Beating victim sues the 'Jena Six'

JENA, La. — The family of a white student allegedly beaten by six black classmates in rural Louisiana has filed a civil lawsuit against the teens' parents, the adult teens, an additional student and the local school board.

One teen, Mychal Bell, pleaded guilty to battery in juvenile court on Monday in the attack. Five other teens face criminal charges in the case and are awaiting court appearances.

Justin Barker, 18, and his parents, David and Kelli, allege in the suit that seven Jena High School students attacked Justin on Dec. 4, 2006, as he left the school gym.

The suit names the attackers as the "Jena Six" students — Bell, Bryant Purvis, Robert Bailey Jr., Carwin Jones, Theo Shaw and a juvenile — as well as a second juvenile.

Law enforcement officials have not named the second juvenile as one of the attackers.

"Petitioners show that Justin was singled out by Mychal, Bryant, Robert, Carwin, Theodore (and the two juveniles), and that the malicious and willful attack of Justin was of such extreme nature so as to require emergency medical care and treatment for the harm inflicted by the attack, and resulting in extensive and permanently disabling injuries," the lawsuit states.

Barker was hit by Bell, knocked unconscious and then repeatedly kicked and stomped by a group of students, according to testimony and court documents.

The beating was preceded by racial incidents, including three white students hanging nooses from a tree.

The beating was preceded by racial incidents, including three white students hanging nooses from a tree.

The civil suit was filed Thursday. The lawsuit alleges that the LaSalle Parish School Board, through its employees, was not adequately supervising students or maintaining discipline.

Lawyers for the Barkers and the defendants couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Bell, who pleaded guilty in juvenile court to second-degree battery, was sentenced to 18 months in the custody of the Office of Youth Development.

Bell and the other students were initially charged with attempted murder. In May, Bell was convicted as an adult of aggravated assault, but the conviction was overturned. The conviction led to a protest in September by at least 20,000 demonstrators. (Source)

Jena Six Rally Planned for November in Washington D.C.

If you were like me and so many others who could not attend the rally in Jena on yesterday then fret not because there is a march on Washington that is being planned for November. When I get more details I will share them with you.

I want us to keep in mind that these rallies and protest marches are not about whether these young men should have been punished for their alleged crimes, but moreso about equal justice and protection under the law for every citizen of these United States. You can't treat groups of people differently under the law. Justice is supposed to be blind, but obviously she always manages to take a peek from under her blindfold when it comes to a person of color. We have to stand and say that enough is enough. Today it is the Jena Six, but tomorrow it can be the Atlanta Five, the New York Nine, or the Houston Seven. This unequal protection under the law has gone on long enough and we are not taking it anymore.

Jena Six Updates: Black Thursday

Please remember that the rally on September 20th is still taking place. This date is being describe as Black Thursday. It is asked that everyone please don the color black to show solidarity and support of the Jena Six. If you cannot make it to the rally in Jena the least you can do is wear black or make a couple of phone calls. I really don't think that is asking too much. It's the Jena Six today, but it could easily be you or one of your children tomorrow. If you have any questions or concerns about the rally please visit Colorofchange.org and they will answer all of your questions.

Airport Information

For those flying in, the closest airports to Jena are Alexandria (45 minute drive) and Monroe (1.5 hour drive). You can also fly to Lafayette (2.25 hour drive), Shreveport (2.75 hour drive), Baton Rouge (3 hour drive), New Orleans (4.25 hour drive), or Houston (about a 5 hour drive). The closest hotels are in Pineville and Alexandria.

Bus and Driving Information

Radio host Michael Baisden will be doing his show live from Jena on Thursday. His web site (http://www.minglecity.com/forum/index.php) has extensive information on buses to Jena from Atlanta, Smyrna, GA; Birmingham, Montgomery, AL; Jacksonville, FL; Tallahassee, FL; Orlando, FL; Tuscaloosa, AL; Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis, TN; Morehouse and Spelman Colleges; Fort Worth/Dallas; Charlotte, Durham, NC; Detroit, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Philadelphia; Indiana/Chicago (Hammond, IN / Halsted St., Chicago); Maryland/Virginia/Washington, DC Area (Glenn Dale, MD); Baton Rouge, LA… and more.

