trials of the Jena 6 have been posted on their website asking all concerned to write to Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr. and Hon. Kathleen Babineaux Bianco. To view the information please go the the NAACPs website at naacp.org and sign the Petition.
Racism Alive and Well in the U.S. - Science-Fiction & Fantasy forums said,
July 30, 2007 at 11:25 pm
[...] Alive and Well in the U.S. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel: What Blane Williams should have known Friends of Justice For those of you who reasonably don’t trust a single source there’s more. Social Justice Heavy [...]
Glen Smith said,
August 4, 2007 at 6:19 am
This should never have gone to trrial. Blacks get set up and knocked down. If the story is true then Reed Walters is a racist.
Jeffre Powell said,
August 8, 2007 at 1:49 pm
This is horrible but typical. It is typically, horrible. I have faced similar injustice on many occoassions here in the state of Maryland. The occurances are possible now an will continue to occur until all peoples of this nation figure out that much of what you learn in civics class about the american justice systems is so much nonsince. It is simply not true. Inocent until proven guily is and an honoarable goal. But it is hardly a reality. When is the last time you read a news paper to learn that some one had been arrested and thought that they may not be guilty.
The fact is that less than 10% of Americans ever come face to face with the criminal justice system and thus we have no idea how it really works. What we think we know we learn from television.
To ofen we conclued that because we have lived so many years with out ever having to deal with the criminal justice system that the “the system wont bother you unless you deserve to be bothered”. However, that could not be futher from the truth.
Perhaps what has happend with this young man may wake some of you up from the matrix in which you sleep. I emplore all of you to, at minimum, to head the words of the District Attorney who apparently these young fold doubted.
YOu/ we all need to understand that while he me be a racist he also told the truth when he said that he could and would reck those young folk lives with a stroke of a pen. Infact, he sees it as his mandate to do so.
You need to wake up and realize that Prosecutors are attack dogs. There mandate is to get convictions. It matters not to them if the accussed commited a crime or not. They get paid and promoted based on victories. For them victory is the same as justice.
Vilifying defense attornyes as illmoral devels is common place. Many of us have concluded that we would not and could not defend a guilty sole. But, few have considered the prosicutor who would ruin a young man or womans life with out regard to there actual culbability. Because is is merely their job to when. From their perspective it is the defense attorneys job to show that the proscutors accusations are falacious.
Examin for a moment the typical defense attorney. He/she gets paid in advance and reaps no marginal benift if the accused is aquitted and no penalty if the accused is convicted. Would you expect your mechanic to fix your car if he was paid in advance and would have absolutley no negative reprocutions if he did not fix your car.
Consider the judges perspcetive for a moment. Law books are much like the bible in that, it says what the reader says it says. The judge may interpet the law to the benifit of the defendant or to his deterament. Here is a fact for you that you may have never considered. Judge are picked because of their biasis. This not the NBA! Judges are not picked because some one has concluded that they are even handed. Therefor you need to make sure that you get involved and pick leaders who will pick judges who see the world the way you do.
I emplore you to check out what I have written. The typical Judge is a former prosecutor who is politically connected and or obliged. Moreover, they are typically very poor lawyes. They are paid substantially less than “good lawyers” and about the same as poor lawyers.
You all need to understand that convicts to do not typically get off on appeal infact it is very rare. It is rare because higher courts have to give lower courts the benifit of the doubt. So as long as the lower judge was not blatent with injustice his ruling will likely stand. Next and very important, the defense attorney has to object (tell the judge that there is some he is suppose to act upon). If the attorney fails to object the convict has likley lost his ability to have the higher court revisit the issue. You can not resonably expect the judge to wake your lawyer up.
There is much more for you all to know. Learn more. Pay attention.
Let me know what I can do to help this young man. It sounds as if the Govenor needs to get involved.
Be careful.
puzzled said,
August 8, 2007 at 2:57 pm
A Supreme Court Justice ruled in favor of a KKK member; which overturned a 50 year old ban on cross burning in Virginia. Justice O’Connor felt that even though a cross burning might make the majority of people angry or scared, the Virginia law was unconstitutional because it violated Klansmen’s right to freedom of speech. The Klan’s burning of crosses might simply be showing solidity with the Klan’s ideology. Only if it could be proved that the cross burning was done to intimidate.
The Klan’s ideology is hate. Until we clean up the government starting with the highest office right on down, kids like Justin will produce more kids like Justin because the message is clear. We, the people, send “our troops” across the sea to fight the “War on Terror”, but daggnabbit, we allow terrorists to do their thing, right here at home.
This was a good report on the incidents and tho’ I may be poorer than those kids family, I am going to donate to their cause.
Jay said,
August 13, 2007 at 5:11 pm
I obviously don’t know ALL the specifics of this case-but I do know that there is definitely NOT a proper defense being waged for these students. It’s the responsibility of ALL black Americans to protect our children from such wanton misuse and aggregious punishments. I was a little skepitcal about the facts of this case-and I thought to myself, If the boys did severely beat this other child, provoked or not-they should be jailed. But, the fact that most of the “witnesses” weren’t present and changed their testimonies at trial makes me think that the true assailants in this case can’t be, or weren’t, properly identified. I will definitely do as much as I can to help this family and make sure that injustice doesn’t run rampant in Jena, LA.
soundsof BLACKness said,
August 20, 2007 at 5:38 pm
this is just as disturbing to me now as it was when i first heard of the story last year. and since then, i’ve remained suspect of the nature and supposed “facts” of this case because of the incredibly incompetent and corrupt legal system in place in that small town. the injustice there is so conspicuous. the south is and will always be notorious for this type of overt and blatant racism, marking innocent victims like the Jena 6 and tainting their already shattered image of this land that we call “free” with “liberty and justice for all.” there are many petitions and iniatives in place with several grass roots to local chapters of world renown black orgs up north in order to appeal this case and prosecute the “real” perpetrators: the guilty white students. black folks in jena: stand up! speak out! people across the globe: get up and do something, link with organizers who are following this case, get this story on your local media outlets. it would be a shame to let this atrocity become yet another one to add to the overflow of “sad days in black america.”
ANGRY BLACK MOTHER said,
August 21, 2007 at 2:20 am
It’s such a shame that this is still happening in 2007, for those black students to have to ask to sit up under a tree, that’s part of nature is repulsive. Another thing that bothers me, when OJ was “found not Guilty” White America couldn’t take it, they thought OJ being found not GUIlty as Repulsive as well. It’s dispicable how some people bring their children up. If you don’t want to socialize with blacks and or whites or whomever, then you go your way and let others go their way. What people don’t know how to keep to themselves. Everyone must defend themselves when it comes to that, but I don’t understand how you can pull a loaded rifle on someone and not get charged, bring that to the North, they will get some time. The judicial system is not built for black people to get a fair trial, but that don’t mean we should take beatings and not defend ourselves and our families. I am just too through with this, all those Southern states that haven’t conform with the rest of the USA need to go somewhere and let another kATRINA COME AND wipe them out totally. they can’t win over mother nature.
Peter said,
August 21, 2007 at 5:57 pm
I think what the whites did is dumb. Do the white boy’s deserve to get a butt whop’n, yes, but not being jumped or a cheap shot from behind the back. Bottom line is the black boys committed a crime. Just because some kids did something stupid does’nt give them the right to go around beating everyone up although those kids deserve it. And I dont agree with the whole town getting all up in arms either. People have to start taking responsablity for there actions.
DEE said,
August 22, 2007 at 6:07 pm
at 10 years old all i can say is this is racism and i feel it should not still be going on.
PRINCESS DOMINIQUE DISHES POP CULTURE // THE WOMAN. THE CELEBRITY. THE BRAND. » Blog Archive » Justice for the Jena 6 said,
August 22, 2007 at 6:51 pm
[...] June 28th. A comprehensive look at the case, the trial and the verdict was published on July 2nd at friendsofjustice. Plus, Democracy Now did a full story. To send a letter to Governor Blanco, please visit Color of [...]
mill-t said,
August 22, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Fighting for the freedom of Iraqi’s, huh? I feel said for all those troops dying 3,.000 miles away, especially minorities, who have to come back to such blatant racism. I do not approve of violence but, sometimes we must take “ANY MEANS NECESSARY” to survive in this racist society. The JENA -SIX have my support.
