Ok, I had not heard much about this until recently.

From what I've read, One incident involved the hanging of nooses from a tree a day after black students sat under what had been an informal gathering place for white students. - Crime? No. Stupid - VERY. There is not place in today's society for such stupidity. The students involved were suspended from school for a brief time.

Another was the beating of a white student that resulted in six black teens facing charges that include aggravated second-degree battery. Crime? Yes; Stupid? Very.

Yes unfortunately there are stupid people who will inevitably do stupid things. The nooses were way out of line. The beating was way out of line.

Now enter, your favorite and mine. Al Sharpton, inciting a peaceful riot. What purpose does this serve, orther than to get his fat arse back in the news? Please Rev Al, go back to NY, see if you can pull your head out of your arse and quit trying to make a bigger deal out of a mole hill.

i've been thinking about this one for a few days.... difficult not to come out sounding racist i think... here's my take... hanging the nooses... incredibly ignorant. should be viewed as racism, maybe a threat. but assault? thats worse than a threat, in my eyes. its more than rude. it is violence. yes, it was wrong to hang the nooses, but since when does a racial insult make assault ok?? take RACE out of the situation entirely. some kids hung a noose. then some more kids decided the didnt like it and six ofthem ganged up and beat someone. makes the story look a bit different.

I was wondering why the teen was charged as an adult? but more importantly why he has been in jail for six months awaiting trial and missing his academic requirements for a high school diploma?

I agree there was a crime and justice needs to be served.

Just curious why this one teen is still in jail due tho excessive bail? I would think the issue of bail being addressed when the charges were lowered would of taken a lot of the air out of this topic. Common sense points to many crossroads where this Jena 6 situation could of been de-escalated at an earlier juncture. Calming the community, and creating forums for discussion.

Also, if the hammer had been lowered on the youth putting the nooses out, more awareness could of occurred. Comprehensive town meeting and follow up to address such racism should of occurred. Pockets of ignorance could of been identified and addressed. I do not feel the administrators or police acted strongly enough in the beginning. Not an excuse, but I always look back and assess where interventions could of occurred before reaching critical mass. Yesterday during the height of the rally, 2 kids drove a truck thru town with a noose. There is some deep seeded ignorance that needs to be addressed. (Common Sense and a different message from parents needs to occur all around.)

On that note, why did the town and folks in general passively approve of only letting whites sit under a tree in a school yard. That had been going on for years, I was surprised the administrators, PTA, teachers, and Church groups would not speak up. Why not address the whites only tree each year at the beginning of each school year until it was corrected.? It was known as a given to all who attended the Jena High School. This issue could of been addressed years ago, and provided all with some education. Defusing the situation. So, I am confused why this ignorance continued without debate, resulting in tacit approval.

AMEN CD.

However most can not take race out of the equation.

This country was wrong for the whole slavery issue. I will apologize for any and all of my ancestors who might have partaken in slavery. (I doubt any did since they were PA Dutch).

Now if only Revs Al and Jesse could just quit. There are inequalities everywhere, not just with people of color.

i could say the same about my highschool cafeteria... there was one table that only soccer players coulkd sit at. where was al sharpton when i needed him.

I think that we all should look a little deeper here because all of the facts are not listed here and are not being reported on the news. Please go to YouTube and look at a couple videos from this situation.

Couple of thoughts-Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are hate and race mongers. Have been and always will be. They make a living protesting. As motivated as they are, it is such a waste of talent that could be used to actually benefit people, all people.

There is a little more to the white kid getting beat up by six black kids. First, the white kid was beat up, went to the hospital with a black eye and a couple of cuts, released and went to a function that night. He was not in a coma or had any serious injuries. Does this deserve Attempted Murder charges, HELL NO. Second, this white kid was involved with a few other white kids with beating some of the black kids days before. Third it was not like six black kids went out looking for this one white kid to beat up. The white kid taunted the black students by calling them racial names, and then he got his ass kicked. He should have. The only question I have is why he was not beaten worse. If he would have been in my back yard making comments, he would have made it to any function that night and probably would not be eating solid food for months. I think the black kids took it easy on him.

There also was a documentary on last night that explains racial tensions have always been strained here. It became an issue with the "white kid’s tree" and how this situation was handled.

This situation is blatant racism.

Just looking at the situation and attempting to assess how to correct and educate so history is not repeated. My bad I guess.

no i agree with you... but dont you think that maybe adding RACE as a factor here is HELPING history repeat itself? like giving an excuse almost? " six kids beat fellow highschooler who was taunting them " "six BLACK kids beat WHITE classmate who was taunting them".

