In the end, what was accomplished? Most committee members aimed their questions at US Attorney Donald Washington, the man who has been consistently unplaying the seriousness of the noose incident since mid-June. Washington initially felt pressured to side with Jena officials in this matter; now, with some pressure coming from opponents of the status quo, the political appointee has adapted his testimony . . . slightly. It is no longer possible for noose apologists to site Mr. Washington as an ally. So far, so good.
Tragically, most of the people interrogating Mr. Washington and his associate, Lisa Krigsten, seem to feel that the noose hangers should have been tried as adults under federal hate crimes law, even if this meant locking them up for ten years without parole (remember, parole has been eliminated from the federal judicial system).
There are two problems: (1) the limp response of Jena officials to the noose incident; and (2) an inept reaction on the part of the Department of Justice that, in the minds of most observers, appeared to validate the inaction of folks like Roy Breithaupt and Reed Walters.
The hearings represent a giant step forward. They would have been more effective, however, if more attention had been paid to the egregious behavior of Reed and Roy. When Mr. Sharpton focuses on the noose boys he lets Jena officials slip into the shadows.
But this is just a matter of emphasis. The significant fact is that hardly anyone, Democrat or Republican, made the slightest attempt to defend the indefensible. The very fact that most Republicans chose to be elsewhere suggests they have no appetite for this fight.
Unfortunately, proponents of a knee-jerk law-and-order, lock-em-up philosophy don’t have to fight–they currently control the public policy agenda. Nonetheless, we congratulate Mr. Conyers for convening an illuminating hearing on a timely topic.
Friends of Justice 
Alan –
You might want to fix that transcript link. It’s going to mail.yahoo.com.
Thanks,
– MDM
Too many people too easily lose the focus of this case again and again.
I’m glad they at least corned Donald Washington on the noose hangings, and forced him to admit it was a hate crime; which the FBI had said since day one.
http://www.thejena6blog.blogspot.com
CNN to air another Jena 6 Doc…
CNN announced that it will air “CNN: Special Investigations Unit – The Noose: An American Nightmare” with Kyra Phillips on Tuesday, October 23, at 8 pm ET…
Since July, there have been more than a dozen reported incidents of nooses being displayed around the nation apparently intended to intimidate black people. CNN investigates whether the upsurge in these acts are associated with the events surrounding “The Jena 6” in Louisiana or part of a growing, more widespread racial intolerance. CNN’s Kyra Phillips, who recently reported the network’s in-depth investigation, Judgment in Jena, will anchor a special one-hour report, CNN: Special Investigations Unit – The Noose: An American Nightmare, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. (ET).
Nooses have been found in small towns like Winchester, Ky. and Elgin, Ill., as well as in cities like Philadelphia and New York, where a noose was hung on the door of a Columbia University professor’s office. The Coast Guard Academy, in New London, Conn., is also investigating two separate noose incidents.
Through interviews with historian James Allan and Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Phillips will trace America’s history of lynchings – an atrocity that gives the noose its horrifying meaning. Phillips also examines law enforcement efforts led by the bias crimes coordinator with Nassau County (N.Y.) Police, which tracks downs those who commit hate crimes. She also talks to educators in Philadelphia about what young people are being taught about the nation’s history of racial hatred.
The Noose is produced by David Fitzpatrick, Alison Ginsberg, Julie O’Neill and Michelle Rozsa. The managing editor is Steve Robinson. The vice president and senior executive producer of CNN Productions is Mark Nelson; the executive director of CNN Productions is Jody Gottlieb.
PART OF THIS INVOLVED THE RACIST HAL TURNER I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE CNN NOT BROADCAST IT BECAUSE OF HIM.THEY MADE A FEW NASTY COMMENTS ON OUR NEWS FORUM WHICH I REMOVED STATED THAT WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REPORT THIS STORY WITH HAL TURNER IN IT EVEN THOUGH HE IS PART OF THE WHITE SURPRIMIST GROUP ANYONE WISHING CAN GO TO MY LINK AND POST COMMENTS ON THIS STORY