One, Two, KaPow! Mychal Bell Is Released

First this:

Justice Department Asked to enter Jena Case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Congressional Black Caucus is asking the Justice Department to investigate possible civil rights violations in the “Jena 6″ case that sparked a massive protest in Louisiana last week.

“This shocking case has focused national and international attention on what appears to be an unbelievable example of the separate and unequal justice that was once commonplace in the Deep South,” the group of 43 lawmakers said in a letter to Acting Attorney General Peter Keisler.

Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said the department has been closely monitoring the case of six black high school teens arrested for beating a white classmate in Jena, La. He said the department also is investigating allegations of threats against the students and their families.

“Since these investigations are ongoing, the department cannot comment any further,” Roehrkasse said.

And then this:

Jena Six Defendant Released on Bail

A black teenager whose prosecution in the beating of a white classmate prompted a massive civil rights protest here walked out of a courthouse Thursday after a judge ordered him freed.

Mychal Bell’s release on $45,000 bail came hours after a prosecutor confirmed he will no longer seek an adult trial for the 17-year-old. Bell, one of the teenagers known as the Jena Six, still faces trial as a juvenile in the December beating in this small central Louisiana town.

Both stories show up on Google News within the last few hours.

My favorite part: “District Attorney Reed Walters said Thursday that he would not appeal that decision and would let a juvenile court deal with the case.”

Gee, Mr. Walters. Not so cocky any more are you? What happened to that stern conviction you had that Mychal Bell deserved to rot in jail for the next 50 years for wielding his deadly tennis shoe? Your change of heart didn’t have anything to do with the growing support for you to be investigated and kicked out of your job, was it?

I’m just wondering.

Regardless, this is certainly good news. A message has been sent, loud and clear, that this sort of injustice will not stand, but once again, this is far from over. I feel that we must remain vigilant in keeping our eyes on this case. We must not let the Jena justice system off the hook just because they finally were pressured to do the right thing.

This is just the beginning, my friends.

Here’s why:

Six white suspects accused of torturing a young black woman for days in West Virginia will not face federal hate crime charges, Justice Department officials told NBC News on Wednesday.

At one point, an assailant cut the woman’s ankle with a knife and used the N-word in telling her she was victimized because she is black, according to the criminal complaints.

On August 18, 2006, seven young African American lesbians traveled to the West Village from their homes in Newark for a regular night out. When walking down the street, a male bystander assaulted them with sexist and homophobic comments. The women tried to defend themselves, and a fight broke out. Thus began the women’s nightmare for almost a year. Three of the women accepted plea offers. On June 14th, 2007 Venice Brown (19), Terrain Dandridge (20), Patreese Johnson (20), and Renata Hill (24) received sentences ranging from 3 ½ to 11 years in prison.

The women and their families now call on our communities for support. Their emotional and financial burdens have already been immense. These hardships will only continue as the women begin their prison terms and the process of appeal.

Swastikas and hateful messages aimed at Jews were spray-painted on buildings and cars in more than a dozen locations in Brooklyn Heights on Monday night and yesterday, and fliers with savage epithets were found in three locations there, the police said.

There were no arrests yesterday, but more than 20 detectives were assigned to the case, as were dozens of officers in uniform and plainclothes, along with members of the department’s Hate Crime Task Force. A city truck equipped with tools and chemicals to remove graffiti was also dispatched.

The Jena Six Case is not just an assault on black folks, or black men in particular. It is part and parcel of an assault on anyone that does not fit The Mold. Not heterosexual? You’re damned. Not able-bodied? You’re damned. Skin too brown? You’re damned. Practice the wrong religion? You’re damned. Don’t speak English well? Your damned.

That’s what this is really all about. The specificity here, crimes against black folks, is certainly notable and should be pointed out as crimes against black folks, but for those who seem to think that these crimes aren’t worthy of your support because the victims don’t meet your standards of “good behavior,” it should be pointed out that your behavior is more than likely looked down upon by the same people that you are happily siding with in this case. The difference? You tell me.

Update: Carmen points out that Reed Walters is still ignorant and racist as all get out. Surprise, huh? From the Chicago Tribune:

“I firmly believe that had it not been for the direct intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ last Thursday, a disaster would have happened,” LaSalle Parish District Atty. Reed Walters told a nationally televised press conference.