My issue is that no one in town addressed the unspoken approval to allow only white kids to sit under a tree in a school yard. I am sure I can be wrong, but I can not personally take the race out of that antecedent. This a generational pattern. I am surprised it did not blow up years ago. I am not the most observant but I have a problem as a parent who is at my kids schools regularly, that no one would of addressed this on the school yard.....For goodness sake, some parents went into the BOE in Ohio and outlawed tag. So I have a problem with priorities some parents have. Simply put, I can see 5 or 8 ways it could of been de-escalated and turned into a learning opportunity. Promoting tolerance, by admitting a possibility of a racial issue years ago. It would not of gotten rid of the prejudice but they would of been talking.

CD, you CAN'T take race out of this particular situation because it's BASED on race issues. I've read EVERYTHING I can about this situation, and have been following it closely for a while now.

My OPINION, based on what I've read is that the white kids were wrong in hanging the noose. The black kids were wrong in giving the white kid a beat-down (but even though it WAS wrong, I can understand the motivation, and I probably would have helped in the beat-down had I been a student at that school, that's just how I am).

School adminstration and local-yokel police shouldn't have charged the minor as an adult, nor should the children be charged with attempted murder (as they were initially). The "noose" incident is obviously a hate-crime, but was anyone charged with a hate-crime? No. The fight was obviously an "assault", but they were charged with attempted murder and consipiracy to commit murder. Come on here folks. The "beaten" child went to a class-ring ceremony later that night and spent NO time in the hospital except to have his bruises checked and get a couple of well-deserved stiches.

The "much ado" involved THOUSANDS of good Americans setting aside their schedule to protest the disparte treatment of the black children, and to support the black children, their parents/loved ones during this difficult time in OUR HISTORY. History is happening RIGHT NOW and it is incumbent upon us, as AMERICANS to stand as one when we see, or feel, that other AMERICANS are being treated poorly by less-than-tolerant AMERICANS.

No, I didn't fly to Jena yesterday to participate, however, my prayers did fly there, and have been there during this whole debacle. I pray for the ALL the people in Jena, the good, the bad AND the racist among them.

Cut the f'n tree down, or else designate it as a place where ALL students in the school can come together and work for change. It's pretty obvious that the community NEEDS some changing. After all, the apple really does NOT fall far from the tree.

Jelsy said it better than I did, thanks:
"Cut the f'n tree down, or else designate it as a place where ALL students in the school can come together and work for change. It's pretty obvious that the community NEEDS some changing. After all, the apple really does NOT fall far from the tree."
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I think my frustration was when the news (like I should watch it) repeatedly interviewed white parents who said there was no prejudice in town. It just rang hollow as we all know a little bit is everywhere, a little bit is probably in all of us. Whether it is prejudice against fatties or transplants to the area, prejudice is around in some form.......It was the tree that was the burr under my saddle. Someone has cut it down. Hoping it will be a learning opportunity. I am calmer now. It is a long way from over.
Carry on.

It is great that the tree was cut down but come on that is not the answer. The issue is race not a tree, not a bus, not a movie theater, not any other place that I am sure only the white kids are allowed to hang out. Until the issue of Race is discussed the tree will be a certain bathroom, seat on a bus, certain area of the playground, ect.. ect.. ect...

i never said race WASNT an issue. i said it SHOULDNT be. and its ad that it still IS. and we can never move forward as a unified people when our CHILDREN are still behaving like their great grandparents, wallowing in ignorance to make themselves look tough.

it shouldnt matter WHO the nooses were for... people should be JUST as UPSET if the kids were white... or jewish, or handicapped.. someone hung nooses. it shouldnt matter WHAT the races of the people involved on both sides of the taunting and assault were. there was an assault. THAT is my point.

i never said the situation had been handled fairly. i never said it wasnt a big deal. quite the contrary. it seems some people thing this is a big deal because of skin color. i think this is a big deal because children are hanging nooses and beating each other.

i hope that the punishment will be fair for ALL involved, but people must be accountable for their own action... YES maybe there SHOULD have been a hate crime charged against the noose kids, BUT just because there wasnt does not mean the black kids should get a lighter punishment. what would that teach? if someone insults your race, or religion, and doesnt get punished, you should take it into your own hands and hurt people? thats what prison gangs do. and there is a reason that people who act like that are IN prison. two wrongs do not make a right.

i feel bad for ALL the kids involved in this, becuase this incident will affect THEIR futures, and all of ours.

Please post the page out of the Local-Yokel's Law book, that states this is a hate crime. I doubt you will find it, even though it should be there.

Just doing my best to play devils advocate.