Ty said,
August 22, 2007 at 8:55 pm
I have just recently come across this story. It had not been broadcast at all in my area. I find that this supposed crime does not fit the punishment. This is 2007 and what has occured is like a flashback in time. I am deeply outraged by the non coverage and by the way this case has been handled. I can not recall a time I have ever heard that a tennis shoe was a weapon. A young man that had a promising future is about to miss out on life because of a school-yard fight that an incompetent “lawyer” could have no I rephrase should have had dismissed. We need to take a look at our justice system and at society as a whole. This injustice needs to cease.
Ty said,
August 22, 2007 at 8:56 pm
I have just recently come across this story. It had not been broadcast at all in my area. I find that this supposed crime does not fit the punishment. This is 2007 and what has occured is like a flashback in time. I am deeply outraged by the non coverage and by the way this case has been handled. I can not recall a time I have ever heard that a tennis shoe was a weapon. A young man that had a promising future is about to miss out on life because of a school-yard fight that an incompetent “lawyer” could have no I rephrase should have had dismissed. We need to take a look at our justice system and at society as a whole. This injustice needs to cease. It is time for a change for the better.
Peggy J. Coston-Butler said,
August 23, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Why is the young man still in jail? Please write to him at: A DORM LaSalle Correctional Center; 15976 Highway 165 Olla, LA 71465-4801. Thanks. Support the Jena 6!
Dominique Winters said,
August 25, 2007 at 2:09 am
Why am I just hearing about this now? Where is the media coverage? I am outraged about this as should the entire country? I will be emailing this to as many people as possible.
thanks,
needs to be informed
catherine said,
August 25, 2007 at 3:05 am
This is the time for the “church” leaders, to stand up and take a stand. This story has been a well kept secret in our neck of the woods. It was only by listening toNPR radio and to the XM channel 169 that I learned about this injustice. Al Sharpton is the only leader of record to speak and to act. He cannnot do this alone, he needs the support of those who would profess to love Jesus and Justice.
Amy said,
August 25, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Since when is carrying a shot gun into a store not a crime? This whole thing is so racial it is disgusting. The truth lay in the defense of these youths. What we need is a competent attorney to represent them, not one who is unprepared and obviously stupid. I don’t care if these boys are white or black or green, they are not getting fair treatment and that should not be happening anywhere in the US in this day and age. Are we that ignorant that we are going to let the past repeat itself? Have we not grown past this? Apparently not, and I am so sickened by this.
Renee Tolbert said,
August 27, 2007 at 4:10 am
PLEASE CONTACT THESE ATTORNEYS. THEY ARE EXCELLENT AT THEIR JOBS AND CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.
F. Lee Bailey
Barry Schneck
sINCERELY,
RENEE
Renee Tolbert said,
August 27, 2007 at 4:10 am
PLEASE CONTACT THESE ATTORNEYS. THEY ARE EXCELLENT AT THEIR JOBS AND CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.
F. Lee Bailey
Barry Schneck
sINCERELY,
RENEE
CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEYS.
Renee Tolbert said,
August 27, 2007 at 4:21 am
PLEASE CONTACT THESE CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEYS. THEY ARE EXTREMELY GOOD ATTORNEYS AND CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE
F. Lee Bailey
Barry Schneck
THEY HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE IN THE COURT ROOM ABOUT VARIOUS MATTERS AND THIS IS ONE OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SPECIALITIES.
Geri said,
August 27, 2007 at 7:00 am
The sins of the fathers are visited on the sons. Six young black men lives are in danger because the adults and authorities who were in a position to prevent these incidents from happening make light of something that was very serious.
The fact that a whites only tree was allowed on grounds of an integrated high school was the root of the problem. When the black students were give permission to sit under that tree without any consideration being given to the consequences was adding fuel to smoldering fire. And all of the adults and administrators involved should be the one in jail and on trial for their contribution to the delinquencies of these minor that were to handle this volatile issue with the only tools they had.
When dealing with issue of racial dissention both group of kids revert back to what our parent did. The white kids thought it was time to hang some one and the black kids decided to protest.
The all white school administrators and the school board which the District Attorney is a member decided that the noose hanging was a childish prank, and treated it as such knowing in their hearts that it was not just a prank, those kids was sending the message, “we don’t want you under our tree” and they were met with the response “we have a right to be there”.
The racial prejudices our children are trying to deal with came from us, had we done a better job our kid would be spending their time perusing their dreams in stead of trying protest racial issues.
It’s now time for us adults to act our age and give these young men back their lives. It should have been treated as a hate crime and not left in the hand of the dist. Attorney. The federal government should have intervene the NAACP and all the agencies that we have in place to try and resolved these issues. It’s a crying shame that Mychal Bell only had a Court appointed attorney when the case was a civil rights issue, because if they did not have to defend a civil rights issue none of this would have happen.
Louisiana Resident said,
August 28, 2007 at 5:04 pm
I am from a small town about an hour away from Jena. Racism is nothing new in Jena nor has it been a secret. During my time in school, Jena was a place you went in the daylight hours. This whole case is based solely on racism and nothing else. I have recently come from visiting my home town and nothing was even mention of this situation. I had to come four states away to hear about something so close to home. Something needs to be done about the small town. I am sure if an investigation is begun in that town it will be more indepth then the Jena 6. I have heard many childhood tales of missing/killed blacks and nothing was dibe about it. Now again growing up yoo don’t believe any of the stories because you don’t want to believe that things like that are going on. I have rode through Jena a few times going to college and my Mom did not want me to ride through there at night. It was always a place to avoid at all cost if you were black. My daughter job hunting and found a job vacancy in Jena and was inquiring about it and was told not to apply because of the racism that was present and going on there. I just hope this is one sitution that exposed the entire force that is ruling of Jena and turn the tables on many of the residents who have wronged others and even maybe put some of them into jail for 20 plus years.
Pj said,
August 28, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Its sad that in this day an time these events are still hidden in our country and go unoticed. This new stealth racism is going to tear our country apart. Using the loopholes in the laws to beat down the spirits of youth and control their parents is a 2007 type Willie Lynch letter.
Some individuals with hidden agendas are using fear and hatred of black people to create unrest in our communities and revive the race wars. They have now began to publish stories saying that bell has a previous criminal history. Well living in a town where you have no avenues to defend yourself and can be charged with vandelism and destruction of property for spitting on the ground I wouldn’t doubt he does have a record. But are the previous charges as unrealistic and excessive as these current charges.
All people should read and we all should take the time to know the law and become knowledgable of our rights as human beings. So many poor childrens lives have been ruined simply because we were ignorant to the law and could not afford a lawyer to handle our cases. Bell and his family were unaware they could fire the incompitent lawyer during his trial and request another.
The preachers wife in TN killed her husband and spent less than 3 months in jail she is free today. She is free because a good lawyer took her case probono and succesfully defended her.
Tasha said,
August 28, 2007 at 11:38 pm
We as Young Black America are under attack, what is being cast upon the Jena 6 is the same as what was done to Emmett Teal but this time they are deciding to leave the body and take the soul. The injustice doesn’t stop in the south, america has created plenty of ways to abuse power such as the ever changing drug laws used to put our young away ten plus years. The same government that has built and created the “Project” called the “Projects” are one in the same flooding are streets with guns and cutting back on education. We as a people can not allow this to happen to these kids one has already been sentenced to all he has “22 yrs his life”. Three hundred people is nothing we need to get down there and out match their population. Stand up for what’s right! Stand up for what’s ours! I personally pledge my time and money to prevent this modern day lynching.
Brandie said,
August 29, 2007 at 1:43 am
You know, I love America, but we really need to stop this. I’m white and I have a lot of Black friends. I dont believe in this racial crap, but I know it happens. I’m also a Christian so I know i’m suppossed to love everybody, but its really hard sometimes. I mean, dont they understand they are stealing these boys lives? They dont deserve any of this, NONE OF IT!
