Jena 6 Update

Written by Alan Bean

This column from the Afro American Newspaper focuses on an alleged tiff between the Louisiana NAACP and the Rev. Al Sharpton.  Mercifully, I was unaware of these tensions during the rally.  When the big dogs get into the act, the little people who have been on the ground from the drop are reduced to the position of mere spectators.  That was fine with me–I wanted to mingle with the grassroots organizers.  Most of the people who attended the mammoth rally were church people or college students–and, whatever may have been transpiring between the leading light, the hoi poloi had a great time.  As Valencia Mohammad suggests, we need to be focusing on the Jena 6 as a group.  Valuable information concerning the legal calendar is included.

It is true, by the way, that the NAACP of La. learned about this case in January.  I travelled to Baton Rouge with several family members to an NAACP meeting.  We were told that if we wanted help from the NAACP we needed to show our support by forming a local branch.  That meant signing up 100 dues-paying members in a town with only 350 black residents.  Thanks to the families of the Jena 6, led by the redoubtable Caseptla Bailey, we made it happen!

It should also be noted that regular rallies, at Antioch Baptist Church and on the courthouse steps, have been held in Jena since February.  The earliest support for the families of the Jena 6 came from Pastor Brian Moran (who allowed us to use his building), Tory Pegram of the La. ACLU (who has worked tirelessly as a grassroots organizer), King Downing (who helped shape the rallies), Tony Brown (who repeatedly featured the Jena 6 on his Alexandria-based radio show), and, of course, Friends of Justice. 

I worked hard to get Ms. Pegram involved because I knew her to be a dedicated and gifted organizer with a deep love for hurting people.  I have no desire to bash the big boys; but we need to honor and respect the work of grassroots organizers who keep these stories alive during the long, hard months when nobody seems to be listening.

Jena Six Update

All Jena 6 await court; activists spar

By Valencia Mohammed
AFRO Staff Writer

With all the focus primarily on Mychal Bell, one of the youth defendants in the Jena 6 case, many people around the country wonder what has occurred with the remaining teens charged with aggravated second degree battery  for beating a White teenager.

Bell, the first defendant to be tried in court, received lots of international attention with high profile figures including the Rev. Al Sharpton, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King III, congressional and civil rights leaders leading the fray. Radio personalities Michael Baisden and Tom Joyner organized a successful march with 100,000 participants converging on the small town.

Now that Bell has been released and awaits future court appearances, the trials of the other defendants have come under the microscope.

NAACP vs. Al Sharpton

* Theodore Shaw —— According to Robert McDuff, one of three legal representatives for Shaw, there will be a hearing on Nov. 7 and the trial begins on Jan. 28, 2008. Shaw has not received any education since he was expelled by the school board December 2006.

* Ryan Simmons —— has the least amount of charges, according to his attorney William Whatley. His family moved away from Jena, La. No trial date has been set.

* Robert Bailey has more charges than any other defendant. According to his attorney Jim Boren, there will be a motion hearing on Nov. 7. Bailey is set for trial on Nov. 28.

The day after the rally his mother Caseptla Bailey said her son has not received any education since he was expelled. Several attempts to reinstate Bailey have failed. The family still lives in Jena, La.

* Bryan Purvis has a hearing on Nov. 7. According to his mother Tina Jones, he has moved to another state. He attended private school last year. Purvis is attending public school this year.

* Carwin Jones, the youngest member of the group has retained a team of attorneys.

Discord among civil rights leaders

At the Jena 6 rally on Sept. 20 in Jena, La., there was a little known jockeying for power among the civil rights elite.

The Louisiana State Chapter of the NAACP was quietly feuding with the Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network based in New York.

A letter was sent by the NAACP to the governor of Louisiana after the march in protest of Sharpton’s demand that the NAACP and only a select group of people be allowed to participate in press conferences.

For three days, several NAACP representatives stood near the courtyard. When Sharpton drove up in his limousine, they said, he greeted the NAACP leaders, walked passed them with his entourage and proceeded towards the cameras. It was obvious something was not running smoothly in the leadership camp.

