1. Jena 6 By Chantelle Schurman and Jessamine Anderson
2. The Jena 6 The Jena 6 is a nickname for six teens from Jena, Louisiana that were involved in trials that caused racial outrage Their names are Mychal Bell, Robert Bailey, Carwin Jones, Bryant Purvis, Theo Shaw and Jesse Ray Beard
3. What Started the Jena 6 The Jena 6 case was a battle of the races in Jena, LA A tree that was planted at JHS as a symbol of unity between blacks and whites; that became known as the “white tree” where only whites could sit In August 2006, a junior, Kenneth Purvis, asked a school official if he could sit under the white tree. The official told him he could sit anywhere on school property The day after Kenneth Purvis and some friends sat under the “white tree”, two or three nooses were hung from its branches The students that hung the nooses got away with only a three-day suspension; this started lots of controversy
4. The Jena 6 Was Formed “I can be your best friend or your worst enemy. With the stroke of my pen, I can make your lives disappear.” Black students protest under white tree Nov. 30th, 2006 main building burned down Dec. 1st Bailey assaulted at party, 1 white charged with simple battery Dec. 2nd at convenience store, white started shooting at blacks, blacks wrestled gun away and brought to police station but charged with theft, white got away Dec. 4th Barker was jumped by Jena 6; hospitalized but left in 2 hours
5. The Arrests Dec. 6th JHS declares state of emergency, 6 blacks (the Jena 6) arrested, charged with 2nd degree murder and conspiracy of 2nd degree murder May 10th, 2007 Barker arrested for gun possession on campus; expelled from JHS so drops out
6. The Trial Jun. 26th, 2007 50 of 150 (all white) jurors show up for Bell’s case; DA has 17 white witnesses, Bell none Bell faces more than 20 years, but claims innocent, all white jury rules guilty White tree cut down on July 31st Sep. 20th thousands protest Bell’s sentencing, even Martin Luther King 3; put off Justin Barker, 17, testified that he had just come out of his high school gym with his girlfriend walking ahead of him on Dec. 4 when they turned to avoid a group of black students. “I turned my back and somebody hit me, that’s all I remember,” Barker said.
7. The Sentencing On Sept. 27th court rules Bell unfairly tried as adult; to be retried as juvenile Dec. 6th Dec. 3rd Bell pleaded guilty; serves 18 months Other Jena 6 pleaded no contest to simple battery; fined and 7 days probation
8. Purpose of Trial To justify a school fight Became huge issue of racial injustice because of media; helped the Jena 6 and especially Bell Helped people realize why we fought the Civil War Why we treat others with respect
9. Justice or Injustice? Injustice! Although punishment not too bad in end, completely ruined life and chances of success; all Jena 6 are at/going to college, but definitely impacted their lives Why charge someone of murder after a school fight when all the victim got was a black eye?! Other fights of blacks being victims only ended in suspension or simple battery charge From football star to murderer
