Take buses to Jena rally, groups urge

September 18, 2007

Posted on Tue, Sep. 18, 2007
Take buses to Jena rally, groups urge
By SHALAMA C. JACKSON
scjackson@thestate.com

"What is happening in Jena could happen anywhere in America if we are quiet. There is no place that we can say this couldn't happen. We haven't reached that point yet." -- Lonnie Randolph, S.C. NAACP

There was no question in Cornelia Stephney's mind of whether she would be in Jena, La., to stand up for what she believes.

The biggest question was how could she get more people, especially men from Columbia, to be there by her side.

"Those could be our boys," Stephney said. "And I wanted others to see that men - fathers, uncles, brothers - support them."

Stephney turned to the South Carolina chapter of the NAACP to organize a bus trip to Louisiana to join the growing support movement for "the Jena 6," six black high school students charged as adults with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the beating of a white student.

Those charges later were reduced for four students, including now 17-year-old Mychal Bell.

Bell was to be sentenced Thursday, the day of the support rally, which is expected to draw tens of thousands from across the country.

He faced 15 years in prison and has been in jail since his arrest in December 2006.

But Bell's conviction on aggravated second-degree battery was overturned last week by a Louisiana appeals court after it determined he should not have been tried as an adult. The case has been sent to juvenile court.

Interest in the case and organization of the rally in Jena was sparked by syndicated radio hosts Michael Baisden, Tom Joyner and Steve Harvey, all heard on stations in the Columbia area.

Supporters believe the six are being treated unfairly because of their race, and that the charges against them did not fit the crimes they are accused of.

Despite the appellate court ruling, the protest will continue as planned.

"The battle is not over," said Lonnie Randolph, state president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "What is happening in Jena could happen anywhere in America if we are quiet. There is no place that we can say this couldn't happen. We haven't reached that point yet."

"This could be anyone's child," Stephney said of Bell. "As parents, we need to reach out and make a stand together."

Reports indicate the December 2006 fight came after a series of incidents over three months:

• In September 2006, a black Jena High School student asked a vice principal for permission to sit under a tree on campus claimed by white students. The vice principal told the student to sit wherever he wanted.

• The next day, nooses hung from the tree. The three students who were found responsible were suspended for three days instead of being expelled, which was recommended by the principal.

• In the months that followed, a Jena High School building was burned down, and several fights followed.

• On Dec. 6, 2006, Justin Barker, a white student, was beaten by a group of black students. He was treated at a local hospital and released the same day. Bell and five other students were arrested.

At least three buses - one with the state NAACP and another filled with Benedict College students and staff - will leave from Columbia on Wednesday.

"These kids are in trouble," said Benedict College criminal justice instructor Paul White.

"Our students have nothing to draw from and do not have a clue to what the old times were like," he said.

"We are trying to expose them to what history was like and what we are still facing in 2007. Jena 6 could very well be Jena 7 next week in South Carolina."

Others agree.

"Injustice is still evident," said Tracy Thompson, criminal justice instructor at Benedict. "Although our students have been sheltered from a lot of injustices in our system, we want them to be aware that these things still exist in our society."

"We are going to be there, and nothing will stop us," White said. "This is the least that we can do."

Source: The State Newspaper

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