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Dear Governor Blanco,
I am writing to request your intervention into a situation of great injustice taking place in Jena, LA, as well as a written response to this letter.
Last fall, when two Black high school students sat under the "white" tree on their campus, white students responded by hanging nooses from the tree. When Black students protested the light punishment for the students who hung the nooses, District Attorney Reed Walters came to the school and told the students he could "take [their] lives away with a stroke of [his] pen."
Racial tension continued to mount in Jena, and the District Attorney did nothing in response to several egregious cases of violence and threats against black students. But when a white student--who had been a vocal supporter of the students who hung the nooses--taunted a black student, allegedly called several black students "nigger", and was beaten up by black students, six black students were charged with second-degree attempted murder. Thankfully, Mychal Bell’s June conviction has been nullified but all 6 young men are still awaiting trial, and remain unable to return to Jena High School and get on with their lives.
I would like to believe that what is happening in Jena is not consistent with your values, or with what the State of Louisiana sees as justice. I have asked District Attorney Reed Walters to drop all charges against the six young men. You should act immediately to make clear your commitment to justice in this case, and announce that you will grant immediate reprieves to any of the young men who are convicted. And you must investigate the conduct of District Attorney Reed Walters, whose actions are a blatant and unacceptable abuse of power, to begin the process of healing in Jena and to make sure this never happens again.
Respectfully,
[your name here]
Dear Attorney General Futi,
I am writing you regarding the recent developments in the Lasalle Parish of Louisiana regarding six young men. As an individual committed to the elimination of racism, I am disturbed by the criminal cases against six young African American men residing in Jena Louisiana: Mr. Mychal Bell, Mr. Bryan Purvis, Mr. Theo Shaw, Mr. Carwin Jones and another yet to be identified individual. I am asking that you please investigate and monitor the criminal cases against the men, known as the Jena 6.
As you know, the charges against these young men stem from an incident that happened at Jena High School with a young white man. The fight was the culmination of harassment, intimidation and assault including off campus incidents which were allowed to go unpunished by both the school and the District Attorney.
The reason I am asking that you investigate and monitor the criminal cases of the Jena 6 is that the excessive prosecution and questionable actions by the District Attorney, Reed Walters, in this case are cause for concern, as is, the questionable representation provided to Mr. Bell by his public defender. For example, in regard to the District Attorney:
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In September of 2006, a group of African American students at Jena High School found three nooses handing in a tree on school grounds. The District Attorney, Reed Walters, did not pursue charges against the individuals who hung the nooses. Instead, the three white students who admitted to hanging the nooses received only an in-school suspension.
- When African-American students staged a sit-in protest against the suspension, the District Attorney came to the school and made questionable and possibly unethical remarks to the students including, “I can take away your lives with the stroke of my pen.”
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In December of 2006, an African American student was physically assaulted at an off-school party by white youths. However, no action was taken by the District Attorney to punish the perpetrators.
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On the day after the incident above, three African-American students were confronted at gunpoint at a store, by a white man. Again, no action was taken by the District Attorney to punish the gunned man.
When the incident at the school happened, the District Attorney decided to aggressively pursue charges against African American students. This is in stark contrast to the fact that he never, in incidents listed above, choose to file charges against white individuals. I believe the law should apply equally to all citizens irregardless of color, gender, or socioeconomic status. It does not appear that this is the case in this situation.
As for Mr. Bell, while his charges were reduced from second degree attempted murder to aggravated second-degree battery, he was tried and found guilty by an all-white jury. And during the course of the trial, Mr. Bell’s public defender did not call any witnesses in his defense and did not put on any evidence.
Thankfully, on September 14, 2007 a Louisiana state appeals court reversed his conviction. This was roughly one week before he was scheduled to be sentenced for up to 22 years in prison-again for a school fight. According to reports, the District Attorney is now deciding whether to appeal the reversal to the Louisiana Supreme Court or to retry Mr. Bell in juvenile court. The other defendants are still awaiting trial.
I believe in fair and equal treatment under the law. For this reason, I respectfully ask that you exercise your authority and pursue justice in this situation. Please investigate and monitor the criminal cases against the men, known as the Jena 6 and work to ensure that all members of the Jena 6 receive every constitutional right they are provided by law. I respectfully also ask that you use your position of influence to investigate, or push for an investigation into, the actions of the district attorney in this situation.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
[your name here]
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