only backgroundI'm a wife, mother and grandmother. I'm opinionated. I contradict myself frequently. Most of all, I love my kids. I believe in them. I fight for them. They're weird and wonderful. If you want to know more, here's a bunch of other stuff from my old site.
What do you do when you learn of a travesty of justice so horrendous that it sounds more like a bad soap opera plot than real life? Or maybe it just sounds like a news report from the 1940’s? Well, in my case, you blog about it. Except sometimes that isn’t enough.
From ColorOfChange.org, here is a brief rundown of events:
Last fall in Jena, the day after two Black high school students sat beneath the “white tree” on their campus, nooses were hung from the tree. When the superintendent dismissed the nooses as a “prank,” more Black students sat under the tree in protest. The District Attorney then came to the school accompanied by the town’s police and demanded that the students end their protest, telling them, “I can be your best friend or your worst enemy… I can take away your lives with a stroke of my pen.”
A series of white-on-black incidents of violence followed, and the DA did nothing. But when a white student was beaten up in a schoolyard fight, the DA responded by charging six black students with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
It’s a story that reads like one from the Jim Crow era, when judges, lawyers and all-white juries used the justice system to keep blacks in “their place.” But it’s happening today. The families of these young men are fighting back, but the story has gotten minimal press. Together, we can make sure their story is told and that the Governor of Louisiana intervenes and provides justice for the Jena 6. It starts now.
I know that’s a short version but you can read more details at the link above. I think it’s enough to say that justice has be perverted in Jena, Louisiana. Every person in Louisiana ought hand their head in shame at this outrageous situation. The District Attorney, The Superintendent of Schools and every single person in authority who allowed this travesty to occur should be placed under a Federal investigation immediately. Jena’s government appears to corrupt and cannot be trusted.
That this can happen today, in this era of civil rights, is just mind-boggling. No one here is asking for special dispensation, only the same treatment as any other citizen of this country is entitled to receive. If our country does not stand up in unison and decry this injustice, then the shame will belong to all of us.
Please, stand up and help to right the wrong that has occurred in Jena Louisiana. Please stand with the Jena 6 and their families to let the Governor of Louisiana know that action is expected. If you are able, please join with the others who will be marching peacefully in Jena on September 20, 2007. If you are unable to join the rally, you can also help by donating to the legal fund or by writing to the Governor. And please, give just a moment of your time to sign the Jena6 online Petition requesting the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate this matter.
If you are a blogger, please consider joining in a blog challenge of gathering as many as possible blog posts demanding justice for the Jena 6. All you need do is post about this situation with at least three links: 1 to this blog post; 1 to the blog post written by Suni; 1 to the colorofchange.org site. If you comment here to let me know that you’ve posted, I’ll be sure to include a link to your post in the post I publish on September 20. Depending upon the number of posts we can get, I may create a page dedicated just to everyone’s link.
We have just 10 days until the rally. Please help to get the word out. Please help to right this horrifying wrong.
EDIT:I did find that CNN has covered the Jena6 in an article on September 5. One article is not enough.
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[...] the link to your post. Please include a link to http://www.colorofchange.org, a link to my friend Marisa’s blog entry, and one to this blog entry. I will be putting your link in a post or page on [...]
Sheesh, I thought this blatant type of nonsense had stopped. Not that racism stopped but the fact that it is so blatant. I think I’m going to throw a link to this at my place so a few more people get to see this.
I saw a BBC program about this case. I thought it was already settled and stuff and that American media would be all over this, but apparently they aren’t, which freaks me out.
Please do! We really need to generate interest in this and plan to heavily promote it later today. We need all the help we can get. There has been entirely too much silence regarding this.
Watch the BC forum later for my mention of it. Thanks!
Please consider blogging about this with a link to this post, Suni’s post and the colorofchange.org site. We’re trying to generate as much internet awareness as possible since mainstream media doesn’t seem to be that interested. Thanks!
I saw the BBC documentary about this too and on another blog i read the about the unfortunate turn of events!
I cant sign the petition as i am not a US citizen but i will try and mention this in a post soon
This case is very difficult to endure. I am torn between following it closely and just not tuning into at all. Perhaps we could get Britany Spears, or Paris Hilton, or Lyndsey Lohan to go there and sit in the court room–perhaps then this case will get the type of media exposure it derserves.
Love,
Babz
http://www.lovebabz.blogspot.com
[...] aren’t cases of racism going on in my world. Now, I am wondering. After reading a post on Marissa’s blog, my awareness of how much racism is still a part of our culture has risen. I thought our country [...]
My husband and I were just discussing this last night. I mean, my gods, NOOSES? In 2007? Wonder where those kids got that idea? Maybe their PARENTS should go to jail too, you know? GRRR.
I’ll work a post into my schedule for this week, Marisa. It’s good that you are encouraging bloggers to spread the word.
[...] Racism Is Alive And Well In Jena Louisiana [...]
[...] blogging about this to help spread the word. Marisa and Suni have started an online blogging drive to raise awareness in the blogging community about [...]
I’m supporting the cause. What a damn shame.
[...] 6. All you need do is post about this situation with at least three links: 1 to the post written by Marisa; 1 to the blog post written by Suni; 1 to the colorofchange.org [...]
I’m behind you and this cause 100%
Support the Jena (Louisiana) 6
Hi Marisa, I posted and linked…and linked back on my 2nd blog!
[...] and very opinionated post regarding the case of the Jena 6. If you are a blogger, please join Marisa, Suni, Marcus , and a host of others in the bloggers challenge to get as many posts written [...]
[...] Marisa: Racism is alive and well in Jena, Louisiana [...]
I may be having pingback problems again. Mahalo for spearheading this campaign!
http://skeetsstuff.skeeterbess.com/2007/09/12/justice-is-not-blind-in-jena-louisiana/
My link is
http://tinakubala.com/2007/09/12/mockingbirds-in-jena-louisiana.aspx
Thank you for setting this all up.
We as blacks tend to make big issues out of nothing. This case in Jena, LA is one where a big issue should be made. Slavery is supposed to be over. If we don’t stand up for our young men of the Jena6, we will fall for anything. The days of us being dictated to of where we can sit on the bus and eat in the restaurants are over. Lets get involved in this case. IT IS A MUST!!!!!!
Hello
Very interesting information! Thanks!
Bye
Re-visiting each post for the Carnival of injustice. I was pleased to hear this story highlighted on the local news in Honolulu today. The world is listening and watching as this story unfolds.
[...] presents Racism Is Alive And Well In Jena Louisiana posted at Marisa’s Dandelion [...]