Other Jena Updates

• The Southern Christian Leadership Conference plans to establish a temporary conflict resolution center in Jena. Spokeswoman Keisha Ray said the Atlanta SCLC presence in Jena will focus on nonviolent protest training.

• The NAACP is pleased to report that rock legend and entertainment icon David Bowie has come forward to lend his support by making a $10,000 donation to the Jena 6 Legal Defense Fund.

• Alpha Kappa Alpha's international president Barbara A. McKinzie urges the sorority’s 200,000 members--and all fair-minded citizens--to fire off letters to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and Attorney General Charles Foti and demand that they wield their constitutional power to call for a new trial. McKinzie said that on behalf of the membership, she is sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice asking that federal officials intervene and investigate this issue to make sure the Constitutional rights of these young men are protected. She also asked all members to wear black on Thursday, September 20 -the day of unity set aside to show support for the Jena 6.

Jena Six Rally Still On!!!

The September 20 rally scheduled in Jena, La. will go on as planned. The rally is going on despite the fact that Mychal Bell's conviction was overturned by the court of appeals.

The NAACP expects as many as 60,000 people from more than 30 cities to descend this week on Jena, La., a poor, rural community of 3,000 at the center of a racially charged case involving six black high school students charged with beating a white classmate.

Jena is just a microcosm of what is really wrong with this country as far as race relations and the justice system are concerned. Young black men and women are constantly railroaded by the system and there is no one to take up their fight. We as a people can't keep sitting idly by and watching this happen. This shouldn't have to happen to someone in our family or to us before we want to get involve.

Jena Six Update

This past Sunday, Rev, Jesse jackson of the Rainbow/PUSH coalition paid a visit to the town of Jena, La. During his visit he met with the LaSalle Parish sheriff and he had hopes of meeting with LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters and the judge on the case, but these two meetings never came to fruition. Jackson also went to the jail and met with 17 year old Mychal Bell, who has been convicted and jailed in connection with the incident.

“American justice is on trial in Jena. The world is watching,” Jackson told BlackAmericaWeb.com. “The more outside pressure is applied, the greater the impact.”

It was also on Sunday that Al Sharpton called for an investigation of Reed Walters. He also said that he would be joining thousands of people in Jena on Thursday, Sept. 20 -- the day Bell is scheduled to be sentenced on an aggravated second-degree battery conviction.

We cannot sit back and watch this travesty of justice continue to play itself out in Jena and not do anything. It's the children of Jena today, but one day it may be your children. We as black people need to stop being reactive and become pro-active. In the words of the talented artist Mos Def "I should not have to live in Two Americas."

If you need or desire more information about the rally in Jena on the 20th of this month please check out my previous post on this subject.

Jena 6 September 20th Rally

On September 20th, there will be rally for Mychal Bell--the first of the Jena 6 to be convicted--whose scheduled to be sentenced on this day.

ColorofChange.org is requesting you to RSVP if you can attend this event.

Mychal is facing 22 years in prison and he needs all the help, support, and prayers that he can get.

Our presence in Jena--in large numbers--will help focus media attention on the situation in Jena, escalate pressure on Louisiana public officials, and most importantly, show the families of the Jena 6, especially Mychal Bell and his parents, that we will stand with them in the face of this injustice.

James Rucker, the Executive Director of Colorofchange, wrote

" On July 31st, with only a few days to prepare, 300 people from across the country rallied at the Jena Courthouse. We delivered a petition signed by 43,000 ColorOfChange.org members to the District Attorney demanding that he drop the charges against the Jena 6. It was a powerful day that made it clear that the Jena 6 and their families won't have to fight on their own. Since then, more than 100,000 people have taken action and contacted the Governor, media attention to the case has grown, and we have an even bigger opportunity to make a profound impact."

RSVP
Once you're confident you can come, please rsvp at the following:
http://colorofchange.org/jena/rsvp.html

If you have questions, you can send them to jena@colorofchange.org.

If you can't come, don't worry. Just go to http://www.colorofchange.org/ website and sign up. They will send out emails and updates on how you can help and get involved.

For more infor on the Jena 6 please click here