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September 20, 2007
Rallying for the "Jena 6"Speaking of protests, a big one is expected today in the little town of Jena, La., over pending criminal prosecutions against six students for a school fight. The chain of events that led to this point started when some black students asked their high school assistant principal if they could sit under a tree on campus where some white students typically hung out. "You can sit it wherever you like," was the answer. But the next day there were three nooses hanging from the tree.
The principal proposed expulsions for the white kids who'd hung the nooses, but instead a central office committee (which some have confused with the school board) recommended suspending them for three days. The superintendent accepted this advice, referring to the nooses as a "prank." As a result, there were lots of racial tension, threats and fights on and off campus, the district attorney was brought in to read kids the riot act, and, possibly connected to these events, someone torched a school building.
A few days later, six black students allegedly jumped a white classmate, knocking him unconscious, stomping and kicking him, and sending him for a short visit to the hospital. They not only were expelled but were brought up on felony charges, including attempted murder. Some of the charges have been reduced, and a state appeals court has ruled that one defendant should have been tried in juvenile court, but the severity of the prosecutions has sparked outrage and protests nationwide against uneven justice. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have been keeping the pressure on, and rock star David Bowie just donated $10,000 to the legal defense fund for the "Jena 6."
The most detailed timeline BoardBuzz has found is, not surprisingly, the one from the local paper, the Jena Times (although parts of it are a bit defensive). Between 5,000 and 40,000 protesters are expected today in Jena. Schools will be closed. And the tree? The school board had it cut down before the school year started. "A clean slate," explained LaSalle Parish School Board chair Billy Fowler. "I'm serving on the new School Board, and we're wanting to start fresh on some things."
Posted September 20, 2007 9:51 AM | School Boards | School Safety | Students
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