CATHY said,
August 29, 2007 at 2:00 am
THIS IS CLEARLY A CASE FOR A MISTRIAL. THERE IS TOO MUCH CONFUSION AS TO WHO DID WHAT. THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY SHOULD ALSO LOSE HIS LICENSE, TO BE SET AS AN EXAMPLE TO ALL THESE CRAPPY ATTORNEYS THAT GET AWAY WITH NOT EARNING WHATEVER PAY THEY GET. IT WAS THERE CHOICE TO BE AN ATTORNY FOR THE POOR, SO THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB. SO MANY INOCENT PEOPLE HAVE WENT TO PRISON FOR MANY YEARS, JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE POOR, AND CAN NOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY. EVEN SOME OF THESE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE PAID WELL DO NOT DO THEIR JOBS, BECAUSE OF HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE CASE. ANYWAY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE VICTIM DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE WAS ARGUING WITH AND WHO HIT HIM SHOULD BE ENOUGH NOT TO BE SURE ON HIT HIS HEAD. EITHER WAY THE VICTIM IS ALIVE AND WELL, AND NO EXTREME PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE GIVEN, BECAUSE THEY ONLY GAVE IN SCHOOL SUSPENSION TO THE WHITE BOYS AND IGNORED THE FACT THAT THEY STARTED THIS CRAP AND THE BLACK BOYS JUST ENDED IT. IF WHITES CONTINUE TO GET AWAY WITH THEIR IGNORANT, RACIST ACTS, THEN RACISM WILL NEVER END.
rochelle bryant said,
August 29, 2007 at 11:16 am
This is a Human Right violation against these young people and someone should pay, get jail time and lose their license and position of authority from the top to the bottom.
Cookie said,
August 29, 2007 at 4:21 pm
This is a shame. I think about the issuses that we have in the United States, but yet our troops are over in another country frighting for oil. It really sad. Im have traveled the world. I can not believe that this is happening in the United States. There is no way that a sign should be place anywhere in reference to “whites only” . I blame the governement. It’s almost like slavery days, the only difference is that we get paid. It’s no wonder why whites think that they are above blacks, issues like this make them seem like they have power. My heart goes out to these families. It’s an embrassment to say that i’m American. They talk about other countries but let me tell you other countries stick together. Whites stick together don’t think that they don’t, we have very powerful Blacks out here but at times they can act white themselves. These young black men need help. So if you are a Black Attorney and you’re reading this please do something to help these young men. As a child you dream of having money, this is one time that I wish that dream would have come true.
Mernin said,
August 30, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Thanks for this post- It’s already proved useful in spreading valuable information but i’ve also passed the address along to friends so they can furthur the spread. This is the most informative blog on this issue i’ve seen so far.
Uncontainable Spirit said,
August 30, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Black people. Answer honestly. Are you surprised?
Starr said,
August 31, 2007 at 9:04 pm
As an American, I am OUTRAGED by the lack of media attention given to this case. While most morally sound American’s recieve a steady dose of Britney Spears & Lindsey Lohan on the evening news, 6 young men will have their lives unfairly condemned to a fate of years behind bars. WOW, what has this country come too!! These news outlets won’t let go of the Micheal Vick story, thou he does deserve to be punished for his utterly stupid acts. I’ve heard more outrage about a so-called “gangsta rapper” performing for FREE at the Virginia Tech memorial, then I heard about this. I guess this doesn’t exist??? This can’t happen in America anymore. I grew up in Louisiana, not far from Jena. People don’t believe the stories I have about growing up in the rural south. Blacks are treated as second class citizens in certain parts of Louisiana.
The DA in Jena should be removed, plain & simple. The state government needs to step in before this escalates and someone gets killed. This can only get worse. The DA is letting this get out of control.
disillusioned said,
September 3, 2007 at 5:18 am
I’m suprised about the lack of coverage by the media on this situation. I cannot watch the news anymore without feeling that none of the shit they show pertain to me as a black man. I guess i came to a realization that to them were not worth showing unless its obvious that we are guilty of dumb shit like fighting dogs or shooting up a club.
One question said,
September 3, 2007 at 5:19 am
How do I help?
Bill said,
September 3, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Oh my God!!! Are you kidding me????
Bill said,
September 3, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Where is the federal government in all this? Going after Vick for dog fighting. Get after that district attorney right now!
Kenjie Davis said,
September 4, 2007 at 5:38 pm
The comments made by District Attorney Reed Walters to the students in Jena sounds like a threat to me. In some states, it is a crime to threaten individuals (especially to threaten kids.) I wonder what the law is in Louisiana. If it is an actual crime, District Attorney Reed Walters should be brought up on charges and tried.
21st century, I wonder said,
September 4, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Is it the 21st centruy or what?
Adolescents act the same, the world wide. All adolescents say out loud or to themselves, it is time to stand up and change things. They say it is a new day. They expect more and want more? And it is OK to change things for the better. However, most young adults do not count on resistance to change, it is unconceivable, it shatters their concept of fairness. The rose colored glasses come off quick when young adults find out the “power of the dream” may take sacrifice.
The community (Jena, LA) where these six young people live, pushed back hard when the young men sought change. Elememnts in the community with the power of the law at their personal disposal, sent a message that there will be no changes here. Not now not ever. “Any child of God of African descent is going down if they want any changes.” Hate, terror, legal manipulation, and incarceration are not big enough prices to pay if any young person of African descent wants to challegne the status quo.
The only good thing is that the children are alive and we know where they are. They could all be dead. The elements in Jena, LA knew no one would speak out or help the six young men. And you must wonder what were the families and members of the black community threatened with to make it so?
Clarence Renfroe said,
September 4, 2007 at 5:41 pm
All I am going to say is this … either you get Educated if you are not or re-Educate if you think you are. I hear this word Black Codes tossed around like a football. Damn near every state had their own Black Codes.
I am exposing to a few of my co-workers and friends on the history of America and the role Africans palyed in it. I am doing this because there is very little about our history we know. That is why we will always repeat it.
Holla
Holla
Natasha Chancellor said,
September 4, 2007 at 6:49 pm
I have known about this story for about a year now and I an amazed that people are in so much shocked at how this case is being handled. I am a 30 year old black woman and my parents have always brought us up in a multicultural area and as I do with my own child, but at the same time I have been taught that I will be judged because of the color of my skin and I am bring my daughter up the same way. I have always felt that racism has been alive and well in this country no matter how hard our media trys and hide it. I support Friends of Justice and even thought I am not a wealthy woman I will try and support you financially in everyway I can
L. R. F. said,
September 5, 2007 at 1:01 am
i knew that their were still some people around who were some what racist to others in fact i knew that my own father was not very happy with blacks as well as Mexicans, however i am just lucky that it was my mother who raised me and always taught me to treat others equally no matter how different they are, while i may only be 14 now i have had many friends of different race, religion, and even sexuality (gay/bi), and it has made no difference to me whatsoever (me being white/Christian/straight, myself). I am absolutely disgusted by what i read about this case and like i said although i knew there were some racism still out there i didnt know it was still actually THIS bad any where, i thought we were done with this any of this crap 50 or so years ago. unfortunately i was wrong. i was however (if only slightly) relieved to see at least 1 white family protesting about this injustice in these pictures, had i lived in Louisiana instead of all the way across the country in California, i would have been out there protesting this injustice myself.
PLEASE PPL DONT LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN if you can help it at all, do so
lisa sanderson said,
September 5, 2007 at 12:02 pm
I want to hear news that could have an impact on my life. Why is this so hush hush. I am an Operation Iraqi Freedom Vet. I can’t believe how there is blatant disregard for these young lives are acceptable in Louisana or any state. This news need to be heard across the states. I have been force fed irrelevant news i.e., superstars addictions, bad decisions and the like. Enough is enough. Freedom ain’t free…especially in this country.