“It was hard to work with the egos,” said Ernest Johnson, president of the Louisiana State Chapter of the NAACP.

“We saw a draft of a contract between Caseptla Bailey (Mychal Bell’s mother) and Rev. Sharpton, which made us very concerned. It seemed like this was to promote someone’s career,” said Johnson.

In a letter dated Oct.1 to Rev. Sharpton, Johnson accused him of sowing discord by demanding Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Bianco not allow the NAACP members to be present at Mychal Bell’s release from jail.

For the record, the NAACP asserted it had been working on the Jena 6 case since January and was very instrumental in the release of Bell. Johnson claimed Sharpton seemed not to have a clue what to do except keep the media hype going.

Other groups chose to stay out of the media limelight and focus on the issue.

Alan Bean, executive director of Friends of Justice, made 17 trips down to Jena, La., since January after he heard about the case.

“We wanted to get justice for these students by countering false narratives by local media and the judicial system,” said Bean.

Bean said those groups pictured the incident involving the attack of Justin Barker, a White student in Jena and what came before it. “The media tried to portray the Black youth as a group of street thugs who beat Justin simply because he was White. But it was not true and we wanted to get the message out,” said Bean.
Bean said the key to the whole story was the nooses around the tree.

Bean watched as the “media hounds” started coming to town and watched the dynamics from a distance.

“There may have been some groups there with underlying motives. We just wanted to get justice for the kids,” said Bean.

10 thoughts on “Jena 6 Update”

  3. Africans are “stirred up” over this being a “hate crime”. How about a “hate crime” for 6 africans, attempting to kill a white????????????????????? If that is not a hate crime, I do not know what is…………………………………Dumb africans will continue to follow the likes of Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson, like dumb sheep falling off a cliff. Educated africans, such as bill cosby, know better

  4. Chaz:
    I hardly know where to begin. First of all, the notion that the kids who jumped Justin Barker were trying to kill him is impossible to sustain–that’s what was wrong with the attempted murder charges from the outset. Barker didn’t come within a mile of dying–his wounds were graphic and painful, but superficial. Secondly, your use of the word “Africans” is insulting. Finally, if Bill Cosby knew people like you were rallying to his flag he would be appalled.

  5. alanbean said
    I was talking about racism.: What the african population is so dammned quick to bring up no matter what. How about a hate crime, for those 6 africans jumping one white boy.( Oh my gosh, I just said boy! Damn good thing I was referring to a white, or I KNOW that would have been considered racist, had I referred to young africans as a boy ) Why is the word, “africans” insulting”? Is that not what most of them wish to be called? Did not think they liked to be called negroes anymore. Let me tell you something; average africans need to wake up and smell the coffee. Stop blaming the white man for all their problems, and what ever happened during slavery. By the way, if I were a african, I would get on my knees, and thank the white man for bringing them into this country. Where would the mike jordans and tiger woods, be today, had they been raised in africa? Bil Cosby has said a lot more than I just said. Anytime an african with any sense at all, speaks with common sense, most africans call him an “uncle tom” Oh well, not my problem. By the way, I am DAMN glad I am white, and very PROUD of it!!!

  6. Dear Jene 6 Organizers,

    Enclosed below is a copy of a letter to Mr. Tom Lambeth, he is on the Staff of Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation http://www.zsr.org/ who’s mission is to promote equality and protect the Environment. The Foundation is a contributor to the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center http://www.ncruralcenter.org/about/board.htm who Mr, Tom Lambeth is the Chairman.

    As you will see in the letter below the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center has turned into a tool for a very few High Profile Polititions to pay back Contributors. In the process of promoting all out greed.

    The North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center Water and Sewer Director Juliie Haglier and Executive Director Billy Ray Hall have knowingly Funded projects with knowledge that the project was not for Low Income People but to provide Sewer Service to the River Dunes Devlopment http://www.riverdunes.com/ to build 1-5 million dollor homes while Low Income people that funds were applied for did not get sewer or had to pay the Highest Impact Fee in the United States.