When a black Jena pastor attending the press conference called it a “shame” that the prosecutor was crediting divine intervention for the orderly behavior of the demonstrators, Walters, who is white, said: “What I’m saying is, the Lord Jesus Christ put his influence on those people, and they responded accordingly.”

Gah! Can you believe this man? Carmen sums it up nicely:

No way dedication to justice, restraint and discipline could have played a roll. No sirree, Bob. That’s right Mr. Walters, remind your base to be afraid of “those people,” tell them that what they saw on that awesome day a week ago was a mirage whipped up by the Lord Himself. Afterall, only the Lord could suppress the savage and destructive urges of “those people.” African American human beings, united for a cause, could have never pulled off anything so grand on their own.

Elliott’s Law

Whenever people say stupid shit and are then called out on their stupid shit, why do they always bring up Martin Luther King? Gee, you read Dr. King in High School and so now you know exactly what he would have thought about every racial incident in the world? Martin Luther King’s name has become, in the eyes of many, a “get out of jail free card,” it seems. Just mention his name and you’re right! I’m sick of it. It’s insulting to his memory.

Taking my cue from Mike Godwin I propose the following as true:

As an online discussion concerning race grows longer, the probability of a person referencing Martin Luther King, Jr. as a means to justify their racist and/or ignorant attitudes approaches one.

My law differs in that I assert that all such instances are inappropriate. And yes, if you do this, you lose.

In other news, check out Elle’s great analysis.

Do you ever wonder why sit-in participants had to be so well-dressed, so calm, so “respectable?”

Well, of course you know. The people who would be the face of the Civil Rights Movement had to be virtually blameless. They couldn’t give white bigots fodder to dismiss them or the movement. They had to tread a line between being the human face of the movement while upholding super-human reputations and faithfully remaining non-violent.

It was a lot to expect, this demand for perfection, this unspoken implication that African Americans had to be more than human, had to prove themselves worthy of fair treatment, of justice.

But I believe it was necessary then, to stave off attacks from enemies of the movement. Because a flaw, a sign of poor judgment, an episode of human error could be used to question the validity of not only the people involved, but the movement itself.

Well, skip ahead half-a-century, and AAPP makes an observation that struck a chord within me, that “white liberals and white bigots seem to agree.”

See, when faced with the question of how the hell can you be so silent in the face of injustice, of unequal treatment, of blatant racism, rather than admit you dropped the ball* or more importantly, that you just didn’t get it, you reached back and borrowed those old techniques for impugning the movement.

You can’t support the Jena Six (or issues this highlights) because there is no hero?

For people who didn’t know much about the Jena Six, suddenly you were awfully concerned about offenses for which Mychal Bell had been convicted.

And you focused on the MAJOR point of “was the slogan really effective/correct/what I would’ve chosen?”

And you referenced the old, “I just can’t understand what they’re saying!” I was honestly boggled by the “But… but… I couldn’t get clear information” and “Little comprehensible info was published about it.”

Oh, and “Well they’ve been telling us we can’t stand for them!” No, you can’t. But you can stand with us.

Even if you don’t, guess what? We’re still going to see and fight the injustice in the treatment of this child.

And OOH OOH! Sylvia wrote a guest post at Kai’s!

So what glimmer of understanding do I wish to impart? Very simply, the Jena Six is not a matter of guilt or innocence. If you think this case is about dancing and singing with Al Sharpton in Jena while wearing black, go home or bury some soap or something. If you view this case as a stepping stone for your own self-aggrandizement here there and everywhere, sit at home and think a few seconds before stepping back out again. If you think this case is only about freeing these young men, you’re half-steppin’. If you view the Jena Six incident as uppity newcomer Negroes wanting to start some ruckus, then please go back to your guard post under your bridge. Denial about a person’s criminal actions in a case is unwanted. This fight is not about what we can do to stop people from being criminals (though there’s no denying that goal is important); it is about what happens when those people are already within the criminal justice system and cannot afford an OJ-style legal Dream Team. (Unlike the amorphous debates over God and hip-hop, Johnnie Cochran is dead — bless his soul.) Even if those six teenagers are guilty of participating in a school fight, the penalty of decades in prison does not fit the crime. If our mainstream media watchdogs are sleeping on the job or are too busy staring up Britney’s skirt, we will lose people to our system routinely burying them under the jail in a matter of days because of insufficient representation, reckless convictions on circumstantial evidence, inadequate investigations, the wonders of a legal device known as a peremptory strike, and many other devices and systemic indifferences that ensure any perception of a person’s equal justice under the law is gone. The Jena Six punishment scheme is steeped in racial animus, even if the average Jena citizen’s colorblindness is kicking into stratospheric oblivion (wait for the Jena librarian’s explanation). Even as the citizen of a neighboring Louisiana town shows his biases and hostility proudly. If an overall goal must be set that encompasses the legal concessions of the past few months, that goal is fair sentencing and legal processing for people of color. If a specific goal must be set that is targeted towards Robert Bailey, Jesse Baird, Mychal Bell, Carwin Jones, Bryant Purvis, and Theodore Shaw, it is a fair trial with adequate legal representation and sentencing proportionate to their offenses if it is determined that they are guilty.

