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Free the Jena 6: Congressional Hearings Announced

By Carmen D. on Friday, September 21st, 2007, 6:47 am Comments

Conyers Announces Forum, Hearings on “Jena Six”

(Washington, DC)- Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) told a crowd gathered on the Capitol grounds that he is holding a forum next week and plans to hold hearings to address the case of six teenagers in Jena, Louisiana who were charged with attempted murder for a schoolyard fight. Conyers spoke during a rally of support for the students, now being called the “Jena Six,” in Washington, in coordination with rallies in Jena and other U.S. cities.

“I want to hold a forum next week and hearings at some point in the Judiciary Committee on this issue because in 2007, there should not even be allegations of unequal justice based on race or any other factors,” Conyers said. “This case brings to light what could be a national trend and the Judiciary Committee should explore that.”
Conyers will hold a forum next week during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference on Friday, September 28 at 3 p.m. in room 209C of the Washington Convention Center. It will feature Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Harvard professor Dr. Charles Ogletree, a family member of one of the Jena Six students, Louisiana ACLU representatives and others. The Judiciary Committee hearing has not yet been set. From The Judiciary Committee, Chairman Conyers Announces Forum, Hearings on “Jena Six”, The Gavel

What I saw yesterday was beautiful. A sea of faces walking, marching in the tradition of our greatest Civil Rights heroes. Young people, old people, mostly black people, there in Jena, standing for justice. My dear friend called me in the late morning, she hadn’t been able to get to a television. But when she finally did turn on coverage, she was moved to tears. It has been a long time since black people en masse have pooled their resources and boarded buses to engage in peaceful demonstration. Let the march in Jena be that clarion call that so many of us have been listening for.

Never in our American history have we the people had so many resources at our fingertips to communicate, urge, encourage and demand change. Some of us knew. Now, we all know.

Hat tip to BlackAmazon

UPDATE – Read: Kevin over at Slant Truth 2.0 has assembled some of the most interesting analysis of Jena and it’s coverage. Head on over and take a look.

  • Hi Jeff, welcome to the conversation. There are not saints on either side for sure. And that's the point. You are worthy of justice because equal protection is guaranteed to you under the law, not to mention because you are a human being. That's all. Many are attacking the push for justice because Bell has a record. Well, Barker was expelled from Jena High for bringing a gun to school. That doesn't make him any less of a victim which I believe he is. No matter what he said (and I believe he did hurl the N-word) multiple attackers on one person is unacceptable. I have been the victim of such an attack when I was in second grade. You never forget it.
  • Jeff
    I am not so sure. I think the things the white kids did, hanging a noose in a tree etc were wrong. But there is certainly some fault among the black kids. They did assault the white kid, and he wound up in the hospital.

    Maybe the proper thing to do was expell the white kids, charge them with a crime like disturbing the peace. I don't know of any statutes where it is illegal to hang a rope in a tree, but in this case, it surely was directed at a group.

    The kids that attacked the white kid are wrong too. They should be charged with Battery.

    I don't believe that there are any saints on either side of the fence in this situation.

    It also seems a little bit silly to me that we have a white only shade tree at a Louisiana high school in 2007. Why isn't anyone upset about that?
  • Hi Tom. Yes it is awesome because this is an appropriate platform to examine our problematic justice system.
  • Tom
    That is awesome.
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