Mos Def & Cornell West on Bill Maher (Jena Six part)
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Who are the Jena Six?
Who are the Jena Six?
The Jena Six are a group of black students who are being charged with attempted murder for beating up a white student who was taunting them with racial slurs, and continued to support other white students who hung three nooses from the high schools "white tree" which sits in the front yard.
The Michael Baisden Show: Live from Jena, LA September 20th The Baddest Man on radio is putting action behind his words. On September 20th Michael Baisden along with comedian George Wilborn, national celebrities, and thousands of loyal listeners will March on the Jena Courthou
se to demand justice for Mychal Bell, one of the black teenagers awaiting sentencing in the Jena 6 Case. Mychal Bell could receive up to 22 years in prison for what amounted to nothing more then a fist fight between black and white high school students.Michael will need all the support he can get to show the prosecutors, the Judge, and the entire nation that we will not stand by while they steal the lives of our children. Time for talk is over, it's time to act.Details about Michael's visit to Jena on September 20, 2007:5:00am Buses meet in Alexandria, LA at Parish of Rapides Coliseum to caravan to Jena 7:30am Meet in Jena, LA at LaSalle Parish Courthouse8:00am Rally & March for Peace and Justice9:00am Sentencing for student Mychal Bell*Wear Black on Sept. 20th to signify unity against UN-EQUAL JUSTICE in Americafor more information go t0: http://www.minglecity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=617
Free Jena Six
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Mychal Bell trial
Mychal Bell trial
On June 26, 2007, the first day of trial for defendant Mychal Bell, Walters agreed to reduce the charges for Bell to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated second-degree battery.[15] A charge of aggravated battery requires the use of a "deadly weapon". Walters thus argued that the tennis shoes that Bell was wearing and used to kick Barker were deadly weapons, an argument with which the jury agreed. Despite conflicting witness accounts on whether he was involved in the attack,[16] Bell was found guilty and faced the possibility of up to 22 years in prison when he was to be sentenced on September 20, 2007.
The case sparked public outcry, as the court-appointed public defender, Blane Williams — an African-American — did not call a single witness in his attempt to defend Bell.[16] As well, one of the members of the all-white jury was a high school friend of Justin Barker’s father.[17] Bell's new defense attorneys, Louis Scott and Carol Powell-Lexing, requested that a new trial be held on the grounds that Bell should not have been tried as an adult and that the trial should have been held in another parish.[18]
A request to lower Mychal Bell's $90,000 bond was denied on August 24, 2007, due to his juvenile record, which showed that he had been previously convicted of four other violent crimes. Bell was put on probation for a battery that occurred December 25, 2005, and he was later convicted of yet another battery charge and two charges of criminal damage to property.[19]
On September 4, 2007, a judge dismissed the conspiracy charge but let the battery conviction stand, though he agreed that Bell should have been tried as a juvenile.[20] However, on September 14, 2007, Bell's battery conviction was also overturned, as Louisiana's Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Lake Charles ruled that he shouldn't have been tried as an adult. Louis Scott, Bell's attorney, has indicated that the charges are dropped for now, but also has noted that the situation may change depending on what path the prosecution takes.[21] The La Salle Parish district attorney, Reed Walters, has said that he will appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court.[22]
A new bail hearing for Bell was scheduled for September 17.[22]
The other five
On September 4, 2007, charges against Carwin Jones and Theo Shaw were reduced to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy,[23] as did Robert Bailey, Jr., on September 10.[24]
Despite the overturning of Mychal Bell's conviction, the charges against the other four teenagers won't be altered because they were over seventeen at the time of the incident, making them adults under Louisiana law.[21]
On June 26, 2007, the first day of trial for defendant Mychal Bell, Walters agreed to reduce the charges for Bell to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated second-degree battery.[15] A charge of aggravated battery requires the use of a "deadly weapon". Walters thus argued that the tennis shoes that Bell was wearing and used to kick Barker were deadly weapons, an argument with which the jury agreed. Despite conflicting witness accounts on whether he was involved in the attack,[16] Bell was found guilty and faced the possibility of up to 22 years in prison when he was to be sentenced on September 20, 2007.
The case sparked public outcry, as the court-appointed public defender, Blane Williams — an African-American — did not call a single witness in his attempt to defend Bell.[16] As well, one of the members of the all-white jury was a high school friend of Justin Barker’s father.[17] Bell's new defense attorneys, Louis Scott and Carol Powell-Lexing, requested that a new trial be held on the grounds that Bell should not have been tried as an adult and that the trial should have been held in another parish.[18]
A request to lower Mychal Bell's $90,000 bond was denied on August 24, 2007, due to his juvenile record, which showed that he had been previously convicted of four other violent crimes. Bell was put on probation for a battery that occurred December 25, 2005, and he was later convicted of yet another battery charge and two charges of criminal damage to property.[19]
On September 4, 2007, a judge dismissed the conspiracy charge but let the battery conviction stand, though he agreed that Bell should have been tried as a juvenile.[20] However, on September 14, 2007, Bell's battery conviction was also overturned, as Louisiana's Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Lake Charles ruled that he shouldn't have been tried as an adult. Louis Scott, Bell's attorney, has indicated that the charges are dropped for now, but also has noted that the situation may change depending on what path the prosecution takes.[21] The La Salle Parish district attorney, Reed Walters, has said that he will appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court.[22]
A new bail hearing for Bell was scheduled for September 17.[22]
The other five
On September 4, 2007, charges against Carwin Jones and Theo Shaw were reduced to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy,[23] as did Robert Bailey, Jr., on September 10.[24]
Despite the overturning of Mychal Bell's conviction, the charges against the other four teenagers won't be altered because they were over seventeen at the time of the incident, making them adults under Louisiana law.[21]
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