Whatever direction you choose, remember to speak out about it before there’s no one left to speak for you.

National Lawyers Guild on the Jena Six

From The National Lawyers Guild.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, September 24, 2007

Contact: Kerry McLean, 917-334-9331
Marjorie Cohn, NLG President, 858-204-3565

NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD CALLS FOR RELEASE OF MYCHAL BELL, FOR ALL CHARGES AGAINST THE JENA 6 TO BE DROPPED, AND FOR FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO JENA 6 ARRESTS AND PROSECUTIONS

The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) calls for the immediate release of Mychal Bell, one of the six high school students who have come to be known as the “Jena 6.” The Guild also calls for all charges against the Jena 6 to be dropped, and for the investigation and disbarment of Judge J.P. Mauffray and District Attorney Reed Walters.

Judge J.P. Mauffray and DA Reed Walters have engaged in a string of egregious actions, the most recent of which was the denial of bail for Bell on Friday. The NLG urges that: 1) The United States Department of Justice convene an immediate inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the arrests and prosecutions of the Jena 6; 2) Judge Mauffray be recused from presiding over Bell’s juvenile court hearings or other proceedings; 3) The Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel investigate Reed Walters for unethical and possibly illegal conduct; 4) The Louisiana Judiciary Commission investigate Judge Mauffray for unethical conduct; and 5) The Jena school district superintendent be removed from office.

“Contrary to what Reed Walters and J.P. Mauffray may think, Jena is subject to the same Constitution that the rest of the United States is,” remarked Kerry McLean, member of the executive board of the NLG.

“There have been numerous, brazen violations of the constitutional rights of the Jena 6.” McLean continued, “In addition to the constitutional violations, Walters and Mauffray have breached the ethical requirements of their offices. They should be made to answer for all of this.”

“The double standard of justice in Jena, one for black students and another for whites, is emblematic of the racism that still permeates many towns throughout the South and the country as a whole. There must be an immediate and full investigation of judicial and prosecutorial malfeasance in Jena, Louisiana,” said Marjorie Cohn, President of the NLG.

There is an unequal justice system in Jena, where blacks are routinely the victims of discriminatory and oppressive treatment by officials.

Founded in 1937 as an alternative to the American Bar Association which did not admit people of color, the National Lawyers Guild is the oldest and largest public interest/human rights bar organization in the United States. Its headquarters are in New York and it has chapters in every state.

Mychal Bell to Remain in Jail

From the Associated Press:

JENA, La. (AP) — A judge on Friday denied a request to release a teenager whose arrest in the beating of a white classmate sparked this week’s civil rights protest in Louisiana. Mychal Bell’s request to be freed while an appeal is being reviewed was rejected at a juvenile court hearing, effectively denying him any chance at immediate bail, a person familiar with the case told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because juvenile court proceedings are closed.

Earlier, Bell’s mother emerged from the hearing in tears, refusing to comment.

This is beyond unbelievable. Or maybe not. The Jena Courts seem intent on giving the middle finger to any notion of decency. What kills is that had Bell been tried in Juvenile Court, as he should have been in the first case, he would have more than likely served his time, paid his dues, and been getting on with his life by now. It’s as if the Jena Courts are determined to send a message: “The DA is right. Protest all you want, but we will still destroy you with a stroke of our pens.” It is clear now that Federal intervention is needed. The Governor, Kathleen Blanco, won’t can’t¹ touch this;. the LA. Appellate Courts have made it clear that the situation is afoul by their recent decisions; and yet, the Local Jena Courts persist with what I can only understand as a crusade to destroy black lives. Fortunately John Conyers is planing to hold Congressional hearings on the matter. It is imperative, now more than ever, that the pressure is kept on.

