It’s been a few weeks since a Jena 6 update post, and let’s just say nothing but drama has been surrounding the case.
I’m sure everyone saw that youtube video that hit the net a few weeks back. The video allegedly shows one of the Jena 6 defendants rolling around in the donation money that supporters sent in. Since those photos still have yet to be verified, I will give these kids the benefit of doubt. Let’s just say I was highly pissed off when I heard about it though.
Now, on to some other drama with the case. The reputable organization “The Color of Change” who has been in the forefront of the whole Jena 6 rally was recently attacked by popular radio show host Michael Baisden. Baisden, who coincidentally has been a big supporter of the case as well, claimed that they were misusing donation money and that it wasn’t being used for the actual defense fund. The Color of Change denies the allegations and even provides proof that they are handling the donations correctly.
Here is what the Color of Change wrote:
Marcus Jones – the father of Mychal Bell, one of the Jena 6 – was a guest on Michael Baisden’s syndicated radio show on Monday, November 5th. Marcus Jones and Michael Baisden used the occasion to attack and slander ColorOfChange.org and our executive director. Baisden continued to do so on November 6th. Both Baisden and Jones made several false and misleading statements which have raised the concern of many of our members.
This just makes me sick, the other kids haven’t even went on trial yet and the whole support group has been divided three times over. We got to do better people! This is getting ridiculous.
Related Links:
COLOR OF CHANGE POSTS THE FACTS
prometheus 6.org
jack and jill politics
This is currently posted in the ” Boards” section of Michaels website as of 11/9/07:
“Response to Color of Change
The Michael Baisden show and staff were given inaccurate information regarding donations made by the public and David Bowie. We apologize to our listeners and to ColorofChange for not seeking more reliable sources. According to documentation provided by the organization through their web site, all the funds collected by ColorofChange have been distributed to the families as promised.
We do, however, respect the right of four of the Jena 6 families who have insisted that ColorofChange discontinue collection of any monies on their behalf. But this should not reflect on the integrity of this organization which has collected and distributed over $200,000 to their legal defense.
Any insinuations that were made about me wanting to be the sole fundraiser for legal defense is ridiculous. I am too tired after my radio gig to take on that responsibility, and furthermore, it is impossible. No one man or organization can fund the movement of an entire nation.
I am relieved to have put this behind us so that both our organizations can get back to the business of helping people. There is nothing wrong with having disagreements, as long as you love the people enough to work it out, sooner rather than later.
Thanks again for your support of the many organizations that are doing an outstanding job of raising money to help those who desperately need it. We’ve got a long way to go family and we won’t get there unless we work together. Divided we fall!
Michael Baisden”
http://www.minglecity.com...rum/showthread.php?t=1307
they discuss me. You try to help someone out and they go and do this. Thats black men for you probally went straight to the mall with this.
http://vivaciousmabe.blogspot.com/
This is really ashame. THe same old cycle of Willie Lynch over and over. Michael Baisden was tasteless to use his radio show as a format for such a discussion. That could have been handled privately by the family.
stinka
Saturday, November 10, 2007
on the tom joyner show a month ago, the father of one of defendents told them that even the donation that the $10,000 David Bowie sent down there has disappeared.
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This is why Tom Joyner and Micheal Baisden and all others should check their facts first —- David Bowie donated his $10,000 to the NAACP – a different organization altogether.
PeaceKeeper00… Basiden is NOT the main reason for that march in Jena. The march was planned and people were organizing BEFORE Basiden even started talking about Jena. He didn’t even address the issue until it came out in mainstream media. And what does Basiden do when he gets to Jena, he throws an “event” charges people $10 a head and holds a book signing. Yeah he saw an opportunity to make Jena about himself and he ran with it. That self-absorbed media hound is pathetic.
unbelievable
@ JUDAH
Is there anything in this world that is not the white man’s fault?
You obviously hate white people, so why should they love you?
This is nothing to do with white and black. When it comes down to it, it’s right and wrong or good and evil. The “disagreement” should have been handled behind closed doors, but that is not what some people are out here for. I’m glad we all came together, but we do have to make sure we are not being “hoodwinked” again. It’s hard to know what to do in this day and age, but I’ll definitely be more careful. Willie Lynch is definitely still in full effect…we just have to make sure we don’t perpetuate it. Support one another; if we disagree, do it between us; work through it and keep it moving. Don’t stop your contact with each other even if you disagree. We gotta be bigger than that. To love your brother (and sister) is to love yourself.
peacekeeper00,
Don’t be blindly loyal to Michael Baisden. The man needs to be more responsible.
While agree that Michael Baisden was a major driving force behind the march in Jena, he wasn’t the first person to talk about it–just the first that some of us (who generally only follow mainstream media) heard. Unfortunately, Mr. Baisden often broadcasts information without verifying his facts.
Additionally, money for legal defenses goes to attorneys, not individual family members. Perhaps Mr. Jones feels that they should be getting money–like they thought the NAACP was supposed to give them money, but I think when most people donated it was for the legal fund, not personal spending money.
As for the reparations comment (17. kaykay16) (not sure of the relevance, but…) Jews and Japanese (and to some extent Native Americans) have received reparations, why not us? However, I think that instead of writing a check (and can we really be repaid for what our ancestors endured?) tuition for college, grad school, technical training, etc. at state institutuions should be funded for a certain period of time. (say 10 or 20 years) Sort of like the GI Bill was when it was first instituted, only this time to create a solid African-American middle class.
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That is so DAMN Ghetto for those Jena 6 boys to flosin mutha fucken money all in the camera talking about they thuggin they aint shit ! Thats why they ass in jail now.
Holla
This situation disgusts me because as black people we need to stick by one another. Instead of putting the organization on blast, those families and attorneys should have been demanding the money that was raised on “behalf” of their children. The truth of the matter is, those boys need that money and the parents need to put their pride on the side to get it. I was shocked when Mychal Bell’s father, Marcus Jones, told the COC to stop collecting money, when he should have challenged them to produce what they claimed to have collected.
The entire situation is awful and for people on here to be making fun of the situation, mocking it shows just how ignorant people can be. Do you all realized that this situation originated with a noose? A damn noose, that whites used to use to murder minorities, especially black people. This is not a game, and just because it’s not happening in you neighborhood doesn’t mean you can ignore that it is still happening! Wake up!
another fine example of black males without positive roll models, or brothers with low self esteem. I was cheering for these brothers to not get found guilty so they can get a second chance on straighting out their lives, but it look’s like it was all a waste of time and money. All of them that has no vision need to go to college away from home or join the Military.