2008 Woodie Awards
The other side of Jena 6 racism, hate
By: Sean Martin
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: Forum
Like any good story, the 'Epic of Jena' has come to an end.
With the end of this story, more and more troubling facts have come to light.
In more recent developments, Mychal Bell admitted in court on Dec. 4, that he hit Justin Barker repeatedly and left him unconscious.
He also took a plea bargain taking a charge of second-degree battery, and will testify against the other five if they decide to go to trial.
This is now the second conviction of this particular crime for Bell. Could this be a patterned history of extreme violence and disregard for society, or just a system that is relentlessly targeting an innocent man?
I am surprised an innocent man is copping a plea even when the entire nation knows of his "injustice."
Members of Congress were demanding his release, along with celebrities from David Bowie to Mos Def.
With all of this support and attention, Bell should know that his case would be heavily scrutinized. Maybe he realizes how lucky he was getting away with his racially targeted attack.
Even more interesting is the fact that fellow "six" member, Bryant Purvis, is now facing battery charges for beating a kid at his new high school in Texas.
You may ask what had this kid done to deserve Purvis' fury.
He didn't yell the n-word or assault Purvis, he was suspected of slitting his tires, an act of vandalism that the police have no record of.
If the both incidents can be described as minor fights, why is the idea that they both are charged with crimes and going to face jail time viewed as an acceptable outcome?
"Injustice" is still being committed, but now everyone seems OK with it.
Is this because of laziness, and lack of attention, or do many realize the truth finally reared its head?
I have never heard of concessions or forgetfulness being part of Martin Luther King's and Malcolm X's strategies for civil rights.
On Robert Bailey's (one of "the six") MySpace page there were pictures of him with $100 bills in his mouth and other pictures of him showing off bling with "Free the Jena 6" shirts on.
With the end of this story, more and more troubling facts have come to light.
In more recent developments, Mychal Bell admitted in court on Dec. 4, that he hit Justin Barker repeatedly and left him unconscious.
He also took a plea bargain taking a charge of second-degree battery, and will testify against the other five if they decide to go to trial.
This is now the second conviction of this particular crime for Bell. Could this be a patterned history of extreme violence and disregard for society, or just a system that is relentlessly targeting an innocent man?
I am surprised an innocent man is copping a plea even when the entire nation knows of his "injustice."
Members of Congress were demanding his release, along with celebrities from David Bowie to Mos Def.
With all of this support and attention, Bell should know that his case would be heavily scrutinized. Maybe he realizes how lucky he was getting away with his racially targeted attack.
Even more interesting is the fact that fellow "six" member, Bryant Purvis, is now facing battery charges for beating a kid at his new high school in Texas.
You may ask what had this kid done to deserve Purvis' fury.
He didn't yell the n-word or assault Purvis, he was suspected of slitting his tires, an act of vandalism that the police have no record of.
If the both incidents can be described as minor fights, why is the idea that they both are charged with crimes and going to face jail time viewed as an acceptable outcome?
"Injustice" is still being committed, but now everyone seems OK with it.
Is this because of laziness, and lack of attention, or do many realize the truth finally reared its head?
I have never heard of concessions or forgetfulness being part of Martin Luther King's and Malcolm X's strategies for civil rights.
On Robert Bailey's (one of "the six") MySpace page there were pictures of him with $100 bills in his mouth and other pictures of him showing off bling with "Free the Jena 6" shirts on.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 6
a
posted 3/19/08 @ 12:57 PM EST
That's an awful lot of words to complain about being labeled a racist and that those opposing you are ignoring the facts when that's actually what you're doing. (Continued…)
jeff
posted 3/19/08 @ 9:41 PM EST
a, you seem to be hung up on the teens being 'over' charged based on the extent of the injuries. Attempted murder is about intent, not results. Perhaps some of these punks (applies equally to both sides) squealed on their buds. (Continued…)
A.C.
posted 3/20/08 @ 10:29 AM EST
Mr. Martin--
I find great irony in your statement "There was no compromise or even acknowledgment of facts." Perhaps you need to apply this to yourself (as well as to others who fall in the all-or-nothing camps on both sides of the issue). (Continued…)
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