1. see comments [↩]

Bloggers for Jena

Here is what some bloggers have been writing about the Jena Six lately.

Many updates below the fold. Be sure to check them out.

Brownfemipower has some questions:

Have you talked to your child about why they/you are wearing black?
Have you told your child why s/he is worth it?
Have you figured out how you can be involved?
Have you wondered what the Jena Six have to do with Latin@ Immigrants?
Have you been wondering what a bitch has to say about the Jena Six?
Have you wondered how things have changed since 1971?
Have you wondered what you can do with your digital camera?
Have you been looking for pictures of the march?
Have you been thinking, “This is a black issue”?
Have you tried to talk yourself out of posting something?

Go to her site for the answers.

PurpleZoe has the Virtual March going on. Anthony, Blackamazon, Renegade Evolution, Francis, drakyn, Carmen, Mellodyus, and Mnemosyne have all taken part.

MattBastard has the bumped and updated report on the Jena Six day of action with lots of links.

Chris Kromm, of Facing South, wonders about the silence from progressive bloggers on the Jena Six (cross-posted at DKos).

Pam Spaulding weighs in on the lack of progressive blogging about the Jena Six at her place and at Pandagon.

Donna Darko has some questions as well:

Feminists are white, civil rights leaders are men, women of color do all the work and don’t get any credit. The more things change, the more things stay the same. Yesterday’s Chicago Tribune article, “Blogs help drive Jena protest,” attributes the activism of Jena Six, Shaquanda Cotton and “what could turn out to be one of the largest civil rights demonstrations in years” to “hip-hop music blogs,” Mos Def, Shawn Williams of Dallas South Blog and James Rucker of Color of Change. Everyone assumes Civil Rights leaders are men. The journalist writes of “this new African-American blogosphere, which scarcely even existed a year ago.” What “new African-American blogosphere, which scarcely even existed a year ago” is he talking about except a few scattered blogs and the Radical Women of Color Blogring started by BrownFemiPower a year and three-quarters ago?

Black women in the Civil Rights Movement were ignored even though they were initiators. The anti-lynching movement was lead by black women. Race activism is often lead by black, Latina, Asian and Native American women who don’t get any credit. The “black bloggers” who broke the story were Vox Ex Machina, Sylvia formerly of The Anti-Essentialist Conundrum (no longer available), elle of ellephd and Tom of Automatic Preference. Tom and Sylvia drew up the petition which now has 355,690 signatures and Sylvia created the banners you see everywhere. Vox ex Machina, Sylvia of the Anti-Essentialist Conundrum, elle of ellephd, BlackAmazon of Having Read the Fine Print, Rachel at Rachel’s Tavern and other RWOC and allies started petitions, wrote letters and extensively covered Shaquanda Cotton. I’m naming names because I sent this post to the author of the article.

And Donna is right. I learned of this case from Elle, Sylvia and Tom. The banners I’m using were made by Sylvia. I keep an eye on Hip Hop blogs, and no, they weren’t the one’s to break this story. Elle, Sylvia, Blackamzon were on this before I heard a peep from Mos Def or Howard Witt. Pointing out that the women behind this movement are being ignored doesn’t diminish anyone else’s efforts, but for reals, let’s give credit where credit is due. And seriously, responses like this

“thanks for the link. certainly i understand that there are many women bloggers as well who are part of your movement, and i’ve corresponded with several of them. i just didn’t have a chance yesterday to reach out to any of them in the brief time i had available to pull that story together.
regards,
howard witt”

don’t cut it. Speaking of which, Ilyka resurfaces to post on the Jena Six:

I guess our outrage over the inevitable life-ruination that jail guarantees–guarantees!–is directly proportional to how much we think the lives in question are worth in the first place. If, on the other hand, a life is already deemed ruined from the moment of its conception, well: What’s a little jail to that?

And speaking of worth–

–if you took time out of your busy day anytime this year to rail against criticism of a fucking book cover, you have time to post about this.

–if you took time out of your busy day anytime this year to screech about nerds on the internet DOSing and dDosing your feminist website, you have time to post about this.

–if you took time out of your busy day anytime this year to explain why you wear lipstick or suck dick or wax your cooter, you have time to post about this.