    Can you organize a protest March on the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston Salem North Carolina, The North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center in Raliegh, North Carolina, and the River Dunes Development in Pamlico County.

    I am reconised by the USDoJ EPA, FBI. NCSBI, and the North Carolina State Auditors
    Office as an Environmental Whistle Blower. I have countless documents to supports this conspiracy.

    I can meet with your members of your group.

    Sincerely,

    M.Dale Swiggett
    Dear Mr. Tom Lambeth,

    I would ask that the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation stop any funding to the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center. As Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has been recognized Nationally for efforts to Protect the Environment and Social Equity.

    The North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center has now become an instrument that is being used to hurt people in need ruthar than to help them.

    There is now regional and national attention to the Bay River Sewer/ River Dunes /NC Clean Water Trust Fund/ NC Rural Center Scam and Trust Fund Scam and Cover up.

    This is currently being investigated by the The North Carolina State Auditor’s Office for Misappropriations of 1998 Clean Water Trust Funds.

    An artificial Sewer District was created by using the needs of Low Income Minority People of Pamlico County on Applications to the NC Clean Water Trust Fund, the NC Rural Center, and DENR to receive Grants for the Unsewered Western Bay River Sewer District. 9 million dollars was diverted 25 miles away to the Sewered Community of Oriental to build a sewer plant to service the “River Dunes Development” to build 1-5 million dollar home.

    If that was not bad enough, there was a cost overruns on servicing the River Dunes Project and the Highest Impact Fees in the United States of $12,500.00 per home were levied on all of Pamlico County to subsidize the “River Dunes” project.

    As it turns out, this is not the only example of NC Clean Water Trust Funds, the NC Rural Center Unsewered Funds, and DENR Funds to be misappropriated to support future growth.

    The North Carolina General Statues clearly stipulate that these funds are not to be used for future growth and are to Protect Water Quality.

    In the middle of a drought we have the same influences diverting 100 millions from DENR Water Works to the NC Rural Center Water and Sewer Department.

    The NC Rural Center does not service but 80 of the 100 North Carolina Counties. The 85-40 corridor Counties that are suffering the most from the drought are excluded from these funds that were appropriated by the North Carolina General Assembly.

    I have been communicating with Dr. Robert Bullard Phd. the foremost authoring on Environmental Justice and Racism. His commits are WOW.

    The visuals of this situation are clear, we have a sign in the wrong Town with all the facts on the sign. The 3 million dollar “Coastal Living Dream Home” is in the River Dunes Development. We have elderly low income people black people putting a mobile home on their own property have to pay a $12,000.00 impact fee, and we have the Low Income People that the Grant Money that were suppose to get sewer, not getting sewer.

    Economically this is absolute corruption, none of Pamlico County has sewer capacity and the Pamlico County Attorney is the Registered Agent for “River Dunes”, the “River Dunes
    Home Owner Association” and Minisott Beach another municipality in Pamlico County.

    Total Conflicts of Interest, and the Development Process is For Sale. Please write letters to the North Carolina State Bar Association.

    I am a White Guy but I need some help to get the word out of this pattern and system of tens of Millions of dollars of NC Clean Water Trust Funds, the NC Rural Center Unsewered Funds, and DENR Funds are being misappropriated to support future growth.

    These misappropriations are to subsidize an elite few of politically connected, and Eastern North Carolina Politicians while Low Income Minority People that are suppose to get the money are doing without, all landowners of Pamlico County are having to pay more than thier fair share. The Nitrogen Levels of the Neuse River the Most Threatened Body of Water on the East Coast are increasing. .

    Sincerely,

    M.Dale Swiggett
    dale_swiggett@yahoo.com
    336-340-6299

    P.S. I will be glad to meet with you and any of your groups to supply supporting documention

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  7. Wow. Just as my brotha “alanbean” so eloquently put it regarding neanderthal “Chaz” comments: Spoken like a true racist….OOPS! I meant….humanitarian, lol.

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