Georgiana said,
September 6, 2007 at 2:21 am
I am appauled at the all white jury. I fell that race play too much role in our sociey. All the evidence was not properly handled. There is a lot of BLAME came when it comes to BLACKS. The Civil Rights Movement was created to protect all people. Why are only the BLACKS being blamed? There was a witness who saw a guy in a GREEN jacket. Where is this witness. How can someone be sent to prision for years for an assault. Paris Hilton was in jail for a few weeks because she is rich. These students are STUDENTS. Does anyone not care anymore about the STUDENTS who are innocent. We need better lawyers and judges who fight for CIVIL RIGHTS and npt the color of a persons skin. I am outraged at the charges.
michael said,
September 6, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Ok i have read every single on of your posted comments and seriously guys WAKE UP. Half the world is racist. blacks, whites, asians everybody has prejudice against them. What these white kids did was nothing more than just something to make black people not sit under their tree. people have thier groups, jocks, nerds, emos, blacks, whites, gothic and all the sort. what about the nerd who wants to sit and the jock table. he may have permission to sit there from the administration but the jocks dont want him there. but do you see the nerd coming back and trying to hurt or abuse one of the jocks? NO. these six black guys took this to the extreme, yes there are white who hate black people but they cant do antyhing about it so they jsut need to live with it. it wont change, ever. and the same with blacks some of them hate whites and we cant chage it. racist people are too closed minded and everybody just needs to accept that this world is racist and unfair. these black guys did what is wrong here. offensive things happen to everybody everyday these black guys took it and ran with it and felt that since im a victim of racism then i can do whatever i want and get away with it. that proves ignorance and stupidity. im so pissed off at everyones comments. black people are always the victim. what about how many white people are killed everyday by black gangs and yet you feel sorry for the blacks becuase of where they are and the situation they are in. how come blacks can say whatever they want about white and do whatever they want to whites but when a white person drops the “N” word all of a sudden he’s racist and he gets beat up. whites are more so the victims these days. yet blacks want to be the victims becuase they are a minority. it was wrong what these black guys did. why would you want to defend someone who knocked out someone for a prank. a harmless one at that. the white people didnt start fights with them and verbal assult isnt a crime. everyone who has posted a comment on here are ridiculous. its always the white guys fault. black people dont ever do anything wrong. is basically what your saying.
michael said,
September 6, 2007 at 2:22 pm
and another things. the media is tired of exploiting black crimes. if they exploited all of them there arent enough hours in the day to cover them all. so they have to pick and choose. you wanna do something about about it then dont grow up and be a thug or rob stores or shoot up people. actually try to do something with your life instead of ruining society and making the crime rate go up 75%. make something of your life and give back to the world and the economy and see if people dont lower their racism.
Master Sergeant Rose Autrey said,
September 7, 2007 at 10:16 pm
I’m a Soldier (20 years of service). I’m ashamed to be a Louisiana native. We must all pray for these 6 young men and educate our children that the scales of justice are not balance for people of color. It’s sad but it’s true.
ddsharper said,
September 8, 2007 at 4:45 am
Incredible piece, better than any news organization has written. Fantastic analysis and accurate reporting. The only thing I disagree with is the alleged fear the shotgun toting white guy claims. He was always the aggressor and fear doesn’t fit the picture. Unarmed men? Yeah, right.
The bottom line is that Black Americans do not have a country. Foreigners have interveners and whites have America. Blacks have nothing. Even American Indians have reservations and councils, are sovereign and own land. They have an infrastructure. Blacks are different. They are enemies in America and don’t even realize it until incidents like this are made popular. Then they soon forget. Apathy and complacency -after the civil rights movement- allows such abuse of power, Jim Crow injustice and gall from whites like these, in power, who know they can get away with such atrocities, to initially prevail.
Reed Walters, President Bush, the justice system from the top down, every American citizen and many others are to blame for this social construct. I hope God somehow effectively strikes down the evil ones - arrogant enough to have propagated this fiasco- I hope he does so in a speedy fashion.
As for those complacent blacks running around the country, your turn is coming too. Wake up people. You blacks still vote by an “act”, not by the constitution. You have never been legally included in this country as constitutional citizens. Do you even understand what that means? You are not considered “We the people”. Reed Walters said, “I can destroy your lives with the stroke of a pen.” It is just like when Satan said, I shall be like the most high God.
Lydia McCormick said,
September 8, 2007 at 8:41 pm
I truly and sorry for Mykal Bell and his family because there is still a lot of racism in this country. But I know there is a God who is watching and those White people better step aside. We are all Gods children and no one should be treated that way. But I do remember they use to hang black men and women from the trees and still get up on Sunday morning and go to church. We will pray for the families of the boys.
Charming in Detroit said,
September 9, 2007 at 12:32 am
I’M OUTRAGE AND I’VE GONE FROM CRYING TO ANGER!!! I’M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS INJUSTICE…I ADVICE EVERYONE TO POST THIS ON UR MYSPACE PAGES AND TELL EVERYONE U CAN. I CANT BELIEVE THIS HAS GONE ON FOR A YEAR AND I AM JUST HEARING ABOUT IT!!! I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN MY LIFETIME, I WONT REST UNTIL THESE YOUNG BLACK MEN ARE FREE. WHAT KIND OF WORLD R WE LIVING IN…I PLAN TO MAKE A TRIP DOWN TO LOUISIANA REAL SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marvin McElvin said,
September 9, 2007 at 3:58 pm
We all thought that our government would never let a Katrina happen but it did. I have been lead believe that there is such a thing a hate crime law by the federal government but that has not been address yet. These words I say to you STAND UP and let everyone know we will not be stepped on any more if we don’t we will fall for anything. We are a proud and profound, intellgent people and yes we are not givenn any respect by anyone. We are the original people of the world let us not for get. Please let’s not for get the JENA 6 they are out future this could be Florida, New York, Texas, Chicago, but because it happened in the deep dirty south don’t feel it can’t happen no other place……….
Laurette said,
September 10, 2007 at 2:12 pm
This is horrible for this to happen in the 21st century. Unfortunately this is not uncommon. I just moved to TN from upstate NY, and I can’t believe the racist BS down here. These good ole boys really think (and I use that word loosely) they are right. Also, they all claim to be “christian”. This is the most unchristian behavior I have ever seen. People must get out there and protest and make your voices heard!
Lindsey Williams said,
September 11, 2007 at 5:37 am
It is indeed sad, to see the “ideals” of our country and how high we pride ourselves in all that we do as a nation. This nation can never truly move forward until it goes and corrects its past. Correcting our nations past doesn’t necessarily mean to pay reparations to every descendent of slaves or those majorly affected by Jim Crow laws, this means for our justice system to have a backbone, where ever it is, whether it be Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas or New York. Justice is for the people and by the people a wise man once said warning comes before destruction. WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!!——-DESTRUCTION!!!!!!!
God Bless these MEN, for they make me proud to be who I am.
Lindsey Williams said,
September 11, 2007 at 6:06 am
to michael who posted on the 6th of september, you should study some psychology. I don’t make excuses for anybody but lets be rational. Africans were brought to America from a vast economy, yes there were slaves among Africans in Africa. But Africa was so great a nation that no nation has ever reached the economic status it was at EVER! Africans were brung here as slaves, could not speak their language, could not be with their family members. Africans were treated like shit! Africans then turned into blacks who had babies by your great times twenty father but not by will. Blacks were worked like mules, beaten, spit on, hanged, burned, tied to cotton gins…… Blacks worked hard and long and still managed to see some light at the end of the tunnel. When a people is oppressed for hundreds of years it takes serious psychological help to change a negative into a positive. Black people have work hard and long still today. If you ever run low on blood you should think of Charles Drew who invented blood banks around the world or if you need open heart surgery think of Daniel Hale Williams he was the first to perform the operation. I bet you love Fredrick Jones and that Air Conditioning System he invented. Do you like peanut butter? George Washington Carver did that one!!!!!!!!!!! I know you like the telephone you’ve got to Granville Woods refined what Alexander Graham Bell did. Do you have a refrigerator sir? A Black Man Invented that. What about a Lawn Mower or a Cell Phone? To insult any race in such a manner is not only disrespectful but uncanning because you’re the very type of people were talking about. For every screw-up there is a success. Black men do not just “shoot up people or rob stores”. Black people are the reason you go to stores. because at least one of these items you need to buy, maybe not what ive listed but of all the things black people have invented you need at least one thing. Don’t get so self righteous that you can’t see you need black people. For a black man to have come this far with all the apparent hatred and bigotry, I’m proud to be in the number, whether It be my son, my father or my brother, I can see it bothers you to look and see a people succeed.
Margie J said,
September 11, 2007 at 5:30 pm
This is a very sad situation. I prayed very briefly after hearing an update on this matter. I prayed for GOD’S Will to be done. People, get ready Christ will be returning soon. For all of you hypocritical folks that beat the church down on Sunday mornings. For all of you Sabbath keepers who head the church pews on Saturdays. For you other nights and evenings of the week church goers, what is wrong with you? This is your affair to see that this wrong is righted. What is your hold up? Are there any true Christians in Jena? Just a few Christians in that cursed place, surely.
I tell you the truth. There will be gnashing of teeth. GOD is LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you are in a position to do something, do it. The DA of Jena is a sick unscrupulous character. Repent before God’s Wrath befalls you. For surly I tell you the truth, you will not escape your punishment. You are a wicked, low life piece of work DA of Jena, and you will reap much discontent real soon and in the day of judgement.