So don’t cry that you didn’t have time today ’cause you’re so busy. Just spare everyone the overwhelming stench of horseshit and tell the truth: You don’t give a fuck.

Vox Ex Machina explains why this is not a “black issue“:

When a group of students receive a death threat for sitting under a tree, this is not a “black issue.”

When a D.A. threatens to “end [their] lives with the stroke of a pen” for speaking up about it, this is not a “black issue.”

When children are charged with theft for wrestling a gun away from a person threatening them, and that person is not charged with anything, this is not a “black issue.”

When children are charged with aggravated assault — because their tennis shoes are deadly weapons — in what was, at most, a schoolyard brawl, this is not a “black issue.”

Black and Missing has a detailed overview of the case, for those that are just picking up on it.

[Update 1] The Angry Black Bitch, with her fine art of bitchitude, get’s quizzical.

A bitch watched several news reports about the Jena Louisiana protests that featured snippets from the District Attorney’s press conference. Something he said just stuck with me…like someone singing off key in the midst of a fantabulous choir.

LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters said of the victim (the white male student) “The injury done to him and threats to his survival have become less than a footnote.”

Which would have shamed some people except for the fact that the victim was healthy enough to get his party on later that evening following the “injury done to him.” Mayhap the young have quick recovery skills…or perhaps “the injury done to him” wasn’t as serious as the attempted murder charge it resulted in.

District Attorney Walters went on to add…

“This case has not, never has been about race. It’s about finding justice for an innocent victim, holding people accountable for their actions. That is what it’s about.”

Let’s dust that one off and take it for a spin, shall we?

No one is disputing the fact that a fight broke out. What is in dispute is whether the fight equaled attempted murder and whether the only people worthy of being charged in connection to that fight were young black men.

Cough.
I’m quizzical about the “holding people accountable” part of the District Attorney’s statement.
It really bothers me and I think I know why.

Pause…sip water…continue…

It’s bullshit.

Go on, read the rest.

[Update 2] Kai tells it like it is and as always does so with insight that makes me jealous:

In my view, the most striking element of the extensive CNN coverage I watched yesterday was the profundity of white denial of racism. Almost without exception, white Jena residents who were asked whether there was “racial tension” in their town suddenly looked as though a major chunk of their brain short-circuited and went dark, their eyes went flat, and they mass-hypnotically mouthed hollow statements such as “No we’re not that kind of people, we play football together.” And that’s because one of the effects of racism is precisely a sort of mass hypnosis which insidiously blinds people to the flagrant system of power and oppression under which they live by making the racist power structure seem as natural and invisible as the air we breathe.

Thus it is impossible for most white Jena residents, questioned about racism, to think it over for a few seconds and say, “Yes, racism has been a serious historical problem in these parts, just like in the rest of the country, and we’re still struggling to get past that dark legacy; but we’ve made a lot of progress and we’re trying our best to see to it that African Americans in our community have equal rights and protections, and I hope that’s the case with the Jena 6 too.” You might think this would be a good thing to say, an easy way to diffuse the situation and avoid a ton of bad press. But most white Jena residents are literally incapable of saying such a thing because the brain functions which organize such thoughts have been shut down by racist socialization. Indeed, it didn’t even occur to most of the white Jena residents whom I saw interviewed that the story was about black folks, not white folks; the suffering of black families ripped apart by unjust incarceration did not even register on their mental radar screens, all they could see was their own suffering at being portrayed as racist.

From the Skeptical Brotha: Just Hold On, Change Is Coming
:

Norman Hutchin’s song, “A move of God,” has been in my head all day.

To Mychal Bell, Robert Bailey, Jr, Theo Shaw, Carwin Jones, Bryant Purvis, and the other unnamed young brotha, just hold on, change is coming.

“I feel a breakthrough coming your way, it’s a mighty move of God, it’s gonna change your day. With signs and wonders, miracles to perform, God is gonna bless you for just holding on.”

“Just hold on, a change is coming, feel it in the air, it’s in the atmosphere. Just hold on, a change is coming, a move of God is on the way.”

“You’ve been expecting a change in your life, looking for your midnight to turn to sunshine. It’s gonna happen, you wait and see, all things are possible to them that believe.”

“Just hold on, a change is coming, feel it in the air, it’s in the atmosphere. Just hold on, a change is coming…A move of God is on the way.”