Gotta like Patton, he's a keeper in a unique way.

Can't accomodate you there Pat, but other incidents of "noose hanging" around the country in the last couple of years has been prosecuted as "hate crime".

And NO, I don't "gotta like Patton", but I do. Bunches and Bunches.

Maryland's Local-Yokel hate crime law:

Mypoint exactly Jelsey, I do hope the uniformed members of law enforcement in that area would know the laws. I have to believe had there been a law on the books against nooses, then whitey would have been charged.

Now would them being charged been enough to avoid the beat down? Would them being charged have kept Rev Al from inciting a riot, er or protest? hrm........

Wow, I agree Patton.
I also think appropriate handling of the tree and later the nooses would of had an impact on the eventual fall out. I gotta think if that tree had been addressed years ago, at least people would of been more alert to hot issues and what is a crime. Some of the locals were oblivious and not even talking to one another. Earlier prosecution would of woken some up. And it would of avoided escalating to Al Sharpton picking up on it. It would not of been a media circus. (Wishful thinking)

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Now would them being charged been enough to avoid the beat down? Would them being charged have kept Rev Al from inciting a riot, er or protest? hrm........
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I would hope that it would have been the case, but it doesn't appear to have been.

At least if the kids had been charged with hanging the noose (hate crime charge is a FEDERAL charge, right?), it would have made the TOWN look better.

Would it have kept that a-hole Sharpton away, doubt it. A dog always returns to it's vomit.

jburrs is gonna have a coronary.

Federal Hate crime laws are generally much differenct that "local-yokel" laws.

I don't f'n care what he thinks.

(3 "f'n"'s and NO warning...looks good so far!)

Points CD to the nearest AED. Just hit him with that a couple of times, he'll be fine.

This afternoon: A judge has denied bail for Mychal Bell, the only one of the teens who is jailed in the beating of a white classmate. I agree justice is needed for all crimes. Just taking a breath at how long this teen has been in jail while waiting for trial. Now it looks like it is a definite for no bail, seems odd.

here here! look at this!!



story

Yup, someone had referred to those idiotic youth earlier. Helpful to have the link, makes it easier. Thank you tech support wizard.
Crazy teens, I guess common sense would be an oxymoron. Can it get weirder? They are definitely helping the situation, NOT. Speaking of teens, I need to keep an eye out for my brood.

They weren't arrested for the nooses.

Patton, I think you need to go check your facts because bringing a hangman's noose to school violates the schools policy against weapons in school and in addition it's a clear hate crime. The students should have been immediately expelled not suspended. It's not a prank and no one is buying that crap about it being a prank. The following is an excerpt from the Southern Poverty Law Center's take on the matter:

"If you don't know the story yet, six black high school students face years in prison for beating up a white student during a period of racial tensions that began after white kids hung nooses from a schoolyard tree. No one was prosecuted for hanging the nooses, a clear hate crime."

Hangman's nooses hanging from a tree represents the intent to murder by hanging and nothing else. People like you are part of the problem in this country by downplaying the actions of racist white people. And if you feel like I've stepped on your toes with regards to this issue.....move your feet!

Mr Burr contributes: "......... bringing a hangman's noose to school violates the schools policy against weapons in school and in addition it's a clear hate crime. The students should have been immediately expelled not suspended. It's not a prank and no one is buying that crap about it being a prank. The following is an excerpt from the Southern Poverty Law Center's take on the matter:"
"If you don't know the story yet, six black high school students face years in prison for beating up a white student during a period of racial tensions that began after white kids hung nooses from a schoolyard tree. No one was prosecuted for hanging the nooses, a clear hate crime."
........................
Thanks for the concise reference, the excerpt says it better than my ramblings. I did not want to look up statutes, but it screamed crime. Also, I feel if it was not a crime in the legal sense, it was in the human sense. That was my main concern, it might not be written down but it is very wrong. Now I see it referenced in the SPLC, which helps.

To me as a mom, nooses hanging from a tree in a school yard is a statement of hate, and race can not be taken out of the equation. A noose is what it is. Thanks for summarizing. I'm still trying to understand.

Mr. Burrs,

Hell no you didn't step on my toes. I started this thread for conversation, and I have succeeded, thank you for your input.

you stated this twice in your comment.

I will agree with part of this. In most parts of the country it probably is a Clear Hate Crime, with laws on the books to punish the offenders.

Until I see the Jena country law book, that defines this as a hate crime.... well then I don't know what to say.

I will reiterate my expound on my earlier comments that this was a Stupid act by whitey, and should be punished by law, not a group of vigilantes.