In the meantime, keep praying all of us that are in a position to do so. Prayer changes things. Those of us who are able to have hands on contribution, do so immediately. To stand idly by and do nothing is as bad as taking part in the verbal and physical abuse.
Where is Opra Winfrey now? Are you willing to come down with a good attorney and some support for these young men?
May GOD be with them (as I know HE will).
IP Freely said,
September 11, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Wow Michael I’m stunned by what you have posted. Reading what was you said prove to me that the point has flown past you by a mile. Let me go over what was said in the article.
The boys protested after someone pulled a racial prank; (2) the police and the DA was called in to intimidate them to stop their protest. Are you following? Okay try and keep up this is where i believe all sense left you; having no avenue to air their feeling, MEN internalize thing and get violent - let me dumb it down some more — Shuck dem there boys done held in them their feel’um an’ day whup sum-body’s ass.
Hey Mike this is another piece you missed - according to the report a black boys was attacked at a party and had a gun pulled on him and his friends afterward. In defense they disarmed their assailant and were later charged.
So black die if they do and they die if they don’t: Can you see where the frustration is building up?
But I see you have at least a six grade level of education and so have argued the point that people cannot go around hitting each other. I agree but look their only avenue of protest was taken away from them.
I also agree that American anti-racial laws are one sided. I much prefer the ones in the UK; hate speech should not be uttered by anyone black or white.
Now let’s examine the school’s action after the original prank. You say that the school should not have given permission to the darkies sit under the tree because like nerds, geeks and chess players black are a part of the misfits of society.
And it is okay to hang misfits or burn them on crosses.
I agree that permission should not have been given. The school admin should have seen that this would have cause a problem and should have counselors in the school to speak to the children on racial and social unity especially in schools.
They should be appalled by the fact that moonies were not allowed to congregate certain places and move to place a ban on anything like that in the school (after all gang turf, God are banned in American schools)
The school’s action seem to aggravate the situation: by not dealing with the whites or black only spot they say to the students it’s okay to hate. 2. They treated the rope-tied-to-a-tree as a childish prank without trying to understand how the darker school population would feel.( And if you understood the article the mindset of the residents there are hanging a noose is simple childish prank - dragging someone from the back of a vehicle would be a more mature of a prank.) 3. After the sun burn students began to protest the school showed how insensitive they were by calling in the DA and Coppers to threaten the students. 4. The well researched article inferred that teacher with a new sense of power from the DA didn’t try to sooth the sores of the blackies they threw salt in it.
Now Mike I hope I didn’t lose you but you see how even Job could lose his patient in a setting like this.
pvdugas said,
September 12, 2007 at 11:49 am
In response to “Michael” – your thinking is a major problem with racism and this country and you are totally in denial!
You say “why would you want to defend someone who knocked out someone for a prank – A HARMLESS PRANK AT THAT?”
So you call hanging nooses in a tree a harmless prank? I’m pretty sick and tired of white people in this country not understanding the African American plight. Forget what you think you know about that sterile bullshit you’ve read in the history books about slavery. Louisiana was the second largest slave trade state during the antebellum period. FACT! You speak of Blacks always portraying the “victim.” We are not victims Michael. We simply know where we came from and whose shoulders we stand on. Louisiana was built on the backs of slaves. All of the sugar, cotton, tobacco, and rice wealth of today could not have been without the efforts of slaves. My roots are deep in Louisiana as I descend from THE SLAVE OWNER my great-great grandfather, yes he was white. He kept my great-great grandmother as his personal concubine and my great grandfather was the product of that continued RAPE. I have a copy of the bill of sale for her mother who was taken from Virginia, by foot, to the auction blocks of what is now known as the Omni Hotel in the French quarters, Louisiana and sold to the highest bidder.
I’ve researched the history…and these are the FACTS! Black people were property Michael, second class citizens, thought of worst than animals, held as mortgage, paraded in the civil courts as damaged goods where Petitioners sought financial remedy. When these slave sells took place the wording was such that whites never wanted slavery to end, using terms such as A SLAVE FOREVER…. The following is an excerpt of a petitioner who farmed out a slave. That slave was mistreated to death. The petitioner was seeking $5,000.00 in damages.
Salutation: To the Honorable the Judge of the Tenth Judicial District Court holding sessions in and for the Parish of Madison, LA
Filing Court and Date: District, 1853-September-17
Ending Court and Date: Supreme, 1856-February-25
Ginger Pop died as the result of having had his “privates” nailed to a “bedstead” and blows inflicted upon him until he “pulled loose from the post to which he had been pinned by driving an iron tack or nail through his penis.”
Source: Supreme Court of Louisiana Collection
Book: 3,910
Another case………
The petitioners recount several examples of the overseer’s abuse. He abused “a negro man by the name of George, by cruelly whipping him and putting out his right eye;” he abused “another negro man by the name of Claiborne by getting him down and jumping upon his back with the heels of his shoes;” and he beat a third slave so brutally that he later died. Moreover, Gould failed to provide slaves with “blankets or other bed clothing,” pushed women to labor long hours in bad weather, and forced slaves to live in “miserable Hovels not fit for horse stables.” Most of the “breeding women on said Plantations were rendered almost entirely barren, and worthless as such” and “are subject to continual miscarriages,” the petitioners lament, while a large number of children have died.
There are thousands of cases like these at:
http://library.uncg.edu/slavery/about.aspx
My grandmother told me the story of a young woman who tried to runaway from a plantation. She had a newborn and was nursing her baby at the time. They sent dogs after her. The dogs tore her naked and ATE her breast right off her body.
And you say we’re always playing the victim! We know where we came from and we KNOW what happened to our people. Everyone wants to sweep slavery in this country under the rug, as if it never happened. Blacks have fought and continue to fight for our humanity. This incident in Jena, LA sets us back hundreds of years. HATE causes one to lose his or her own ability to experience the gift of humanity Michael. People like you, who are in denial, will question the point of looking back over the past. I know what you feel, “I didn’t own slaves.” “I didn’t do anything to Blacks.” These incidents in Jena serve as a reminder that not all whites wanted slavery to end. My goodness, nooses in a tree in the year 2007! It had to have come from the parents. This type of hatred starts in the home! AND YOU CALL IT A PRANK! You’re just about as ignorant as the school board, who in my opinion is the instigator in all of this.
No, we don’t want to have the victim mentality. But what do you expect us to do when we see history attempting to repeat itself. YOU NEED SOME KNOWLEDGE!
Debbie said,
September 12, 2007 at 5:54 pm
I remember stories like this from my chidhood in the sixties, but I am absolutely stunned at the recurrence of Jim Crow, even in Louisiana. Surely, there are enough good people to cast their eyes on the community of Jena, to shame them into doing the right thing. So, let’s send out a call to the good people of this country, and let’s get involved in the travesty occurring in these days. There is going to be a peaceful rally of people going to Jena, and everyone is asked to wear black on Sept 20 as a show of unity - black is not for race, but for our sorrow that this is happening.
The 17year old from Cleveland said,
September 13, 2007 at 12:29 am
My name is Austin Bell and i am 17:
I’M DEVESTATED AND I’VE GONE FROM CRYING TO ANGER!!! I’M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS INJUSTICE…I ADVICE EVERYONE TO POST THIS ON UR MYSPACE PAGES AND THEIR FACEBOOK PAGES AND TELL EVERYONE THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS . I AM SO ANGRY THAT THIS TYPE OF THING HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND I AM JUST NOW HEARING ABOUT IT T!!! I AM SOO SUPRISED THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING SO IMATURE AND ACTING SO DAMN RACIST!!!! I WILL NOT STOP SPREADING THE WORD UNTIL ALL OF THESE YOUNG BLACK MEN LIKE ME ARE SET FREE !!!!!!!!!!!! AND YES I AM 1 OF THE MANY PEOPLE WHO WILL BE MAKING THE SPECIAL TRIP DOWN TO LOUISIANA TO SHOW MY SUPPORT AND AM BRINGING A WHOLE CREW OF OTHER TEENAGE KIDDS THAT ARE MY AGE AND WE WILL SHOW OUR SUPPORT ALL 19 OF US SO FAR…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
D.G. said,
September 13, 2007 at 9:13 am
That is sad, that racism is not only tolerated, but accelerated by an obviously racist school faculty and town. Those people should consider moving out of the 1950’s and join the present day. The D.A., judge, jury, faculty, and townspeople should be ashamed of themselves, but in the end it will all catch up to them. Ignorance is not something that should be tolerated. It is a sad day for Jena, LA.
