Get on the Bus!

Written by friendsofjustice

Friends of Justice
3415 Ainsworth Court
Arlington, TX 76016
806-729-7889 or 817-457-0025
https://friendsofjustice.wordpress.com

On September 20th, 2007, the world is coming to Jena, Louisiana. While themainstream media waits for the next “news hook”, the plight of the Jena 6 has caught the attention of nationally syndicated radio talk show hosts.  Everyone has the same message: “Get on the bus!”
A rally is planned for the LaSalle Parish courthouse in Jena, beginning at 8:00 in the morning. If you want to be there, you better move
fast–especially if you need overnight accommodations. I suggest you book a room in nearby Alexandria–Jena has only one motel, and the rooms probably disappeared a long time ago.
How many people are coming to Jena? A crowd of 1,000 appears to be a very conservative estimate. Most people who say they want to come will end up abandoning the idea for practical reasons. But the groundswell of enthusiasm has been so unprecedented that a crowd in excess of 5,000 is possible.  Can tiny little Jena (population 3,000) handle that many people? It doesn’t appear that they have much choice in the matter.

Friends of Justice is trying to make sure that all the primary organizers in various cities are on the same page. So, if you are organizing a bus to Jena for the rally on the 20th please contact Friends of Justice and we’ll post your information. If you’ve got bus seats that need to be filled, let us know. We are currently being swamped with calls from across the nation asking, “Is there a bus going to Jena from my city?”

When I first visited the LaSalle Parish courthouse in early January, Friends of Justice was the only organization working with the Jena 6 and their families. Court appointed attorneys weren’t returning our calls. Motivated lawyers had been dismissed from the case and suitable replacements weren’t on the horizon. But as we listened to the families tell their stories I knew this legal outrage would not stand. I was determined that it would not stand, and I could already see a vast throng of concerned citizens gathered in front of the courthouse, standing in solidarity with the Jena Six.

So get on the bus and come on down to Jena, Louisiana. Come in peace and a spirit of non-violence. Come with an open mind. Come for the Jena Six and their families. Come for America.
Alan Bean
Friends of Justice

27 thoughts on “Get on the Bus!”

  1. I am so glad to see people organizing to fight against today’s Racism!! We can’t stand for it. The calm approach is best for now. But if we can’t get justice, then a more racial approach may be needed. I have been saying that this day would come for years!! We are on the brink of a Volanco eruption ,if no one speaks up now. Jena 6 will become DC, NYC and so on. We need to fight back now!!!

  2. Best wishes for a very successful day. I will be with yu in spirit and greatly admire the work of Friends of Justice for this great endeavor in getting justice for the Jena 6.

    God bless you all, the 6 and all Friends!

    Karita Hummer

  3. I spend some time reading Alexandria’s “Town Talk” forums. They have a survey on the front page and the majority of people think Bell’s charges were just right. I am glad to hear that many people are planning to go, because I have been posting about a peaceful Civil Rights protest all over the web, being unsure if I was overstating it. Our local paper has not covered the story, nor printed my Letter to the Editor to spread the word. So, I was wondering how we find local organizers in our areas.

  4. I am asking folks who are doing organizing in their home towns to contact us with information. This issue has taken on a life of its own and it has become very difficult to coordinate plans with others. I wouldn’t worry about the TownTalk comments. Folks in Alexandria resemble Jena residents in many respects and the story has been told from a distinctly pro-authority perspective in that part of the world.