We should have progressed past this kind of unequal treatment based on race; however, we clearly are not. The outpouring of community support in the black community and the dearth of support from others is quite telling. Katrina became an enduring symbol of neglect and racial indifference and Jena, Louisiana has provided the nation with another.

There is nothing particularly unique about the disproportionate felony charges meted out to these six teenage boys, this happens everyday to black children somewhere in America, as Al Sharpton has pointed out. What is unique is the black reaction the racially discriminatory actions of the LaSalle Parish School Board and LaSalle Parish District Attorney provoked.

Today’s rally was amazing in its genesis and scale, as the song above says, “It’s a mighty move of God, it’s gonna change your day.” I feel confident in predicting that the charges against all six young men will be dropped.

[Update 3, 22 Sept.] Afro-Netizen: We Protest

We protest because the boys of Jena 6 and their families need to know they are not alone.

We protest because the Jena travesty is not about a nooses that were hung on a now-felled tree, but the noose of injustice that remains around the neck of Black America.

We protest because few people know “state-sponsored terrorism” like Blackfolk.

We protest because Jena is not a rural Southern town, it is a state of mind — not from the 1950s, but of the here and now in every American town, suburb and city from South to North and sea to shining sea.

David Neiwert proves that it’s possible to admit falling down on the Jena Six story without getting all “I’M NOT A RACIST! DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO BLOG ABOUT!” defensive in What Happened in Jena. What a breath of fresh air.

None of the top-tier liberal bloggers paid the Jena situation much attention in the weeks leading up to the march, and those of us on the left dedicated to civil-rights and race issues — like myself — tended to let it slide. The bloggers who made this happen were all “bloggers of color” whose own burgeoning network turned out to be truly potent.

Fortunately, their energies made the difference in Jena, and now the whole world is watching and paying attention. That includes those of us who should have been doing so in the first place.

(Tip o’ the fedora to Matt Bastard)

[Update 4, 23 Sept.] Rachel tries “to explain why the Jena 6 case is troubling to an audience of somewhat skeptical whites.

So a word of advice to people who are discussing the Jena 6 case, when people try to frame the discussion around only the fight or only Jena, Louisiana, don’t let them. The case itself is much broader, and the issues of our criminal (in)justice system are way bigger than Jena, Louisiana.”

Guess I thought that was obvious, but Rachel is right to point out that it obviously isn’t.

Also, Pam over at Pandagon pointed out that the excellent “How to Suppress Discussions of Racism” post is still online. I thought it had vanished. I’m glad to see it still available. I can’t think of a more pertinent post right now. Here’s the break down:

Control what your audience sees.

Attack the person, not the argument.

Argue against straw men.

Deflect attention away from the specific criticism.

Racism, however ugly, is better than the alternative.

Prove your opponent has mistaken some other quality for racism.

That’s it! With these six easy steps, you can make any discussion of racism so frustrating that your opponent will never bring up the subject again.

Try it out today!

Head over to Left in SF for the full deal.

White Supremacists for Jena

Scott over at Acephalous points us to David Duke’s statement on the Jena Six. It’s been pointed out often that the town of Jena, LA., voted overwhelmingly for Duke when he ran for the Senate and for Governor back in the day, and so Duke apparently felt the need to let us all know how oppressed he and his white supremacist brethren are when folks with sense call them on their bullshit:

Much has been made of the fact that I won an overwhelming majority of votes in Jena Louisiana in my election bids for U.S. Senator and for Governor. Such is said to falsely label the people in Jena as “racists.” In fact, I won the overwhelming majority of the White vote in the entire state of Louisiana, not just in Jena.

Um, Ok. So you’re saying that the entire state of Louisiana is racist? Well, not buying that. Last I checked, my girlfriend wasn’t racist, and Scott is one of the best of the best. So, based on two people (one whom I’ve never even met personally, but whom I have the utmost respect for) that I know from LA., I say you lose.

Since the people of Jena voted for me twice to speak for them as their Senator and as their Governor, I will ardently speak for them now.

Wow, that really sucks for the people of Jena. I might have given them a chance if you weren’t involved.

The people of Jena, the people of Louisiana and I are not racist.

Wrong. I can’t speak for all the people of Jena, or Louisiana, but you, Mr. Duke, are a racist.

We simply want justice to be done.

