(from Revolution newspaper #141, August 24, 2008)
by Carl Dix
This presidential election season something different is happening. Three years ago, tens of thousands of Black people were left to die as Katrina’s flood waters surged in New Orleans. Last year, lynching nooses were being hung all across the country, from Jena, Louisiana, to New York City. But now, one of the two major parties is about to nominate an African-American, Barack Obama, to be the president of the U.S. This is major.
What if it was 6 White guys beating on one black guy?
I just want to know where the justice is. I'm going to assume that both sides in Jena had racial tensions and stupidity. IF that is the case than, any way I see it 6 against one is unfair. I don't care if one side is purple and the other is orange. 6 versus one is wrong.
Going back to my topic, if this was 6 white guys beating on one black guy, would the reverend Jessie Jackson being crying out for justice and cival rights for the 6 white guys?.
I want someone to explain to me where 6 guys beating up on one guy is fair. I can see where one on one is fair. But not 6 on 1.
And yes I believe that blacks can have as much racial hatred as any white person. Racial hatred can cause a lot of stupidity, like burning crosses, name calling, racial jokes.
Jena may have a lot of racial problems, but until you can show me that it's okay for 6 people to beat on one person, I'm going to have to say white, black, purple, green or yellow it's never okay.
Two wrongs don't make it right. It just makes more wrong in the world. For everyone that has made their opinion about Jena, I ask you this:
IF it were the same circumstances, except it was 6 white guys beating on one black guy, would you feel the same way? Would you protest for or against the Jena 6 then?
For those of you that are unable to travel to Louisiana next Thursday, there will be a rally here in Atlanta in support of the Jena 6. Please wear all black.
When: Thursday, September 20, 2007 from: 7:00 AM until 12:00 PM
Where: City Hall (Downtown Atlanta), 55 Trinity Avenue, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303
I'm sure by now we've all heard about the Jena 6. If not, here's a brief breakdown (according to wiki):
On September 1, 2006, hangman's nooses were discovered in a tree in Jena H.S.'s campus after a black student tried to sit with white students at lunch. The school head recommended that the noose-hangers should be expelled. The board of education overruled him (the school head) and the three white student perpetrators received in-school suspension. On November 30, 2006 an arson fire destroyed the main academic building at the school. On December 4, 2006 a fight broke out on campus, after which six African-American students, later dubbed the Jena 6, were arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder. Law enforcement officers told the Alexandria Daily Town Talk they have found no links between the noose incident, the arson fire, and subsequent fights.
The six accused of attempted second-degree murder are black and were fighting a white student after a week of intimidation by white students, including the one who was assaulted. Intimidation cited includes an incident in which a white student brandished a gun at a convenience store after a verbal exchange. Students allegedly wrestled away the gun and were then held in custody and charged with theft while no charges were made against the white student.
People are entitled to have their own points of view. That's called "diversity."
But, when that diversity of thought turns into violent and hateful action, it's called a "crime."
And, when it's done by a person who is backed up by the long arm of the law, it's called illegal, a violation of civil rights and a disbarrable offense.
Barack Obama has long talked about creating a better America. One of the best things he can do at this point, is to get down to Jena, Louisiana and talk to those crazy people down there. Bring them some light, and take the hands of people in the black AND white communities, people with good intentions, and help them figure out how to mend the wounds caused by hatred in that town.
I wish I could say it was mutual hatred, but the fact is that the hate runs one way. The hateful actions run one way. But, peace is a two-way street, and people who don't have a lot of power still have a lot to say.
People are so good at leaks and snipes and shots at the other candidate. let's see the Demoratic party get down to Jena and intervene in the way that politicians know best. I'm sure that the haters down there go to church, at least some of them. Why not have an ecumenical healing?
I'm sure that the lawyers downt here took an oath to uphold the Constitution just like I did. Just like Obama di. Just like many of the members of the campaign must have done. Why not ask for a bar inquiry, to make sure that the lives of those 6 young men are not snuffed out by incarceration, death or despair.
The Obama campaign is about hope: I sincerely HOPE that the short-term result is that this case becomes a rallying point for tolerance on a social level and justice on the very personal level of those 6 men who were the target of selective and extremely racist prosecution.
I don't mean to snark, but where is the Republican voice? Let's see how good their reality testing is on this one. Do they "get it"?
Thanks to Amy Goodman who broke the story [www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/10/1413228]; Daily Kos has also picked it up [ www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/28/144445/384 ].
