The Jena case began in August 2006 after a black student sat under a tree known as a gathering spot for white students. Three white students later hung nooses from the tree. They were suspended by the school but not prosecuted. Six black teenagers, however, were charged by LaSalle Parish prosecutor Reed Walters with attempted second-degree murder of a white student who was beaten unconscious in December 2006. The charges have since been reduced to aggravated second-degree assault, but civil rights protesters have complained that no charges were filed against the white students who hung the nooses.
"The FBI report confirms what we have been saying for many months about the severe increase in hate crimes," said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who organized Friday's march. "What is not reported, however, is the lack of prosecution and serious investigation by the Justice Department to counter this increase in hate crimes." Sharpton called for Attorney General Michael Mukasey to meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus and civil rights leaders to discuss this enforcement.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Hate Crimes
Reading the following this morning, I was stunned to find that Al Sharpton believes that hanging nooses from tree limbs is tantamount to attempted murder! There is no doubt that the white students were in the wrong, but the black students were more serious in their expression of hatred, beating a student into a state of unconsciousness! Speaking of a hate-crime.
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The three white students came forward and took responsiblity for hanging the nooses, but they say they hung the nooses to poke fun at friends who are members of the Jena High School rodeo team, an idea they say they got from the lynching scene in the movie Lonssome Dove. Federal agents and local authorities are on the record saying they believe the three are telling the truth. The Justice Department has pointed out that the strongest charges that could be brought against the three would result not in a criminal conviction but in a "finding of delinquence," the juvenile equivalent of a misdemeanor. The would first have to prove that the three meant the nooses as a racial threats,w hich would be difficult to do. Even if Ku Klux Klansman had hung the nooses, it would have been a misdemeanor rather than a felony offense.
Since members of the Jena Six used racial slurs during the attack on the white student at Jena High and told other students they had a list of white students they planned to attack, both the state and federal goverment could bring felony hate charges against them. Aggravated battery is a felony rather than a misdemeanor.
Thanks much to anonymous. I must agree that the attack by the Jena 6 individuals resulting in injury to the student was aggravated battery which is and should be a felony rather than a misdemeanor.
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