April Bates said,
September 13, 2007 at 8:55 pm
I belive that the any of the six cases should not have been tried in there home town that is 85 precent white. All of the cases need to be reopen and reviewed not on a personal stand point. The cases should not be on a black or white thing, but on the fact that this is someone live that hand.
mike laurel, md said,
September 14, 2007 at 1:30 am
FOR ME, IT IS TROUBLING THAT THE DISPARITY IN TREATMENT, MISS APPLICATION OF THE LAW, DELIBRATE INDIFFERENCE AND RACISM ARE SO OBVIOUS IN THIS CASE. IT’S ONE THING WHEN AN INJUSTICE IS SO SUDLE, THAT ONLY SOMEONE EDUCATED IN THE LAW IS ABLE TO INTERPRET THE LEGAL INJUSTICE . IT IS SOMETHING BEYOND COMPREHENSION WHEN, THE INJUSTICE IS SO OBVIOUS, AS IN THIS CASE, THAT STEVIE WONDER CAN SEE THROUGH IT. ME PERSONALLY, I AM TIRED OF THE (NO JUSTICE - NO PEACE) APPROACH TO DEALING WITH CONTINUED AND ONGOING DEMONSTRATIONS OF (BLANK-YOU) 9/10’s OF THE LAW GROUP OF PEOPLE. I AM OF THE OPINON THAT BOY-COTT’S ARE ONE OF THE MOST AFFECTIVE (AS YEAR AGO) FORMS OF GETTING YOUR POINT ACROSS (HIT THEM IN THE POCKETS)
bb said,
September 14, 2007 at 5:11 am
has anyone burned the tree it needs to be cut or burned down and true it didnt do anything but it has a lot of trouble steming from it and people are making it out to be something that has hurt a lot of families. I am hurt that this has happened but this day and age is just modern day slavery nothing is going to change you look around in the south the blacks are still in the back and the whites are up front you can clean their house and cook their food but dont sit to my table. Most white men would jump at the chance to sleep with a black women but you cant tell and I dont know you in the light only in the dark and they are quick to dis own Suzzie when she comes home with a colored boy but they want our color and thats why they tan but they dont want our stigma. They want our man and they still want to be accepted in their families but in slavery time you would be hung for wistling at a white women. So dont ever get to comfortable with them they will cut your throat or catch you on a dirt road and later dump you over a boat, that’s what one did to a black kid in 06 when he found out his daughter was doing this kid except he invited him over for dinner and then took him out on a boat the white man will never be comfortable with us in his family except as a slave.
Stefanie said,
September 14, 2007 at 7:07 pm
I am astonished that I just heard about this case yesterday! I am so tried of watching my fellow poor, minorty brothers and sisters being treated badly by the justice system. TO ALL MY FELLOW WHITE PEOPLE WHO ARE RACISTS! GET OVER YOURSELVES, GET EDUCATED, THINK ABOUT IT IF WE TAKE OFF OUR SKIN WE ARE ALL THE SAME.
I am tired and saddened to watch racism continue in our country. It needs to end now. Racist leaders need to be taken out of power. We all need to spread the word to stop the hate!
Conversations At Work « Pixelvomit’s Weblog said,
September 16, 2007 at 12:39 am
[...] June 28th. A comprehensive look at the case, the trial and the verdict was published on July 2nd at friendsofjustice. Plus, Democracy Now did a full story. To send a letter to Governor Blanco, please visit Color of [...]
Ferchu said,
September 16, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Soy de Argentina… como es posible en un país con tantos afroamericanos ricos ninguno le haya pagado un buen abogado a ese chico? me parece que es una oportunidad única como para que se siente precedente de lo que esta bien y lo que esta mal. Es una obligación moral defender los derechos humanos y las personas de color que tienen poder y dinero no deberian dudar un segundo en prestar la ayuda económica o profesional necesaria cuando un hermano está tan impunemente oprimido. De la misma manera que yo me siento tocado por este tema me gustaría que usteden también se interesen por el resto del mundo que esta siendo sojuzgado. El racismo existe en todo el mundo no solo en EEUU y hay que pararlo.
Elbert said,
September 17, 2007 at 2:09 am
As an attorney, I have reviewed the Michal Bell case and am amazed at the attack on his public defender. I am sure that public defenders, who are over worked and underpaid, occassionally are ineffective in their representation of their clients; however, the broad brush against Michal Bell’s public defender is unwarranted. Let us dissect this analysis with a lawyer who has tried many a case’s eye.
First of all, let us look at the possible defenses to the charge against Michal Bell, i.e., criminal assault. The defenses must be either (1) you have the wrong person; I did not committ the assault, or (2) self defense.
You stated: “Mykal was convicted because jurors believed he had knocked a white student named Justin Barker unconscious with a single devastating blow to the head.” You seem to be of the opinion that no other set of facts would have led to a conviction, e.g., he was not the one who knocked the white student out; however, he did stomp him as he lay on the ground. I believe your conclusion is totally wrong. I believe a jury would have convicted him, if the latter were the facts.
Conspiracy requires proof of an agreement. The spontaneous act of stomping the vicitm does not rise to the level of conspiracy, and note then the trial judge granted the allegedly incompenten public defenders’ motion to set aside the conspiracy conviction. Thus, it is not what you are charged with, it is what are you factually and legally guilty of. The defense counsel was competent enough to to get the conspiracy case thrown out.
You also stated, “The alleged assault was “aggravated” because a dangerous weapon was used-namely tennis shoes. According to this reasoning, every fight participant is guilty of aggravated assault unless he shows up naked.” That is a mistatement of the law. You do not have to “stomp” anyone after they are down. You can hit one with your hands and fist without stomping them. Therefore, you do not have to be naked; but you do have to refrain from stomping someone with your tennis shoes or any other shoes that you may have on. If he had been wearing steel toe boots would that have been aggrevating circumstances in your mind? A weapon is any instrument that you use to assist you in your assault, thus, your shoes, even your tennis shoes may become a weapon if you use them to stomp an unconcious person.
You stated: “The fact that Mychal Bell was tried by an all-white jury has fanned accusations of racism.” Thus, you also seem to think that the fact that he had an all white jury had an effect on the finding of guilty. Do you seriously believe that an all black jury would have found him not guilty under either of the above set of facts, i.e., (1) either he knocked the white student out or (2) that he stomped him after he lay unconcious on the ground? I believe an all black jury would have found him guilty as well. Furthermore, it has been reported that jury summones went out to 100 people, that only 50 out of the 100 responded, and than not a single black person was among the respondents to the summonses. I have often tried cases in which black venirepersons come up with all kinds of excuses to get out of the jury pool. If he ended up with an all white jury because no blacks responded to the summones, then that is not an example of racism, but an example of the fact that black people failed him by not making a point of trying to serve on his jury and giving him a fair trial.
“A gifted athlete and solid student with a promising future,” is how you characterized Mychal Bell despite the fact that he has three prior convictions for criminal assaults. That is why his bail was set at $90,000. How promising of a future does a juvenile who by the age of 16 has three prior criminal assault convictions? He was bound for prison with that kind of history.
“Is Mychal Bell guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Did he receive a fair trial? And did Blane Williams, Mr. Bell’s court appointed attorney, give the trial a moment’s thought before entering the courtroom?”, that is your question.
What preparation could Mr. Williams have for a three time loser who, in response to taunting, either knocked a white racist out or joined FIVE other “steppers” and stomped him as he lay on the ground, blackening his eye and requiring hospital treatment? In every jurisdiction in the nation, that is deemed a felonoious assault; and all prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys are fully aware of the seriousness of such an accusation.
Note the possible defenses. Did he do it or did he not?; was it self defense or was it not? – those are the questions and that is what you must prepare to defend.
Let us look at your reflections and Mr. Williams defense in the light of the law.
Partisan witnesses
You pointed out: “The ten student witnesses who testified at Mychal Bell’s trial were all white.” The law does not disqualify you as a witness simply because you are white. Furthermore, what race would you expect them to be in a school that was 90% white?
