Acting on an emergency defense appeal, Louisiana’s Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the aggravated second-degree battery conviction of Mychal Bell, 17, ruling that the youth had been tried improperly as an adult. Mychal Bell, the first of the six black students to stand before a judge, was tried as an adult, convicted of aggravated second-degree battery, and was about to face up to 15 years in prison for beating up a white classmate. The September 2006 beating allegedly stems from an incident in which some white students hung nooses from a tree at the high school because black students sat under it.

Bell has been in jail since December because he has been unable to post a $90,000 bond, unlike the other five students. Carwin Jones, Theo Shaw and Robert Bailey Jr, all initially charged with attempted-murder charges, now face aggravated-battery charges. An unidentified minor is being tried in juvenile courts. It has also been reported that District Attorney Reed Walters, will be filing an appeal the reversal of Bell’s conviction to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

A huge rally is being organized that is supposed to be taking place later on this week by several local and national civil rights groups. The rally was intended to be on the day, Sept. 20, Bell was set to be sentenced, but now, with recent development of the case, the media are wondering why the rally will still take place. Alan Bean, director of Friends of Justice, has said the demonstration will turn into a “celebration” of the power of public opinion to influence the Jena 6 matter.

Kevin of Slant Truth is correct that it wouldn’t have been possible without all of the help from people who brought attention to this case.

This would not have been possible without all of the help that so many people put into bringing attention to this case: The Afrosphere/Spear, The Friends of Justice, Color of Change, Sylvia from the Anti-Essentialist Conundrum (no longer available), Elle, PhD, Tom from Automatic Preference, every blogger and activist out there that worked to help spread the news of this case, and everyone that commited themselves to going to Jena, LA. on 20 Sept.

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

On the late night political talk show “Real Time with Bill Maher,” rapper/actor Mos Def said he will be in Jena this Thursday when Maher asked if what happened in Jena represents “America, or is this an isolated [incident].” Mos Def replied:

It’s enough of America for it to be America for me. I shouldn’t have to live in two Americas. I should be living in the same country as everybody else. [applause] I should be able to enjoy full citizenship—

Fuck that. That shit is wack! If people – if people ain’t – they should be more upset about it. What the fuck am I supposed to tell my kids? What am I supposed to tell my son? That you’re just supposed to be a second-class citizen? What’s next? You hurt some white man’s feelings and you got to go to jail now? Fuck that. That shit is bullshit, it’s wack. [applause] I’m going down there for the sentencing, and I’m calling everybody – anybody black, concerned parties, from Will Smith to Jay [–Z], 50 [Cent], Kanye [West], you got something to do, you can’t do it; you can’t show up; sign a petition, respond to me online because what – I’m talking about – and this is – this is compounded.

This is Sean Bell, the San Francisco 8, these dudes is 59, 60 years old, man, grandfathers – they’re going to collect them from they homes all across America to bring them up on some Black Panther terrorist charges. Ann Patterson in Chicago, 30 years for community organizing; framing all these people and all this shit. Jose Padilla – they done destroyed this boy’s mind and his life. Over – over what? All this shit is connected!

Mos Def spoke truth to power when stated, all this shit is connected. In this country, we have public policies that deem Latino and other immigrants of color as social pariahs, Black youth as dangerous and anti-social, and categorize Arabs, South Asians and Muslims as terrorists. Isn’t it ironic that the same town who’s DA had no problem threating the lives of young African Americans with a stroke of a pen, will now be home to a newly renovated concentration camp for ICE? Recently, the LaSalle Economic Development District contracted with The GEO Group to expand a now-abandoned juvenile detention center located in Jena, LA, into another ICE concentration camp.

“The LaSalle Detention Facility will play an important role in the care, custody and control of foreign-national detainees arrested throughout this (five-state area) and awaiting hearings before an immigration judge or removal from the United States,” he said. “When the LaSalle Detention Facility is fully operational, ICE projects employing as many as 60 full-time federal employees. Other federal agencies may also employ as many as 65 full-time federal employees at the LaSalle Detention Facility.”

We are all connected one way or another. If I had the means to go there myself, I would. But for those who do and can make the time, please attend. As Latinos/as, we must put aside our differences and support all our brothers and sisters of color. People of color are being hurt more than ever today, thanks to this Administration’s “Permanent War on Terrorism.” It is not just being fought overseas, but it is here at home, spilling over on the streets creating a cultural of hate. A culture that is growing like a cancer around us, clouding our views. We are at a crossroads, we can go at it alone, as some of our brethren and sistren suggest, or we can build a more united front by building stronger alliances between our peoples who have similar struggles for liberation from poverty and racism, for peace with justice.

Sadly, the silence of our own leaders within the Latino community are contributing to the divide and conquer strategy by not speaking out. In doing so, they are blinding our people to the truth of this society and continuing the competitiveness and opportunism that is intensifying within our own community. It is time, as Latinos and Latinas to see beyond our own poverty, our own struggles against racism and start realizing that only solidarity and alliances with others will create the strength needed to win justice. Throughout history, the divide and conquer strategy has only served to sustain White supremacy over us and it still continues. It will only continue to get worse unless we cry out in a joint, unmistakable, thunderous NO. Now is the time for us to stand together and show we are not divided, we will not fall.

To all those who are going, I may not be there, but I will be there in spirit. Hasta la victoria siempre!

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Tags: African Americans, history, Jena 6, Jim Crow, Latinos-as, Racism, Segregation |  Print This Post |
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