  5. as a civil rights activist whom grew up in the1960s in the racially oppressed philadelphia pa under the regime of the then racist facist frank rizzo, i am appalled by the judicial system regarding the gena six. as a black woman, i have seen, felt and live the atrocities visited on blacks by bigoted whites. I was one of the black students protesting for a black studies program in the school system there. i was there when rizzo and his hoods attacked, killed and unmercifully jailed members of the black panther party and their senseless slaughter of the people of the move project. what i am horrified to witness is that this same bigoted racist attitude is rearing its ugly head to full force. it was never gone, it is just that people did not speak of it, if it was not necessary. i would like to know about organizing a protest in this city for the gena six because some of the same attitudes portrayed by the so called justice system there, i am personally witnessing here. what i hope this information will do is let blacks understand that they can never relax, let their guard down or become complacent, because the moment that they do, these are the things which tend to happen. i am equally disturbed about michael vick, because it is ironic how 400,000 cases of dogfighting are actually documented in this country but the only person the feds could arrest to bring light to this subject is the 140 million dollar black man. blacks need to pay particular attention to the fact that a lot of crimes which are predominantly misdemeanors are now being classified to federal crimes when blacks are accused of doing them. a lot of our young boys had gun possession charges changed to federal crimes, however, the white boy who pulled a shotgun brought the gun on school property and was released on 5,000 bond. how in the hell is this justice. if we as a black people do not take a stand now, i foresee our future being more bleak than they were prior to the 1950s. we have to educate, pay attention, unite and take a stand. if we do not we are in a lot of trouble. the above two incidents are not isolated incidents, these types of activities are happening throughout the us as i write this comment. ohio just raided koch foods and arrested up to 200 supposed illegal aliens. there is a dangerous precedent being set in this country and it needs to be addressed before the “fire next time”. this country will not be able to survive it. this country is hated all over the world and we as black citizens in this country still cannot enjoy the same freedoms that every white man, woman and child is afforded. can we really stand as a country divided. whites need to understand, we were brought here against our wills. let’s not get it twisted, brought here from free men, woman and children to become slaves. freedom is in our blood, regardless of how much your political and police regimes try to deny this. we are in this country whether you like or not and as an african american woman, the us is my home, africa is where my ancestors originated from. you tend to forget that america is not your country either, this land belonged to the indians and you forcefully took it from them. there are reparations that need to be paid to the indians and african americans, and you continually refuse to make them. to add insult to injury, you then go to other countries around the world and want them to conform to your way of thinking on the premise of democracy and religion. i cannot in good conscience support a war in another country when i a continuously fighting a war in my own back yard. what about new orleans? where is this country’s conscience regarding the lives lost and the people misplaced not because of a storm, but a man made levy which officials knew would not last? has your conscience told you what to say to the children who want to go home but can’t because sufficient monies have not been allotted so that the majority black city can rebuild? of course not, after all they were only black people. the prevailing attitude on the part of the so called moral white majority will be the same attitude that will bring this country to ruin. i would also admonished black mothers and fathers that you must educate your children. teach them their history, because it is important to know where you came from to know where you are going. this thug and gang mentality is killing us. if you are an educated individual, the first thing you will think is why am i killing my brother, what do i have to gain? street credits? what is that. there is a bigger war we need to be fighting. i would much rather see our young black brothers and sisters going to jail fighting for the right to a fair trial, ending racial profiling and unjust arrest. we cannot expect this from our young if they are not taught. the way the black community is in most cities pacifies whites because they are then able to justify their behavior by stating “see, they are nothing but animals.” when we have good kids going to school, trying to accomplish something in their lives and watch them being railroaded by the so-called justice system in this country, it is our duty to fight for our children because as the adults, this is our job to protect our young. our war is not overseas, it is here on every metropolitan street of every city and every state of this united states. please send me information or forward this e-mail to someone whom may be able to contact me as to what columbus ohio is doing to show support for the gena six and every other african american around the us being victimized by racism, bigotry and hatred.

  6. I’m one of the organizers of the TX Supports Jena Six group traveling from the Dallas/Fort Worth area in support of the Jena Six boys. If you know of anyone who’s looking for transportation please forward them my information and we can add them to the list. Thanks for your time in this urgent matter. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

    ***********************************************
    Contact Person: Latrice Fowler
    Voicemail #: 817-349-3602

    Please leave the following information:

    Number of Seats
    Names of all Travelers
    Contact Number

    TX Supports Jena Six Blog – http://txsupportsjenasix.blogspot.com
    TX Supports Jena Six Email – txsupportsjenasix@gmail.com
    TX Supports Jena Six Myspace – http://myspace.com/txsupportsjenasix

  7. I am very interested in going down to Jena to lend support from New York City and I am looking for information on any local group(s) that are going down. How can I find out information on who will be attending?

  8. there will be more like over 10,000 people in jena on sept 19th and a rally on the 20th
    so get there early go to michaelbaisden.com check out the forum for all parking hotels etc. wear black on that day and if you can’t be there in person send your money to represent your voice. the attorneys need all the money we can raise.

  9. I am trying to find out about buses leaving from Richmond, Virginia (or close by) and don’t see too much here in the way of bus information. Any assistance is appreciated.

  10. i heard for those of us who cannot attend that we can show our support on the 20th by wearing a black sash or black clothing is this correct.

  11. I live in Arkansas close to Memphis; how can I find out about the bus from Memphis
    going down to Jena?

  12. Hi,
    May you please send me a list of people organizing so I can post them on myspace and give others information. Thanks. Heres one that I have so far:

    ORGANIZING FROM PHILLY:
    here is some information for a bus leaving philly for Jena some brothers and sisters on the mingle city boards,are getting buses together from all over the country to go down and show support for our young brothers. Also the DC family is trying to organize a march/rally right here in the city at the Captital against this case..

    peace
    ********
    Below is the information and I attached a flyer. Please pass this information on to anyone you know by email and any other mean. I really need your support please find the time in heart to support this effort. The cost for the RT transportation is $175. 00 it does not all have to paid at once a deposit of $75 will hold a seat.

