Please Wear Black Today in Support of the Jena Six Rally in Jena, Louisiana.

The National Black Law Students Association Calls For Justice in the Jena Six Case

In past weeks and months we have watched events unfold in Jena, Louisiana with heavy hearts. In response to a racial incident arising from nooses being hung from a tree at the local high school, a group of six African-American students got into a fight with a white student, who allegedly had been racially taunting black students in support of the students who hung the nooses. Allegedly, the white student was taken to the hospital treated, released, and reportedly attended a social function later that evening.

While the National Black Law Students Association does not condone violence, the actions of the Jena District Attorney and the Judge in this case have amounted to a gross miscarriage of justice. The six African-American students involved in the altercation were initially charged with attempted second degree murder. On the morning of the trial, the District Attorney reduced the charges from attempted second degree murder to second degree aggravated battery and conspiracy. Aggravated battery in Louisiana law demands the attack be with a dangerous weapon. The prosecutor was allowed to argue to the jury that the tennis shoes worn by Mychal Bell, one of the defendants, could be considered a dangerous weapon.

Therefore, the National Black Law Student urges the Judge to consider all the factors surrounding these events during sentencing of Mychal Bell, the first of the six students to be tried. Additionally, we appeal to the Jena District Attorney, Reed Walters, to drop the charges against the remaining five students.

We are also calling on the Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr to intervene in the Jena Six case to ensure that the defendants’ constitutional right to a fair trial is ensured. The National Black Law Students Association is working with the ACLU of Louisiana to provide pro bono assistance to Mychal Bell and the other defendants in the Jena Six case.

You can contribute to this cause in a variety of ways such as:

1) Traveling to Jena, Louisiana on September 20th for a large protest against conviction of Mychal Bell. This event coincides with the National Academic Retreat in New Orleans and NBLSA may be able to help coordinate transportation to Jena from New Orleans. If you are interested in attending this event please contact Jared Boyd at

2) Writing a letter to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and State Attorney General
Charles C. Foti, Jr to intervene in the Jena Six case. A letter can be emailed to Governor Blanco at contact@la.gov and the State Attorney General can be contacted at Executive@ag.state.la.us.

3) You can also sign a petition demanding justice in the Jena Six case athttp://colorofchange.org/jena/.