And by justice, you mean keep those negros in their place, right? Jail them whenever you can because they are hurting the rights of white people everywhere to do whatever the hell they please whenever they please. It’s a constitutional right to be able to pull guns on black folks and to threaten them with hanging. If, heaven forbid, those negroes decide to resist, THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW AND MUST BE SENT UP THE RIVE WITH THE QUICKNESS.

We understand that White people in America have lost our basic civil rights. Whites are now deprived of human rights by racial discrimination in jobs, promotions, scholarships, college admissions and in many other programs. More importantly, Whites are increasingly victims of Black racial violence and hate crimes. In fact, a White person is 40 to 50 times more likely to be a victim of Black gang violence than a Black is likely to be a victim of White gang violence.

BWAH HA HA HA HA HA! You’ve got to be kidding me. “White people in America have lost [their] basic civil rights?” I feel bad about laughing at something so ridiculous and yet still so insiduous. A lot of people seem to think this is true, and I should probably be taking such claims more seriously. But Damn, shit like this is so ridiculous that all I can do is laugh at the stupid asses that believe it.

Michael Bell, the Black hate crime attacker who has now become a hero with hardly a mention in the media of his previous four convictions for violence

Not only is there almost no media coverage of the Black violent hate crimes against Whites, but in high profile cases when Blacks are prosecuted for heinous crimes against innocent Whites, the White victims are ignored and the Black criminals are turned into “real victims” by the media.

Ok, this is where I start to get really pissed off. This entire incident has been well documented. The violent acts by all parties, white and black, have been documented. NO ONE. NO ONE has said that the six Black students should be held to a different level of justice than the White students. What has been said is that the black students are being held to a different level of justice than the white students that have committed equal crimes.

By the way, love that (not so) subtle implication that whites are always innocent and blacks are always violent criminals.

Nothing more clearly illustrates this point than what has occurred over the past year in Jena, Louisiana and the orgy of hatred that Jena has suffered. today, September 20, the town has been invaded by thousands of thugs like Al Sharpton who seek to make violent Black hate criminals such as Michael Bell and the rest of the so-called “Jena Six” into heroes. Even worse the entire White population of the town is facing a media lynching by being labeled racists who are unjustly persecuting Black young men.

If you were in Jena today, you are a thug (no negative connotations at all). If you think that black kids have been unfairly prosecuted, you are contributing to an “orgy of hatred.” Um, I’m still waiting for you, Mr. Duke, to say something about the nooses, about the black kids getting beat up, about the black kids with guns pulled on them. Really, I wan to hear more about this “orgy of hatred.” You should, Mr. Duke, as an authority on the situation, be able to tell me all I need to know about “the rule of law” in this situation.

Michael Bell, who has been convicted of four previous violent crimes, (a fact scarcely revealed by the media), led a group of six Black students to attack and unmercifully beat a White Student at Jena High School in what can only be described as a vicious hate crime. Motivated by racial hatred, the six Blacks attacked one lone White student, Justin Barker. They stomped and kicked him to unconsciousness and continued to kick him and stomp him as he lay helpless. The attack could have easily have taken his life if others had not intervened. Only by the grace of God did he survive.

Again, no. No one has denied that Mychal Bell (dude, spell his name right!) has been in trouble before. No one has denied that a fight took place, with a dude finding himself in the hospital. Funny, though, few people have pointed out that the victim here was taunting the black kids.

Ugh, I’m tired.Read the rest of this bullshit, if you must.

Reflections

It appears that Pam Spaulding has ruffled a few feathers by wondering why so many “progressive” bloggers have been silent on the Jena Six. What gets me is that even though Pam went out of her way to make it clear that she isn’t trying to dictate what other’s should blog about and that she isn’t accusing every blogger that hasn’t written on the Jena Six of being racist, people are still accusing her of…trying to dictate what people blog about and calling them racists!

I’ve been watching the news all day, and I’ve yet to see a single mention of incidents like the white dude that pulled a shotgun on a bunch of black people in Jena, LA, resulting in the black folks getting charged with theft for wrestling the gun away, while the gun-holder got off scott free.

And yet, I’ve seen numerous Jena residents on TV try to convince me that there is no racism in Jena. In fact, Jena, LA., is the epitome of racial solidarity. How do we know this? There are black folks on the football team!

Nancy Grace is annoying. I don’t care what she says; she’s annoying.