    PLEASE COME

    Thanks Robert

    Leaving Philadelphia Wed 9/19/07 at

    At 5:00 AM from the corner of 2800 -2900 Cheltenham Ave Phila PA 19150 (In front of ENON Church )

    Leave Jena at 630:PM 9/20/07

    Return to Philadelphia Friday 9/21/07 at 7PM

    Call Robert 856 287 1299

    email: robert.l.robertson@lmco.com
    tly I will not be able to get on the bus like I wanted to, howvever I will be wearing Black on that day. I will also continue to spread the word of everythings that is going on. Here is some infor for those in the Philly area who want to go.

    ALSO.

    ORGANIZING FROM MICHIGAN:
    I am organizing a trip from MI
    Anybody interested contact me: pmcdowel@umich.edu 734 565 4627

  13. I am intersted in coming down to Jena from maryland we need informat about the buses companys that will be coming down on the 20th we have been looking .
    please help on the new said buses only

    maryland washington d.c

  15. Get your facts right about eh jena 6 bell in prision.. lng police record… all white jury becuase no blacks showed up for jury selection.. WHY.. check the alexndria Town Talk for all of bells long police record facts

  16. Hi,

    I would like to go and support the Jena 6 on 9/20. I wanted to know if there is a group going to Jena from the Miami, Florida area. We are forming a group called The Southeast Committee for the Jena 6 and we plan to go to Jena on 9/20. Please let me know, so far it is just for 2 of us.

    Contact:
    email: secommittee4jena6@yahoo.com
    Njeri Mwangi: 786-302-7740
    Shawnnette Longley: 305-965-0063

  17. I have just recently seen and read all the terrible things that have been happening lately in Gena, La. I cannot believe we have taken such horrible steps backwards in this country that 6 short years ago stood together because of a terrorist attack on our country. I lived in Louisiana for a few years. I have been to Gena and the surrounding communities many times. I still have family there. I am ashamed to say I’ve been there. We have gone back in time. I am a white woman in the midwest, I have friends and have had frineds who are from different backgrounds and diferent colors than I. I consider myself richly blessed by them. Why does a hate crime get labeled as something trivial and retaliation for that hate crime become so much more? Where is the fairness, and justice. I am almost ashamed to say my skin is white because of this tragedy. That this southern town should still be judging people by the color of their skin is appalling. The local government should be removed from office and the whole thing, starting from the beginning should be reinvestigated. I for one think maybe these students should all be taken somewhere away from the hate they have been raised in and really get to know one another. They might find out they are the same inside. I would love to be able to stand and support those trying to do right in all this. May God guide everyone to make right decisions in all this.

  18. JENA SIX SUPPORTERS .. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM SPENDING ANY MONIES IN LASALLE PARISH. BRING YOUR OWN, FOOD, DRINKS AND GAS. LET’S NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS VERY POOR PARISH. DON’T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR BLACK TEE’S AND BLACK WRIST BANDS. FOR THE NONE SUPPORTERS DISREGARD THIS MESSAGE AS IT DOES NOT APPLY TO YOU. SIGNED .. I LOVE MY FOLK

  21. God sees and hears everything. As a mother of a 21 year old daughter and a 17 year old son. Let justice prevail and let God bring this all to light. May we all come together to support these young people. I am not able to attend but trust me I will definately be in prayer.

    Remember if God is for you who can be against you.

  22. Hi! I am a 43 year old black female from new jersey i am so happy that m bell is free.My heart was so saddened when i had heard about the six young men in louisiana what makes white people or people of any color think that they could treat human beings the way they do.It seemslike the people around gere are not even t alking about it the way i am i am not saying eveyone but a majority of them are not.

  23. Hi! I am a 43 year old black female from new jersey i am so happy that m bell is free.My heart was so saddened when i had heard about the six young men in louisiana what makes white people or people of any color think that they could treat human beings the way they do.It seemslike the people around here are not even t alking about it the way i am i am not saying eveyone but a majority of them are not.

  24. I want to go and take my four boys so bad…but I just can’t afford to take them. I am willing to make the time for this oh so worthy life change. I just don’t have it. However, I will pray and uplift everyone in spirit. DO THE DOGGONE THANG FOLKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  25. It is a shame that this is still happening in 2007. The news media in Baltimore is showing th white boy’s face beat up but they are not telling the story.

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