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29 de Septiembre, 2007

We All Live in Jena

Categorized under Acción , Signs of the Sixth Sun | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

I KNOW THAT SEPT 20 was celebrated as a National Action Day for the Jena 6, but I just got this on a list I'm on, and it sounds pretty exciting. (I made the icon, and of course, anyone is free to take it and use it in the spirit of unity.)

Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Common, M1, Talib Kweli, the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Sankofa Community Empowerment, Change the Game, the National Hip Hop Political Convention, Color of Change and student leaders from over 100 high schools/colleges call for National Action on Monday, October 1 at 12:30pm to support the Jena 6.

September 26, 2007 Oakland, CA - Black and Latino/a artists, activists and students from over 100 schools across the country have joined in the call for National Action on Monday, October 1 at 12:30pm to support six Black high school students known as the "Jena 6".

Mos Def, who spearheaded the call, said

"This is the time for Black people to support the Jena 6, and call attention to the unequal treatment the criminal Justice system is dishing out not only in Jena Louisiana but across this nation...we all live in Jena."

The Jena case began last fall, when two Black high school students sat under the "white" tree on their campus. White students responded by hanging nooses from the tree, conjuring up images of lynching and racial terrorism endured by Black people across the country. When Black students protested the light punishment for the students who hung the nooses, District Attorney Reed Walters came to the school and told the students he could "take [their] lives away with a stroke of [his] pen." Racial tension including cases of violence and threats, continued to mount in Jena while the District Attorney did nothing. When a White student--who had been a vocal supporter of the student's who hung the nooses, called several Black students "nigger"--sustained minor injuries from a school fight, six Black students were charged with second-degree attempted murder.



Akua Jackson of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement says,
"The racist arrest and prosecution of the Jena 6 youth resonates with the experience of being Black and young here in Oakland. Youth are unjustly targeted and incarcerated. Just last week, 20 year-old Gary King Jr. was assaulted and murdered in cold blood by the Oakland Police as he walked, unarmed, from a corner store. Cases like this occur all too often and really unearth the deep, deep roots of racism buried within this country's institutions and policies. Black people are subject to human rights violations on a daily basis- from the Gulf Coast to the Bay Area. We have to ask ourselves: Is this a program of elimination?"

In Oakland, students and activists will meet at Oakland High School, 1023 MacArthur Blvd., 94610, where immediately preceding teach in activities, a press conference will be held. Activist and Artist M1 from the Hip Hop group Dead Prez, Mayor Ron Dellums, City Councilwoman Desley Brooks and City Councilman Larry Reid have all been invited to the press event. The group has created a list of demands targeted at Judge J.P. Mauffray and District Attorney Reed Walters, which will be read during the actions around the country.


They are:

1. All charges against the Jena 6 be dropped;
2. The United States Department of Justice to convene an immediate inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the arrests and prosecutions of the Jena 6;
3. Judge Mauffray to be recused from presiding over Bell's juvenile court hearings or other proceedings;
4. The Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel to investigate Reed Walters for unethical and possibly illegal conduct;
5. The Louisiana Judiciary Commission investigate Judge Mauffray for unethical conduct;
6. The Jena School District superintendent to be removed from office; and
7. That each local, state and federal criminal justice apparatus stop profiling the Black community in general and specifically Black youth for imprisonment and free labor.


Contact: Liz Derias, (610) 909-4751, lddolph[remove this anti-spam text]@hotmail[.]com


The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 11:24 AM.
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Comentarios (11)


NLinStPaul dijo:

GRVTR

I'm going to be very direct and say that plagerism has occurred (that's kind of like a politician being so proud of saying "mistakes were made"). Its either that, or I took your invitation:

anyone is free to take it and use it in the spirit of unity

pretty broadly. Whichever of these gets me to absolution quicker, I'll take it.

But seriously, the title of this essay alone moved me off my butt to start thinking. And for that I am deeply grateful!!

Palabras por NLinStPaul spat forth on el 29 de Septiembre, 2007 at 04:48 PM


nezua limón xolagrafik-jonez Author Profile Page dijo:

GRVTR

right on, NL. it's good to see the graphic in your sidebar. the more voices raised, the better. the more eyes on this the better. :)

Palabras por nezua limón xolagrafik-jonezAuthor Profile Page spat forth on el 29 de Septiembre, 2007 at 06:02 PM


ms_xeno dijo:

GRVTR

I actually saw some of the CNN coverage, only because I was away from home. Home has not cable, because I think my blood pressure would shoot through the roof permanently were I exposed to my brethren's idiocy in such raw form, day after day. Like the DA stating that it was Jeebus who kept those uppity Blacks from destroying his town.

Just amazing how baldfaced these people are in their conviction that entire races are subhumans let around by their moral superiors. Well, amazing to me. Guess I need to stay in with the TV more. >:

Palabras por ms_xeno spat forth on el 29 de Septiembre, 2007 at 09:31 PM


Changeseeker dijo:

GRVTR

Got it. It'll go up tomorrow. Thanks.

Palabras por Changeseeker spat forth on el 30 de Septiembre, 2007 at 02:55 PM


Changeseeker dijo:

GRVTR

I couldn't wait. Here it is. Damn! You do nice work!

Palabras por Changeseeker spat forth on el 30 de Septiembre, 2007 at 03:22 PM


mikefromtexas dijo:

GRVTR

If the Jena 6 aren't enough to wake people up, I suggest, if you aren't already aware, Google 'Tulia TX'. Jena is outrageous, but it is not unique. What happened in Tulia should be something out of a fiction novel based in the 30s or 40.

Palabras por mikefromtexas spat forth on el 1 de Octubre, 2007 at 01:30 AM


nezua limón xolagrafik-jonez Author Profile Page dijo:

GRVTR

thank you, changeseeker. :)

Palabras por nezua limón xolagrafik-jonezAuthor Profile Page spat forth on el 4 de Octubre, 2007 at 10:12 AM


Theriomorph dijo:

GRVTR

Thank you for this Nezua -

Palabras por Theriomorph spat forth on el 5 de Octubre, 2007 at 07:49 AM


Christina dijo:

GRVTR

I also require absolution for plagiarizing your Jena 6 icon. (My blog is set to private for the moment but it'll be public again in a few days.)

And showing it off to other people.

Palabras por Christina spat forth on el 5 de Octubre, 2007 at 12:52 PM


nezua limón xolagrafik-jonez Author Profile Page dijo:

GRVTR

you are absolved. ominous interruptus.

tho it's very difficult to steal something given freely. (tricky, eh? :) i'll check out your blog once its public, if you let me know when.

--

my pleasure, theroiola.

Palabras por nezua limón xolagrafik-jonezAuthor Profile Page spat forth on el 5 de Octubre, 2007 at 12:58 PM


Christina dijo:

GRVTR

I really wasn't attempting to blogwhore, just let you know what sort of company your brainchild is keeping these days, but the need for secrecy is over and it's been reset to public.

Palabras por Christina spat forth on el 8 de Octubre, 2007 at 08:54 AM

kick it, ése.

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