The Juvenile Justice system is badly flawed in the way it deals with serious crimes. The maximum penalty for a boy celebrating his 11th birthday is 10 years–since he walks on his 21st birthday. That is fairly reasonable. But the maximum penalty for a boy on his 16th birthday is only 5 years since he also walks on his 21st birthday. Why are we twice as harsh with an 11 year old compared to a 16 year old?

Because of this situation, older juveniles are in many cases tried as adults for serious crimes. But it seems to me that within the Juvenile Justice system maximum penalties should increase rather than decrease with age. Maybe the age of the defendant at the time of the crime could be the maximum. Then a boy one day under 17 could be sentenced to one day under 17 years.

"I feel that all 6 should be charged with a hate crime ontop of the other charges. If this was turned around and 1 black boy was attacked by 6 white boys it would be a hate crime. So why are hate crimes one sided? Do white people have any rights or is this race card one sided? - peter"

Peter, before Justin Barker was beat up he was teasing a black kid who was previously jumped and brutally beaten up by 6 or 7 white youths with bottles!

Only 1 of the white persons who beat him up was arrested, he was charged with simple assault and released on probation and made to apologize. No attempted murder, no aggravated assault
(even though bottles were used and the defendant is 21 years old beating on a 16 year old with the help of 6 friends.

How fair is that?

Maybe it's different in Louisiana, but typically repeat offenders obtain harsher convictions for that reason….hmmmm….maybe the justice system is doing it's job. All the crimes committed should be charged as such, all of them. Whites, blacks, purples and reds. Maybe you've got a town trying to get it's miscreants off the streets. Maye you've got a town that needs to crack down on it's racial issues. Lots of maybes, but one thing is for certain, nobody on this blog knows all the facts except the few people in Jena that probably don't want to talk about it anymore.

VICTIM? People are putting too much thought into the wrong things right now, when the nooses were first hung thats when all hell should have broke loose and hate crime charges should have been brought against those individuals and as minors and not adults because that is what they are, minors. 2nd, I've been jumped in and out of school plenty of times and not once did anyone call me a victim and try to raise criminal charges against my "attackers". They took it for what it was, a school yard fight and we ALL got suspended. And with all the racist incidents that occurred after the nooses were hung there's no way (except for direct evidence)you can make me to believe that they just picked on a random white boy for no reason. So in the case of 6 white boys beating up a black boy what charges do you think they'd bring? In a case of 6 black boys beating up one black boy, what charges would they bring? Or would they even care? The point is that if the town was such a great non-racist town then color wouldn't be an issue in this case. Headlines would read: 6 boys beat on 1 boy causing him minor injuries. The color of their skin wouldn't be revealed until further in the passage, if deemed necessary. I am no more of a human being then the next white person and they are no more of a human being than me. We bleed the same color blood and breathe the same air, yet we still define each other by the color of our skin. This is sad people! And black protestors, its ok to want PROPER punishment (cause they should be punished just like anybody else who jumps somebody and they should be ashamed that none of them were MAN enough to take this young man on in a FAIR fight!) for these young men but don't ignore their actions despite their reasoning and stop pointing the finger saying white folks this and white folks that because your undermining and contradicting your own message, and that is that we are all equal. Yeah some white people may be racist just like some balcks are but when you make general statements you involve an entire race or in this case most of the town and I am not convinced that everyone in that town is racist cause if they were then all this would have broken loose long ago or Jena wouldn't have black residents.THINK people DAMN!

First off, most people are looking at the case as black and white. This is a factor, but it's not what this is all about. These guys are being charged with attempted murder, but the "victim" was released from the hospital the same day and ATTENDED A SCHOOL FUNCTION! Also for all of you who call them thugs and say black people are only rallying behind them because of color you are absolutely wrong. If you have any idea what justice and equality are, you would understand why people are rallying behind them. why aren't the white kids who threatened them with guns being charged with anything? why are the Jena 6 the only ones being charged so severely? I'm not saying they should just go free and clear, because they should be charged with assault or something that fits the crime. The current charges are TOO EXTREME and all of you racist republicans need to get your heads out of your asses and realize that it's the 21st century and hanging nooses in trees is NOT ACCEPTABLE! What happened to Liberty and Justice for all? I guess the republican interpretation is Liberty and Justice for all except african american "thugs". Get your stuff together.

The "Jena 6″ case is a sad and confusing one. Why is it that people protest and defend people who have clearly committed a serious crime. Six against one is all I see in this case. Regardless of race, a crime was committed and someone has to pay the price. Suffer the price for your actions. Had this been a one-on-one fight we would not be hearing about this incident at all. People need to take responsibilities for their actions. Clear and simple. Was a march needed? Defending people who commit crimes has never been an excuse to rally up and march. This is about race pure and simple. Would these marcher be defending six white students if a black student was beaten? The answer is no! I could agrue about it till I'm blue in the face but it wouldn't do any good because it falls on deaf ears.

Will this madness ever end? It's a shame that individual's such as Jesse Jackson make comments such as, "Obama's acting white". This is decrimination on the white race. I was unaware that the white race now has a certain way of "acting". People such as Mr. Jackson regardless of the race make it difficult to move on. Why even make a comment like this? I classify this as a "stirrer". People who enjoy stirring up emotions and provoking hate. People are always looking for a response when making comments such as this. Seeking attention is such a sad pathic way. Let's all grow up a little and get along, end the hate and immaturity!

Why do blacks rally behind thugs like this? We see it time and time again. remember about 13 years ago when blacks cheered at the OJ verdict knowing that he was definitely guilty of MURDER but escaped justice? Black people, why do you do this and expect equal treatment from society? Change your ways black people, or racism will never die.

Okay, six boys beat and stomped a kid until he was unconscious. No he didn't die, no he didn't need an extended hospitalization, but any time a mob of people start kicking a person in the HEAD death can result, quickly, sometimes by ONE well placed kick. The truth is, this could have easily resulted in murder of this white boy. Attempted murder charges are not that inappropriate for the actions of the Jena 6. Should they be charged as adults? no, because they are juveniles, but to be charged in the juvenile system for attempted murder or felony aggravated assault is exactly what should happen to them. By the way, the white boy they knocked unconscious was NOT one of the kids that hung a noose from a tree so please stop printing that, those who are, not that it would matter, it's not legal to lynch somebody for insulting you, it's not legal to give a mob beating to somebody for a racial comment or slur, nor is it acceptable or justifiable.

Time to reinstate segregation.

Who wants to bet that if it was 6 white kids against 1 black kid that called them "crackers" Jesse Jackson would not be defending the white kids, he would be calling for attempted murder/hate crime punishment.

The media is so biased and one-sided it is pathetic. The double standard against white people in our nation is appalling, yet no one seems to realize it, and the ones that do are fired or persecuted and called out as "racists"

Charge them all with a hate crime. It's what would be done if 6 whites attacked a black isn't it?

Time to return to segragation!

The beating occurred 3 months after the nooses appeared.

Oh and by the way, the nooses were painted the school colors, Black and Gold.

It was a racial event. Not only that, thousands of Whites and Asians were lynched in the United States. Why do blacks think they "own" the lynching history? Sorry! Blacks cannot co-opt the term noose nor lynching.

Has CNN ever covered a racially motivated attack on a white Gentile?

Propably not.

Has CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX or MSNBC ever covered a racially motivated attack on a white Gentile.

Probably not.

Yet, they will obsessively report on any racially motivated crime committed against a nonwhite or a Jew.

So, if the Jena case was reversed and the "victims" of racism were white Gentiles, we would not even know about it.

In the background, groups shouted "Black power" and "No justice, no peace."

Explain to me how shouting "Black power" is any different from those that spew "white power?" Those involved with uttering those words are no different from the KKK.

Obviously, racism isn't limited to caucasians, is it?

Justified? I think not. Two wrongs don't make a right.

You don't have to be black to know that something is terribly wrong here. I'm a Native American. Being discriminated against has been a way of life for my people. But that doesn't make it right. America is supposed to be the 'Land of the Free'. Let's make it that way and stop pitting brother against brother. People tend to forget that a black man, a black doctor, saved countless thousands of lives by inventing the blood transfusion.

I am sick and tired of 'leaders' like Jackson and Sharpton and the ACLU making racial issues out of everything.

The nooses were wrong and those kids were punished at the time an appropriate punishment. The school principle even wanted them expelled! It is not like their actions were just ignored and they even gave appologies. No one was PHYSICALLY harmed in the incident.

The other 6 boys chose to take to violence and some of which appearantly have had run in's with the law in the past.

Two wrongs do not make a right! Those 6 should be punished according to the law just as the other boys were punished according to the LAW!

One thing that is most upsetting is that many people protesting haven't even bothered to research the entire problem. I have heard comments made that the boy beaten attended prom the next night - reality he was hospitalized for his injuries and hello since when was prom held in December? Additionally, I have heard stories that after the initial beating a group of white boys beat up a black teen and none of them are facing charges.

People lets get our facts straight before, jumping up and down in other's faces screaming racism!

I'm several states away and we are having demonstrations over this - people upset, yelling, etc over facts that are not true!

Appropriate punishment for these 6? I don't know as I am not privy to their whole story. However, how many times do you allow someone who continues to make choice that breaks laws walk away?

And finally, what would the reaction be if the situation was reversed? What if 6 white boys beat up a black boy? What would everyone be saying then? I know what those same who want these Jena 6 to walk away with no punishment would be screaming for the 6 white kids to be punished to the full extent of the law b/c they commited a 'hate crime'.

So 6 black boys beating 1 white boy is not a 'hate crime'? People scream in-justice but yet folks we still have the double standard don't we?

What if the role was reversed and the "white kids stomped on a black kid?" All hell would break lose! Maybe trying the kids as adults is a little too harsh, but again, the tried to STOMP" on this kid. Put yourself in these parent's shoes. You would have wanted the same thing. It is not about being black or white; it is about the nature of the crime. Put this difference to rest and think about the nature of the crime. Try this "white kid," if he is guilty in a hate crime, in a hate crime. And try the others in a correct manner. People like Jesse Jackson are the ones that keep this difference alive.

Posted By Plfd,NJ : September 20, 2007 10:57 am

Terrorized by the nooses? Yeah, they were so terrorized all six of them beat up one kid.

You're just as racist as Jackson.

BTW, I'm still waiting for Jackson to apologize to the Duke lacrosse players.

It amazes me how both sides of this issue are distorting the facts beyond belief to fit their own agenda.

I encourage everyone to do research on this topic on their own and not take what you read in this thread as fact.

The main concern that I have is that the justice system isn't working correctly in this case. Bell didn't have competent defense and didn't have a jury that gave him a fair trial. In no jury should members personally know those involved in the case, let alone have attended high school with the victim's father.

Secondly, equating shoes with a deadly weapon is a very dangerous precedent. If someone contemplating a criminal act is looking at the same penalty for beating someone as they will see for shooting or knifing, which do you think they'll choose? For 22 years in jail, they'd better have done more than stomp him so mildly that he attended a school function later in the same day.

PEOPLE PLEASE READ THE FACTS OF THE CASE BEFORE POSTING. It would cut out alot of the ignorance of some of the statements on here. It was not just 6 african american kids beating up 1 white kid. Did any of you read about the incident when the black kids went to a party and one was beat by WHITE KIDS? The other fight was in retaliation of that. Also, the 'kid' that was supposedly beat to a pulp was released from the ER the same day and went to a party that same night. People love jumping on bandwagons even if they don't know if there's any gas in it. Do your research, get the facts and then comment.

Wrong doing? The issue here is not black or white…it is a matter of INJUSTICE…how does a school fight, regardless of the events that lead up to the fight, result in 6 teens being charged with ATTEMPTED MURDER??? The charges are excessive for a school fight. I've seen gang fights before at my school and none of them are serving prison sentences for attempted murder…was it because it was black on black or white on white? so will this case set a precedent that if a gang of kids jump another, attempted murder will be the charge…i think not!

If there was any wrong doing on the part of the prosecutors in this case it will be brought to light. However, it is the courts, and not an angry mob of protestors, who are ultimately the arbitors of justice in this country.

There are a great many people on this board jumping up and down claiming racial injustice and I find it a little strange that ALL of your factual summaries are VERY different. I know most of you are merely reacting in an emotional manner to what you are being told to perceive as racial injustice but let's wait and see what the courts and the people who actually HAVE A CLUE what's going on down there have to say about it.

Sirena - Detroit,

You wrote, "Those white kids are no better than the blacks. All of you go to HELL! You should all burn in hell."

MLK would be proud, Sirena. Yeah, those poor 6 black youths should be released and given a parade for beating down the lone white kid. And all the whitey's in this country should realize African Americans are here to stay (huh?) - and will continue crying racism when any African Americans are charged with a crime.

WHERE is Bill Cosby? We need his intelligence now more than ever!

i think that people are looking at this case very wrong…..victim, who are the real victims here….that boy incited a riot, yet those chargers were not brought on him….he was beat so bad by not 1 but 6 young men that he could go to a social event the same day, and go back to school the next….if that sounds like attemted murder to anyone here than you should really get your head out of the clouds….these boys have been in jail for a year for a school fight, thats justice served…they are trying to ruin their lives because of some brat that got off for "inciting a riot" this wasnt some ruthless mob..any adult would have been charged with this charge, the 6 boys were tried as adult why wasnt this boy charged with anything or the boys who hung the nueses, if thats not racial injustice…the term doesnt exist.

When conducting an autopsy on the appalling irony of social progress of this country, it is paramount that we herald the true victim: truth.None of us, the student body of Jena, the accused nor the victim’s parents, the district attorneys nor the news media will ever be able to convincingly detail the events leading up to this moment in history. None but those directly involved. All we have to debate is our perception of what we claim to know. And for any of you to espouse anger and hurl vitriolic daggers of condemnation, you are just as guilty of the aggravated assault on the truth. It’s disparagingly evident why our children can’t see past skin color. Why would anyone need permission to sit under a tree? Why would anyone feel the need to have to ask for permission to sit under a tree? Why would humor be found in the form of nooses? Why would such a deliberate act of misplaced “humor” be granted encouragement through frivolous terms such as “prank”? Why were these “comedians” rewarded with a 3-day reprieve from studying 200 years of historical social “jokes”? Why were the comedian’s parents satisfied with that reprisal? Why would any civic-minded authority feel it wise to not reproach such behavior in the community over which it presides? Why would violence and support of it be acceptable to those who felt slighted by the whole joke? Why would society tolerate the beating of one it’s members and advocate the freedom of those remiss in promoting civility? Why would medical professionals “release within hours” any victim beaten within inches of its life? Why would any victim that lived to see the morning sunrise want to deny that power of redemption to it’s aggressors?Why won’t anyone remember why the caged bird sings and why apples don’t fall too far from trees?

Angry in Washington, I'm with you on that…what could possibly be hung from a tree to infuriate a couple of white kids and excite racial tension???? I know, KKK dummies!!

I am so glad that this dialogue is opening up. The importnace of Jenna 6 stretches far past the injustice that is going on in Louisiana. We still have a racial divide in this country and it is evident in the comments that are on this blog. The divide has been perpetuated by the media's calculated decision to "word" stories in a way that doesnt correctly give the whole story. Since you are only hearing a slanted/condensed version of the facts, along with an over-hyped O.J. story directly afterwards, it makes it easy to rush to one opinion. If you really looked at the dynamics of the story, where young boys that were basically defending themselves wound up in a hardened prison and were being told the rest of their lives will be spent in prison for a school yard fight - then you would laugh at the fact that the media has highlighted some silly comments about Jesse Jackson and Obama just to steer you away from the real issues of injustice. Its basic bait-and-switch. You may not agree with Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton but their presence in this case is necessary just so that the media brings some attention to it. I dont fault any white person that doesnt understand how much of an issue this is because more than likely, you havent had to deal with these types of biases. But the truth is, many black people do. I have been pulled over and harrassed without merit and taken to jail for (in a civial manner)questioning the reason for being pulled over. I can give you a laundary list of incedents that I have encountered all because of my skin complexion (and most importantly) that you would not be able to relate to. I applaud you if you are trying to gain understanding by way of this case, because its not about justifying any of the actions that occurred in Jena (the noose, the shotgun being pulled, the fights, etc.) all of those events were wrong - but what should stand out is that no kid, white or black, should have to go to prison for being a kid. Its worng no matter what color you are, blacks just so happen to experience this same "type" of wrong more often, hence the frustration, passion, outrage, and hope for improvement.

And just to add a little perspective into the whole deal…

The fact that a white kid got beat up is not the issue…the MAIN issue and what seems to be overlooked is that an injustice has occurred. Had the students who hung the nooses been dealt with in a more appropriate manner, the events that happed after that would not have occurred. There would be no news to report except what should have been the headline, "3 white students expelled from school for hanging nooses from a tree". How can we as a nation, justify these actions?? WE can't. Regardless of who was right, action should have been taken appropriately against those white students who felt the need to stir up racial tension. What it boils down to is this: the accountability for the actions that started this whole mess was not dealt with and when more incidents started to happen, more slaps on the hands, if that, kept on occurring…but as soon as someone stands up for themselves or is finally fed up, no one wants to take a stand and admit any wrong doing. Here's food for thought, if a woman-regardless of color, is beaten over and over by her husband and he is never punished and doesn't stop the beatings; is the woman wrong for one day finally defending herself and the husband ends up dead or hurt? It's a crazy world we live in, but when justice is not being served…what type of message is being conveyed?

Aside from the racial aspect of the case, the fact remains that there are six teenage boys on trial for "attempted murder" for an incident in which, under normal circumstances, the charge would be aggravated assault. Charges that would in most cases, again under normal circumstances, be downgraded to simple assault because the injuries were not (by the admittance of the media, hospital officials, and the fact that the child was released from the hospital the same day and out in public later that evening)life threatening.

The question of 'justice' is raised due to the fact that the US Constitution, not the "black" or the "white" constitution, states under the 8th amendment that citizens have the right not to incur "excessive bail" and/or "cruel or 'unusual' punishment" for a crime. Rights that were clearly violated in this case. So much so, that one of the boy's sentences was overturned yet he is still incarcerated. Hence the term "free the Jena 6″.

Regardless of how one feels regarding the racial tensions that this incident has produced, one cannot deny nor should it be overlooked that these boys have not been treated fairly by the criminal justice system or the school officials involved.

If anger needs to be directed at anyone, it needs to be towards the ADULTS who were in positions to de-escalate the situation before it got to this point and chose not to do so for the sake of their own pride and prejudices.

No one has the right to physically harm anyone. But shame is on those who feel that these children deserve 22 years in prison for a fight (granted one that may have gotten out of hand)…but nevertheless a fight!

This is why thousands are marching through a town for 'injustice'!

Angry, Washington DC - you really need to get your facts straight before you start calling other people misinformed. If you feel you have reported the true story I'd like to see your sources. Snopes.com is pretty reliable and based on their version you are combining two separate events into one.

Now that I think about it, while I stand by my opinion of Sharpton and Jackson, I retract my reverse discrimination reference because the reality is that if it were a group of whites against a gun pointing black student, the appropriate non-excessive charges would have been made against the right people in the right courts. Ok, I finally get it. Thanks for the education on this matter from the prior commentators. I truly didn't know all the facts.

Pat, it the situation was identical then I would really see you point. Honestly though Jessie probably would not be involved if this was reversed racism. But when has this really happened.

Heres the deal. These guys that hung these nooses are racist cowards. By hanging those nooses they showed a delibrate threat to any black student in that school. In fear for what could be their lives, these men showed there real colors by kicking ass the old fashion way showing these hillbillies there not as cowardly as they are hiding behind there confederate flags and Clan masks. Got news for you and the rest of your buddys. The south lost. There is no more confederacy. This is AMERICA. What happened to the day, when one who deserves it could get a real good ASS-WHOOPPIN' and that be the end of it. This Whole Story is blown way out of proportion. And im not black. I'm white. I just think that kid deserved to get beat up. The kid didnt even look that bad. I've seen worse. Let this be proof that the world is different than it was forty years ago and you cant go around threatening people with nooses. racism makes me sick

Angry,

Exactly how do you know who is "white" and who is "black" on this message board?

Are you suggesting that ALL white people are on one side and ALL black people are on the other?

This is the kind of thinking that represents the PROBLEM and NOT the solution in this country.

If your version of the facts has any merit whatsoever I am sure that it will come out at the end of the day.

Ok, fine, I get it. My only question now is this, what would be the response from people like those idiots Sharpton and Jackson if the situation were reversed? Undoubtedly, they'ld scream for the white kids' heads on a platter.

I am going to detract slightly from the previous writer. We should be looking for the complete clearance of charges

Unfortunately many of the facts are not kown by our white collegues here.

First of all to the comments of the kid being beaten to near death. This is completely untrue.
This young man was hit by a black teenager in the group becuase he was attemptting to wrestle a shotgun from him. A shot gun he plan to use to kill any number of the black teens in question. Our White writers may not be aware that one of the black boys was beaten savagely by 4 white teens at a party over next to nothing. The others black teens came to RESCUE this boy. When they stop the beating of the black teen, one the responisble teens, the "victim" went to his truck and got a SHOTGUN to kill the black teens involved. That is when one of the black teens wrestled with this person took the gun away to save there lives, in the process the the gun tooting victim was struck in the face 3 times. Suffered a black eye and facial abrasions…NOT a concussion like some have attempted to report.

Unfortunately, many of you have been under-informed or mis-informed. I hope this helps you understand the postion that we are taking.

If all these excuses are true then there are legal ways to deal with it. The south doesn't have a corner on the market when it comes to lousy DA's. The DA in the LaCross case was found out and dealt with. The youth that hung the noose should be punished as well as the youth who beat this kid down. Both are hate crimes in my opinion. Make all the excuses you want, but the facts are still the facts. OJ is a perfect example. Money talks, not race.

Clinton called into a radio show to talk to Al Sharpton about this???

Does ANYONE think this is anything less than overt pandering?

These young adults (4 of whom were adults under LA law and 1 who had a criminal record prior to the incident) got together and beat the hell out of another student who had nothing to do with anything involving hate crimes. They should pay to the full extent of the law for what they did.

All this other stuff is being brought up to cloud the issue and give bottom dwellers like Sharpton and Jackson the opportunity to come in and do some political grandstanding.

Meanwhile, the ambulence chaser Hillary, hears about some disturbance off in the distance and quickly dials up the cause of the disturbance to try and get some of the African American vote.

Then of course, the other instigator, accuses the African American candidate of acting like a white person.

Folks, THESE ARE BAD PEOPLE. They are PART OF THE PROBLEM and NOT part of the solution. Please, don't be fooled.

It's obvious to me that many either don't have the whole story or they wish to turn a blind eye to the racial disparity that still exists in this country. I am neither white nor black so I have no loyalty to either race, but the facts of this case seem plain to me. A school fight was turned into charges of attempted murder for the black children who beat up the white child but the hanging of nooses, the attacks on blacks by whites, the incident of the white child having a gun was dismissed as almost harmless. Three day suspension for hanging nooses? That is not just a prank people. The whites in this case are not receiving the same treatment as the blacks and it is a constant occurrence in our justice system and society. Yet when it is brought up, many white people just say "here we ago again, the race card" and act like there's no problem. It's frustrating for people of color and you just don't get it. Most people supporting the Jena 6 aren't excusing their behavior, they just believe they are receiving unjust treatment and it's hard not agree if you look objectively at the facts.

I have also heard enough of whites complaining about hate crime charges like it was made just to stop whites from attacking minorities. If you would do a little research, you would see that the key case supporting hate crime charges was an assault by a group of blacks on a white man. The group just got done watching the film Mississippi Burning. One suggested that if the group was upset at whites, they should take it out on a white guy just walking down the street. They did and were charged with a hate crime. So for those asking if hate crime charges apply when whites are attacked, the answer is of course.

As for Jesse's comments about Obama, that what minorities, not just blacks, have to deal with. You try to achieve you meet resistance not only from some whites but also from your own kind that don't want you to achieve. Obama was one of the first candidates to speak of the Jena 6 and he did call the charges inappropriate. Jesse should know it is hard enough for a black candidate to get a number whites to support him, if he speaks too strongly on the issue, he will just about ruin his chances at the presidency.

I'm appalled by the myopic point of view many of you seem to have regarding this case. This is not and has never been about absolving these young men of the act they committed. It is about the reason why they did not receive an appropriate punishment for the crime they committed. It is about the trend of white citizens receiving shockingly lighter sentences for similar crimes. It is about a vigilante district attorney who believed he was above the system of judicial checks and balances so dear to this nation. No one wishes harm to the victim in this case, but the issue of race-based inconsistencies in the handing down of punishments is of far greater significance on a national level. The issue examines the core a nation with an ethnic majority that majorly that just doesn't "get it" or just doesn't care about these disparities.

For those who belittle the situation in Jena, understand this. These kids had been taunted the majority of white kids for weeks leading up to this incident. It is obvious that some are you are ignorant to the facts in this case.
1. The white kid got beat up becuase he attempted to use a firearm to kill one or all of the black kids involved.

2. The nose is normally a warning that worse things are comming. I am sure some the white readers do not understand this nor do some of you care to understand.

3. The kid that got beat up was beat becuase he sought to harm or kill some one else, this seemed to be ignored in this case. When the sheriff became involved he took the firearm and thought it was clear who owned it, charged the black teens for posession of a deadly weapon and NO charges against the teen that branished the weapon.

4. In previous case when blacks were attacked, no charges where filed.

5. even though this can quilfy as a hate crime, no charges where file for the nose incident or the multiple taunting incidents that occured previously.

6. No substantial action was taken for threats against black students. The kids that initiated this where simple sent home and "asked not to do it again"

Please ladies and gentlemen, before making statements about this issue, arm yourself with FACTS and not conjecture or rumors. Maybe you will be able to form a more objective opinion and not one along racial lines.

First and foremost, let us remember that this is not about personal opinion on criminal justice and due process. This is about social change. The year is 2007 yet this town and it's people are lost in the pre-King era. We must move onward. This is proof that while we travel to foreign countries to end civil wars, there is still a civil war on American soil, one of race and hatred. We shun those of difference rather than respecting those unique qualities and learning from them. These kids are not what the protest is about. The protest is about the illumination of social hatred. Finally, let it be known that psychological warfare is far more deadly than physical warfare. Hence, the torment of images of bondage and slavery can invoke life threatening reactions from those who have an thorough understanding of oppression and slavery. Crime deserves punishment, yes. But let us examine crimes of both ignorance and of retaliation equally.

I can tell from the responses provided, that you have not been properly educated in the Jena situation. The lack of knowledge is more the media's fault, than it is your own. They've (media) have chosen to keep you up to speed on Brittney and O.J. instead of this horrible injustice that has been going on since LAST YEAR! The nooses that were hung on the tree were only the trigger that set of a series of events that has lead up to the march today. No one has told you that the principal expelled the students that hung the nooses but the DA (who is also on the schoolboard) reinstated the kids after a 3-day suspension. Or, that over the course of the next two months several fights happened as a result, including one white kid pulling a gun on a black kid. Or, that the same D.A. came to speak to the black kids "only" and told them that if they kept it up, then he would "make their lives hell". No one mentioned that the kid that got beat up was part of a group of kids that were yelling racial slurs and that the fight was evenly matched when it started. Or, that the kid that got beat up was at a school function later that day, hanging out with his friends. No, the media has not found it important enough to give all of these facts. Instead, they would have you believe that it is just another racial incident. Its much more than that. You have 6 highschool kids sitting in prision for a year of their life because of a highschool fight. A highschool fight and the kids were charged with attempted murder? I hope this helps, but it probably wont get added to the ticker.

I wonder what Jessi means by "to White"? I guess it is ok to make racial slurs if you are not white. I think he was also there demanding the white youth on the lacross team be jailed for something they didn't do. Now he wants "racial justice" for black youth who it has been proven beat this kid down. I agree the charges were harsh. They should be reduced and dealt with in Juvenile court. If all this were reversed to 6 white youth beating a black youth like this Jessi and that freak Sharpton would be arguing the oposite until the white youth were in prison. These two like to hear themselves make noise and have zero credibility.

I still don't get the outrage? A group of 6 guys beat the crap out of another guy to the point of almost killing him and they're not supposed to be charged accordingly…with attempted murder? What? I guess it's ok for a group of blacks to almost kill a white person or else you're racist. Again, I'm still not getting this?

Sirena your ranting and raving like a loon. Should charges have been pressed against the white kids? Yes, you betcha. However charges are usually brought based on the crime as well as the one who commits the crime. You say that this was just a fight, however you ignore the fact that some of these "boys" had previous offenses in the juvenille system.

The fact that black leaders only made this into an issue after the black boys were arrested doesn't say much for the black leadership. They had an issue to raise when the nooses were raised and when the black boy was beat up. They could be pressing for charges against the white boys who beat up the black kid but they aren't. They instead prefer the continuation of hypocrisy by saying that there is no real crime committed by beating up a boy who used racial slurs. Because were not thinking human being who talk things out, were all just a bunch of animals who should be allowed to beat people up who say things we don't like.

LISTEN PEOPLE, READ THE WHOLE STORY BEFORE COMMENTING. I CAN TELL WHEN A CAUCASIAN LEAVES A COMMENT BECAUSE YOU ALL FAIL TO MENTION THE BLACK BOY WHO WAS BEATEN BY WHITES FIRST! NONE OF THIS WAS ON CNN. BLACKS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY SINCE AUGUST, SO WE KNOW THE WHOLE STORY. THE BLACK KIDS BEATING THE WHITE KID WAS IN RETALIATION TO FOUR PREVIOUS INCIDENTS, BUT MOST WHITES ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO FIND THE COMPLETE STORY IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS. I CANNOT AGREE WITH OBAMA, THIS IS ABOUT BLACK AND WHITE AND RACIAL INEQUALITY!.

As a young Black American, no one is saying that these boys shouldn't be punished but 22 years to life in jail for a school yard fight when the white children got nothing, not even a slap on wrist for the nooses. People are marching in Jena because of the unfairness of the Justice System, not just in Jena but in America period.

They are marching because of the injustice served out by the prosecutor. If you read ALL of the facts there is no way you can say the prosecutor was fair and unbiased.

Dear Clueless in Pittsburgh,

It is obvious that you are not African American. Hanging nooses has been used as a way to terrorize African Americans. The nooses were only hung after African American students sat under a tree that was reserved for white students. If you were African American you would understand that the hanging of the nooses was a sign of hate and bigotry. If it was a swat sticker would you think differently? Are you aware that many African American were lynched if they even tried to stand up for their human rights never mind civil rights? The children that hung the nooses should have been expelled from school. However, their actions were viewed as a harmless prank. The people in charge had an obligation to ensure that the African American students attended a school that was free of hate and bigotry. The superintendent of Jena, LA failed the children miserably. While I do not approve of violence nor am I saying that the actions of the Jena 6 were right, I do have a problem with the charges that have been filed. Think back to when you went to school, when has anyone ever been charged with attempted murder for having a fight! There were no weapons involved. Have you read the accounts of the eye witnesses that saw the fight? The hold situation was handled poorly. Why weren’t hate charges filed against the students that hung the nooses? We say that justice is blind but it isn’t and it may never be.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Martin Luther King Jr.

And another thing. Did you see the picture of that clown in his overalls. He looks like the poster boy for dutchboy paint. Got some news for ya chief, loose the mullett, overalls and racist attitude or i'll make a trip to Jena and finish off what the man started….yeeeeeeah!!!!

Jesse…Al, Come on guys. