Mos Def stands behind the Jena 6

Written by friendsofjustice

Last night, I attended an organizing meeting at Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas. Seventy people showed up. They were educated, intense, articulate and angry. This wasn’t a rally–every person in the room was an organizer. I wasn’t keeping count, but there will likely be a caravan of buses a mile long coming out of Dallas on September 20th. Originally, I was hoping this rally would attract 1,000 people. Now it appear we’ll a crowd twice that size from Dallas alone. Several speakers used the word “historic” in reference to the September 20th event; others compared it to the marches on Washington in the early 1960s.

My good friend, Catrina Wallace (step-sister to Jena 6 defendant, Robert Bailey) has been getting calls from rappers like Mos Def for the past two weeks. She is thrilled and overwhelmed–these guys are her heroes. Most of the names, I confess, were new to me–but my kids would know them all. The Hip Hop generation have their footprints all over this event–and that’s a good thing. The civil rights movement needs to be infused with fresh faces and fresh viewpoints. I encourage you to check out the link at the bottom of this article to Bill Maher’s recent interview with Mos Def and Cornel West.

Alan Bean
http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/12522
Mos Def Stands Behind The “Jena 6,” Asks Jay-Z & 50 Cent To Join “Fight
Against Racial Inequality”
Tuesday – September 11, 2007 by Anthony Roberts
Brooklyn rapper/actor Mos Def <> has recently wrote an open letter seeking
support for six black students <> facing lengthy jail time for an attack on
a white schoolmate in Louisiana.

According to NME, the Brooklyn-bred lyricist, who has been known for his
social and political activism
<http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/12150> , is extending a public
invitation to “African-Americans of influence, and all concerned parties” to
use their power in order to “fight against racial inequality and show
solidarity for these young people, who are being treated very harshly by the
law.”
The group of students in question, commonly known as the “Jena 6,” are high
school students in Jena, Louisiana who were arrested for beating up a white
classmate after reportedly being taunted by racial slurs.
The fight occurred last August, after a black student <> sat under a
particular tree on the school grounds where white students traditionally
gather. Following his presence there, 3 nooses were hung from the tree. The
students accused of hanging the nooses were suspended from school for a
short period of time, causing racial tensions to rise in the neighborhood.
The six teens in question were originally charged with attempted
second-degree murder but following protests from civil rights advocates,
some of the charges were reduced. Yet, many feel as if they are still being
treated more harshly due to their skin color.
Charges against Carwin Jones, Mychael Bell and Theo Shaw have been reduced
to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy. Bell, who has already
stood trial and been found guilty by an all white jury, will be sentenced on
September 20, the day of the scheduled rally.
Robert Bailey Jr. and Bryant Purvis are still facing attempted murder
charges, while the sixth student, an unidentified juvenile, faces
undisclosed juvenile charges.
Mos is asking for those concerned with the treatment of the students to join
him at the rally in Jena on September 20. He recently appeared alongside
Princeton professor Dr. Cornel West on political satirist Bill Maher’s HBO
<> show “Reel Time” this past Friday (September 7) to bring attention to
the situation. While on the show, Mos issued a challenge to celebrities and
artists including Will Smith, Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Kanye West to take some
form of action against the injustice. [Watch Here
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2QkqEQoB8o&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fnahright%2Ecom
%2Fnews%2F2007%2F09%2F08%2Fvideo%2Dmos%2Ddef%2Ddr%2Dcornel%2Dwest%2Don%2Dbil
l%2Dmaher%2F> ]

6 thoughts on “Mos Def stands behind the Jena 6”

  1. I just wanted to say thank you to all that is getting involved. It sad that in 2007 the government is activly and openly participating in such act against African Americans.

    I will like to see charges brought against the superintendent and the DA for these acts. The families need to get together and sue them. That way their lives can be investigated to see the character that they are teaching the city of Jena.

    I hope these talented popular people are whole heartly willing to help. You need to get Oprah involved since it seems she holds some pull.

    What I am about to say will hurt some feelings but must be said. Our young black men, all over the country, need to take this as a lesson. White communities look at blacks as not wanting anything because so many only want to sell drugs and sit on a corner all day doing nothing. Black men are dropping out of school, living with young girls in the projects acting like they are owed something. The disrespect they show to themselves and others is over whelming. Carrying guns, can’t talk without profanity and showing the ones younger than them that this is what a man does.

    I am a mother of two African American sons, I have to answer questions about what why these young men act and do the things they do. My younger son went through a stage of wanting to be “White” because he didn’t want to grow up and be a drug dealer. But is what children see in their community all day. Black men who do positive things in their life don’t to talk to our little ones about what a ” Man” really should be or do with their lifes.

    Black men step up and Black women need to step up to. A black women needs to stop bringing all these thug men around around their children.

  3. The Jena 6 should have been charged with a Hate Crime as their cowardly beating of a white boy was enacted solely based on his race. The beating was an attempt to kill the victim and I wish all of th Jena 6 could be legally hanged.

  4. PSALM 34 v 15-22

    15*The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
    16*The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth………….
    22* The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

  5. You all have to be kidding if this was 6 white guys and one black guy what would be the verdict then? yes you would be asking to have them prosecuted not released. justice is justice be it white, black, indian. what is the difference if you do wrong you should pay. Suck It Up and Pay!

  6. Pingback: Jena 6 Trial Sept 20th - Page 2 - The BN Village

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