Mychal Bell, Robert Bailey, Theo Shaw, Carwin Jones, Bryant Purvis, and Jesse Beard became known as the Jena 6. In Jena, Louisiana, during August 2006, an African American
student caused national chaos when he sat under a
tree that was identified as the “hang out” spot for the Caucasian
students. In September 2006 Kenneth Purvis, a
black student, asked his principal for permission to sit under the “
white” tree. His principal replied by telling him “you can sit anywhere you want.” Apparently the white students of the high school did not agree. The following day the “white” tree was ornamented with nooses painted in their school color. After acknowledging the white students that were responsible for hanging the nooses from the “white” tree, the principal expelled the three white students. However, the school’s district superintendent converted the expulsion into three days of suspension. The superintendent’s decision caused the black students to protest, which later caused more turmoil. Robert Bailey, a black student, was allegedly hit with a bottle while making an attempt to attend a social function of “whites.” When Bailey approached a student that was at the party, he was threatened with a shotgun. The two wrestled with the shotgun and resulted in Bailey being
charged with theft of the firearm, while the “white” student was left un-penalized. On December 4, 2006, Justin Barker, a white student, taunted Bailey about his injuries. Barker was also said to have ridicule numerous students with nooses and derogatory labels. Barker’s actions caused the black students to react with violence. Barker was treated at the hospital but his condition was not severe. The six students, known as the Jena 6, were all charged in juvenile courts with attempted second-degree murder, battery, and conspiracy. However, 17-year-old Mychal Bell was charged, tried, and convicted as an adult by an all-white jury. Bell was charged with aggravated battery and conspiracy charges causing him to face up to 22 years of imprisonment. A Louisiana judge moderately vacated the conviction of one of the black students, while the district attorney decreased attempted murder charges against two of Bell’s co-defendants. Bell was released from jail, however everyone is convinced that the fight is not quite over. The other five students of the Jena 6 have yet to go to trial.
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