Let me ask you a question? If you were at a black family’s reunion, and six strangers came upon the scene and knocked out and stomped one of your family members, what race would the witnesses be? Furthermore, would they not be partisan? That is the nature of cases. Witnesses will generally be acquainted if not friends of the victims and of the same race!
You then went on to state: “Justin Cooper was the only witness at trial to testify that Mychal Bell kicked Justin Barker as the victim lay unconscious on the ground. Since Justin Cooper was one of the boys who admitted to hanging the nooses at Jena High School at the beginning of the school year, he can hardly be seen as an objective or credible witness.” Rules of evidence as to credibilty requires that one show that a person gave a prior inconsistent statement or that they have a reputation for not telling the truth. Hanging of a noose does not render your testimony incredible. Note that Mark Fuhrman was impeached because he denied that he had used the “N” word; not that he used the “N” word. It was the fact that he lied in answering the question that allowed the defense counsel to impeach his testimony. Not the fact that he was a racist.
You then stated that “Defense Attorney Blane Williams was apparently unaware of Cooper’s connection to the noose incident.” And what if he was? Bell was not being tried for punching anyone out or stomping him due to the hanging of a noose. Since proof of lack of credibility under the rules of evidence would have required that the defense attorney show that Cooper had made a prior inconsistent statement or had a reputation for lying, the noose incident was not a proper basis of impeachment and no question could have been put to Cooper about that incident.
You then stated, “Jessica Hooter was one of four trial witnesses who identified Mychal as the person who threw the first punch at Justin Barker. Two days after the assault occurred, Jessica was unable to identify the initial attacker. But as she explained at trial, “After I thought about it more, I remembered more.” In his closing remarks, Blane Williams never mentioned that she had embellished her earlier testimony. So, what? She was ONE of FOUR witnesses, not the ONLY witness. Even if you throw her testimony out, you still have THREE witnesses identifying Michal Bell as the person who threw the first punch, and that is more than enough to convict.
You then said, “The single male juror graduated from High School with Justin Barker’s father.” You did not state what opinon he had of Justin Barker’s father. He may have hated him. The mere fact that they graduated togther does not make him a high school buddy and disqualify him. The law disqualifies him only if he states that the fact that he went to school with Justin Barker’s father would cause him to lean toward the prosecution’s side of the case. How often we trial lawyers have tried cases in which jurors have some connection to witnesses. That does not disqualify the juror. Only if the juror admits that he would be biased because of the connection would the juror be discqualified from serving on the jury, or the connection must be one that rises to a disqualification as a matter of law.
You then went on to point out that Justin Barker and his family remained friends with the witnesses who saw him get punched and kicked as though that is something strange and thus resulted in “lying” witnesses. Taking my family reunion example, if someone murdered one of your relatives, under your theory the witnesses would be lying because they are all members of the same family.
Ms. Martin was but one of many witnessess called for the prosecution. Moreover, her testimony was not necessary to convict Bell of felonious assalut. Remember, you pointed out that FOUR witnesses testified that they saw Bell punch Barker out. Your defenses are nonsensical defenses that in no way defeat the prosecution’s case.
Coach Wayne Spence list does not overcome nor place into doubt the testimony of FOUR eyewitnesses who testified that Bell punched and stomped Barker.
Your next quote: “The witness no one called: Coach Benjy Lewis saw Malcolm Shaw hit Justin Barker with his right fist to the right side of Justin’s head, right around the temple. Justin went down face first, knocked out Most witnesses agree that a single punch knocked Barker out cold.” I guess by that that some witnesses testified that several punches were thrown before Barker was knocked out and one of them was thrown by Bell. Your argument then is that the defense counsel should have called Lewis as a witnesses. You do not state what other testimony Lewis would have presented to the jury. Would he have testified that Bell kicked Barker after he went down? If so, I would not have called him as a witnesses, and that may be why the public defender declined to call him as well.
You staed, “It isn’t hard to see why the prosecution didn’t call Lewis to the stand (his testimony would have devastated the state’s case)” That is not true. His testimony may have contradicted that of the other witnesses, but it would not have devastated the case. Again, he may have testified that Bell kicked Barker after he went down. And that may explain why defense attorney Blane Williams didn’t call the coach to testify!
You said, “Several people (myself included) noticed Mychal Bell repeatedly handing his attorney pieces of eyewitness testimony during the trial.” You do not know what he was handing him. All you know is he was handing him pieces of paper during the trial. Williams like all trial attorneys probably told his client to write down any observations that he had during the testimony, instead of making oral statements to him during the trial, as Williams needed to be attentitive to the testimony so that he could raise proper objections. Thus, your statement, “This suggests that Williams entered the courtroom utterly unprepared for trial,” could not be gleaned from the information that you provided.
In your report on the green jacket theory you showed that there was much contradictory testimony as to who and what knocked Barker out. It is left up to the jury to weigh that evidence. That does not require a not guilty verdict, for it is left up to the jury to weigh that evidence and to determine whether or not it leaves them with “reasonable” doubt. They can still find the accused guilty.
Even if it was Malcolm Shaw that knocked Barker unconcious, that does not mean that Bell is not guilty, for he is accused of being one of SIX person who physically assaulted Barker. Thus, he is guilty if the jury simply finds that he did the “stomping” even if he did not deliver the knock out punch.
“If Lewis is right; Bell is innocent,” you argue. You obviously did not listen to the judge’s instructions as to the law. If Lewis is right, Shaw threw the knock out punch and Bell did not; but that does not mean that Bell is innocent. He is stil guilty if he threw a punch before the knock out punch or if he tapped danced on Barker after he was knocked out. THERE WERE FOUR WITNESSES THAT TESTIFIED THAT BELL “STOMPED” BARKER AFTER HE WAS KNOCKED OUT! That makes Bell guilty of felonious assault in every state in the Union.
I note glaringly that YOU DID NOT OFFER THE NAME OF ONE BLACK PERSON WHO WAS AT THE SCENE WHO WOULD TESTIFY IN BELL’S DEFENSE. Not one black person who would testify that Bell never punched nor stomped Barker. Yet you disparge the public defender who called no witnesses because he had none who could help Bell’s defense!
Keep in mind that Bell has three prior convictions. He could not even testify in his own defense or the prosecution would have been able to ask him, “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” And what would his answer have been, “Yes, three times.” Now what effect do you think that would have had on the jury? What effect do you think that would have had on an all black jury?
In fact, the public defender could not even call any character witnesses in his defense. Why, because he was not of good character. He had three prior convictions for assault!
As a lawyer, I am appalled at how you as a layman with not a clue as to the difficulty faced by a public defender in defending a three time loser who had not a single witness who would testify that he had not thrown a punch or stomped Barker while he was unconcious, would attack that lawyer’s professionalism.
milwaukee said,
September 18, 2007 at 4:02 pm
I’M VERY DISGUSTED WITH THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT OF PEOPLE WHETHER BLACK OR WHITE. I FEEL ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING OFF ANGER BUT MORE SO OUT OF SHAME FOR OUR SOCIETY WHO HOLDS ITS SELF UP ON HOW STANDARDS TO ALL OTHER COUNTRIES AND HERE WE ARE STILL NOT ABLE TO GET OVER RACISM WHEN MAJORITY OF OUR POPULATION IS OF MIXED RACIES I PRAY FOR THE YOUNG MEN IN THIS CASE FOR THEIR INNOCENCE IS SURELY LOST THIS IS TRUELY ONE OF THE GREATEST TRADIEAND AS A PREVIOUS BLOGGER STATED JESUS IS COMING BACK C
milwaukee said,
September 18, 2007 at 4:10 pm
I FEEL THAT ANY AND EVERY HIP HOP RAP STAR, R&B SIGNER,AND ACTOR/ACTRESS SHOULD GO DOWN TO JENA AND LEAD ATTORNEY SUPPORT AND WMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO SHOW WE ARE PEOPLE OF UNITY AND TO SHOW THIS SMALL N=HICK TOWN THAT IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE WHAT GOOD BE A REAL ROLE MODEL TAKE YOUR FAMILY DOEN AND SUPPORT THESE YOUNG MEN BEING INJUSTICE OF THEIR RIGHTS. WE HERE ALL THE WAY UP IN THE NORTH/MIDWEST SUPPORT THE YOUNG MEN AND STAND BY THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES
Roger said,
September 18, 2007 at 4:42 pm
THANK YOU ELBERT!!!!
