Wednesday, April 16, 2008 |
Last year, more than 20,000 people marched on Jena, LA, to protest the treatment of the six young, black men now known as the “Jena 6“. The six teens were being tried for attempted murder after a fight on school grounds where Justin Barker, a white student, was beaten, which followed the hanging of nooses in the school’s courtyard and subsequent race-based conflicts.
On Monday, lawyers for the youngest of the Jena 6, Jesse Ray Beard, who was 14 at the time, filed a motion to remove Judge J.P. Mauffray Jr. and District Attorney (D.A.) Reed Walters from any future involvement in juvenile court matters involving him. Mauffray and Walters served as the judge and prosecutor, respectively, in the Jena 6 cases and Beard’s attorneys argue their prejudice during and after the proceedings have betrayed an unfair bias against Beard. Continue Reading »
Friday, November 9, 2007 |
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.
Continue Reading »
Friday, October 12, 2007 |
Bell being released last month. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
JENA, La. A teenager at the center of a civil rights controversy is back in jail after a judge revoked his probation and sentenced him on charges that were pending before the attack that put him in the national spotlight, his attorney said Thursday.
Mychal Bell, who along with five other black teenagers had been accused of beating a white classmate, went to juvenile court Thursday expecting another routine hearing, said Carol Powell Lexing, one of Bell’s attorneys.
Instead, after a six-hour hearing, state District Judge J.P. Mauffrey Jr. sentenced him to 18 months on two counts of simple battery and two counts of criminal destruction of property, Lexing said.
He had been on probation for those charges during the Dec. 4 attack on classmate Justin Barker. [SOURCE]
Continue Reading »
Thursday, September 27, 2007 |
Mychal Bell released (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Good news on the Jena 6 case. 17 year-old Mychal Bell has been released on bail. His bail was set at $45,000. The LaSalle Parish District Attorney said his decision not to appeal was not influenced by the recent march.
“We still have mountains to climb, but at least this is closer to an even playing field,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who helped organize last week’s protest.
“He goes home because a lot of people left their home and stood up for him,” Sharpton said.
District Attorney Reed Walters’ decision to abandon adult charges means that Bell, who had faced a maximum of 15 years in prison on his aggravated second-degree battery conviction last month, instead could be held only until he turns 21 if he is found guilty in juvenile court.
[ READ MORE ]
In related news, Dr. Phil is dedicated his show to the whole Jena 6 incident tomorrow (September 28th). Visit his website and click on Friday for more info.
Friday, September 21, 2007 |
Bell in football photo (CNN)
Sorry for the delay on this update!!! Here is the newest info about the Jena 6.
After thousands rallied yesterday in Jena, Louisiana in the defense of the Jena 6, many hoped that the hearing for Mychal Bell today would result in him being released on bail. But that was not the case.
Mychal Bell, the sole defendant who remains behind bars from the group of teens known as the “Jena 6,” will not be released Friday, a court decided.
Bell, 17, has been in jail since his arrest more than nine months ago.
It was not immediately clear what happened in court Friday, where Bell’s attorneys had planned to push for his release.
“It is our understanding that the judge refused to give bond or bail to Mychal Bell today,” the Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist who traveled to Jena for Thursday’s rally, said in a written statement. [ READ MORE ]
Don’t let this dishearten you. Did you see all the support the Jena 6 received yesterday? This is not over.
Continue Reading »
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Friday, September 21, 2007 |
SNOOP AT THE KIDS CHOICE AWARDS LAST MONTH (GETTY IMAGES)
Remember when Snoop was caught with a collapsible baton while trying to get on a plane last year? Well he is getting community service for attempting to bring the listed ‘deadly weapon’ on the plane.
Snoop Dogg whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr has been sentenced to 160 hours of community service after admitting to having a collapsible baton in his hand luggage at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, in September 2006.
Snoop lawyer, Donald Etra said that the baton had been used by his client in a musical sketch. Mr. Etra had advised him to plead not guilty, but said his client wanted to resolve the issue.
Snoop Dogg, who was acquitted of murder in 1993, was arrested on two other occasions in 2006 for marijuana and gun possession.
He has since been denied entry to Australia and Britain and his punishment also included three years’ informal probation, whatever that means.
Continue Reading »
Thursday, September 20, 2007 |
( Bun B & Mos Def in Jena, LA earlier today )
As you all know, today has been dubbed ‘Black Thursday’ in support of The Jena 6. We are asking all the readers who are repping black to send in their photos for this special post. As you can see, Bun B is a reader of CL and he sent in the exclusive photo above. Shout out to him and Mos Def for holding it down in Jena!
We are adding new photos left and right so keep checking back to see new ones.
Send all photos to concreteloopjena6@gmail.com. Also make sure to add your name! Check the photos after the cut.
Continue Reading »
