Open Thread: What the Heck is Happening in Jena?
It seems like our neighbors up in Jena are having a difficult time with their teenagers (and with racism).
Back in September, a group of white students were suspended (not expelled, as many parents had hoped) for putting a pair of hangman’s nooses in a tree on the campus of Jena High School.
i am really just astounded that there has not bee more reporting on these incidents. The Town Talk has really really dropped the ball. I don’t believe they even know what
investigative jounalism is-or they simply don’t care. From what I understand-the African American teens that took the gun away from the white teen that pulled it on them took it in such a manner that NONE of them were charged with battery or assault. They took it away from the kid and left-so they are charged with theft?!? What were they supposed to do? What about the kid that pulled the gun? Was he charged? No. Was the firearm registered? Whose was it? The African American teens that have been charged with attempted murder got in a fight in which a white teen was taken to the hospital, released and went to his ring ceremony at the school that night. They were initally had a charge of battery (could have been assault, I am not sure) so how do the charges change? On what grounds? Could any one at the Town Talk get off ther ass and actually do some reporting? Both sides? Facts? Anything? Please? Inform us?
Many snaps to you, Lamar for bringing this up!
Spino
I have not been following this. If what you say is true,( about the white kid pulling the gun and the black kid being charged with theft for simply defending himself), that is awful. However, I hear things like that about nearby areas. I agree with you that this whole thing is being under reported. I would tend to believe if enough evidence existed to support that the white kid brought the gun, which must be the case if there was a theft cahrge. That alone supports the rest of the case for the black kid simply defending himself. I think you will find several charges dropped or pleaded down. Keep posting what you hear. I’m interested.
LaSalle Parish is well known as a Klan area. I had a lawyer friend who married a local and lived there for a couple of years. He originally aimed to base his practice on federal law…..but was told “there is no federal law in LaSalle Parish.” Lots of truth in that.
I am director of a criminal justice reform organization called Friends of Justice. Yesterday, I got two calls from parents of defendants in this case. They are charged with attempted 2nd degree murder and conspiracy to commit second degree murder (over the fight at the school), and with aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery (in connection with the gun-related episode). Bonds ranged from $70,000 to $138,000. If anyone has any information on this issue I would appreciate hearing from you. I may make a trip, possibly as early as the coming weekend.
Alan Bean
(806)995-3353
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