For pointing out the seed that actually FUELS racism in this country. It is the inability of individuals to look at things objectively and to remove personal feelings and biases when weighing facts. FACTS!!! I don’t doubt there is racism in America. There are people out there who dislike others simply because of their color. But we often label things as racism when they are truly not. Perhaps Mr. Barker disliked Mr. Bell because of who he was, because of the ideas and actions of the friends they supported, because of the hillbilly music or the baggy clothes. Who knows. Racism is not disliking someone because they drive pickup trucks, spit tobacco juice on the sidewalk, and sport cowboy hats. Racism is disliking someone because they are . If you dislike someone because of their ACTIONS, that is not racism. That is personal preference and there is NO law against that.
What if there were a white talk show host who defended the actions of the “noose-hangers” on national TV. Would that spark public outcry of racism? Would the ACLU get involved? Let’s look at this from a different angle. What if Barbara Walters said the following on her daily talk show - The View…?
“You know from their background this is not an unusual thing for where they come from,” said Walters. “There are certain things that are indicative to certain parts of our country. They are from the South, from the Deep South … This is part of their cultural upbringing”…
This is NOT an actual quote from Barbara Walters, but it’s what Whoopie Goldberg said in a recent discussion about Michael Vick’s alleged dog fighting ring. I simply changed who spoke the words. Doesn’t this make Barbara Walters sound racist? Funny how different the consequences of speaking the same exact words can be when they come from people of different races.
Now, in Michael Vick’s case, this statement is easily arguable since Mr. Vick hails from the deep southern state of Virginia, just 2 hours from Washington, D.C. But as for the community of Jena, La. this is literally a small town saturated in southern tradition. They obviously haven’t evolved as quickly as the rest of the U.S. This does not make it right and I am in no way defending any of the actions of either party. My intent is to make people wake up and realize that RACISM is an OVERUSED ACCUSATION.
WAKE UP AMERICA!!! STOP BLAMING EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS ON SOMEONE ELSE!!! TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS!!! LEARN TO THINK FOR YOURSELVES!!!! LEARN TO THINK RESPONSIBLY!!!!! LEARN TO THINK OBJECTIVELY!!!!
jonwash said,
September 18, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Elbert,
Very interesting comments and a good perspective from the birds-eye view of a lawyer. I take it you were in the courtroom during the trial and that you are a defense lawyer. How would you have handled this case? How would you have place the case in the context of all the events that had led up to this incident? I think the purpose of your comment was to respond to the accusations that the PD did not do his job and I think you did that quite well. I think it is possible that the Jena six are quite guilty of what they are accused of , yet also call into question the way the system is handling this. Too often this is framed in a way that the character of the defendents blurrs the concern about equal justice. I think the way this has been handled by those in authority in Jena is as much a cause for review and investigation as is the conduct of the Jena six. The Jena six should be punished if they did what they are accused of, the question is are they being punished more servely because of race? Again I appreciate the comments you made above and the perspective you brought to this subject.
KGreene said,
September 19, 2007 at 2:11 pm
For this to go over like this in the year 2007 would be like 10 steps back for all races, I mean here it is I though at least we were farther in the growth of our judicial systems and Laws…This is truly surprising!!!
Bart said,
September 19, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Thank you, Elbert!
As a journalist, I read through this with dismay. The barrage of opinion made it impossible for me to agree with the writer. Instead of supporting evidence, he offers innuendo and supposition time and again. The entire piece is clearly slanted to evoke strong emotional response.
That does not serve justice.
Most disappointingly, there’s not a shred of information as to the extent of injury suffered by Justin Barker. The writer has made Barker more of an attacker than Mychal Bell! He implies that Barker’s comments simply got him what he deserved, and that the ONLY reason anyone at all is being prosecuted is racism!
I wish I could side with either Barker or Bell - but if I am to decide based on this seriously flawed piece of writing, I can’t.
bess said,
September 19, 2007 at 4:18 pm
hatered painted as racism is evil at work!
Former Justice O’Conner did not want to prohibit the free speech of a known KKK member; so she ruled it alright to burn crosses as long as it was not to intimidate. Wow, and we wonder why the so called defense attorney for the Gena 6 worked to free these youths from the Jim Crow system that they are subjected to — Point is the attorneys for these youth did what O’Conner did– they did not want to upset the way things were with the good ol boys and the way things should remain. After all, if those who practice hate toward those of the African diaspora keep in power, and keep themselves separate, then they keep themselves free of the n*gger; And to keep free from the n*gger is to keep up the ol Jim Crow ways even in 2000 and beyond.
If these young men had money to pay for a real defense to operate in their favor, the boys would not be in jail all of this time; would not have their college career suddenly halted; would not have their names plastered all over the headlines, while the whites who were involved names remain unknown, huh?
If these young men were not n*ggers to the DA, the school, and other government officials we would have no need for the Defense fund.
bess said,
September 19, 2007 at 4:32 pm
The Law in Jena would serve as The Defense, against injustice if the youth of the African diaspora were looked upon as HUMAN not just some n*ggers upsetting the good ol boys way of “this is how it is around here”.
Justice denied to Blacks in America, is justice denied to all, even you White America. Don’t think that your court rulings, your sympathetic support, and Jim Crow practices dont affect you directly. Your refusal to call evil what it is, has allowed your children to become even worse than your Slaveowning ancestors.
If hanging those nooses from a tree is consider a childlike prank, then what was it when Hilter invited Jews to the gas tank? was that a prank?
I respect the Hitlers, Musselinis, and Husseins, and Ben Laden more than those who the actions against the Jena 6. Why? Because these men in power had the courage to admit that they were vessels of hate — they did not hide behind the courts and use court appointed lawyers to screw up a case. No, they just did what they did with bold conviction.
Show the world Jena, State and Federal, and Supreme Court that you support justice for all, not justice for us (white america) only. Why should we need to raise money to fight for justice, when the taxes we pay to the governement and its people who work in the system get paid to do that as our representatives.
Casey McAllister said,
September 19, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Such a tragedy and an embarrassment to the state i live in and was born in. More embarrassing yet is that, though I don’t live in a rural area, having spent time in parts of rural Louisiana and Mississippi, i can totally see this happening. It’s also interesting how little this was reported in the news around Baton Rouge and New Orleans. I’d like to say I’m in disbelief, but sadly I’m not.
bess said,
September 19, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Elbert pls ans in repsonse to ur post:
You said
First of all, let us look at the possible defenses to the charge against Michal Bell,
it has been reported that jury summones went out to 100 people, that only 50 out of the 100 responded, and than not a single black person was among the respondents to the summonses
Q. How many summones were in fact of African American and/or Black Americans; How is this verified?
Your said:
“A gifted athlete and solid student with a promising future,” is how you characterized Mychal Bell despite the fact that he has three prior convictions for criminal assaults. That is why his bail was set at $90,000. How promising of a future does a juvenile who by the age of 16 has three prior criminal assault convictions? He was bound for prison with that kind of history.
Q. Do you live in Jena? If so, do you live as an African American or other? Let’s agree that three prior convictions for criminal assaults are fact and true. Did he get convicted because he’s the n*gger or did he get convicted because he was rightly convicted by an unbaised, non racist judge and/or jury? Cause with that kind of history he is not bound for prison if he has the right hookup, like money and friends of the Justice system.
You said:
“Is Mychal Bell guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Did he receive a fair trial? And did Blane Williams, Mr. Bell’s court appointed attorney, give the trial a moment’s thought before entering the courtroom?”, that is your question.
Q. Before the publishing of this foolish book, “If I Did it”, many White Americans believed O.J. did do it; Just as many believed these African American boys “did it”; Now that O.J. has published the book many more if not all believe he really did it. And it appears more evident that he did such an evil deed. How do you establish that these young boys were indeed guilty and not presumed, or judged guilty before they were charged; All reports that I have seen lends to the thought, that these African American boys were guilty of being Black while at a White Good Ol Boys Club, oops, while at school. If they were in let’s say, N.Y., Atlanta, Los Angeles, or Washington DC when this happened, then I could readly agree with you that it is a more fair method toward justice that was applied. Just like the case of O.J. if Furman had removed himself for the process and not set up his own evidence, then we would not have to find out later what many believed to be so, a decade ago.
You said:
Hanging of a noose does not render your testimony incredible. Note that Mark Fuhrman was impeached because he denied that he had used the “N” word; not that he used the “N” word. It was the fact that he lied in answering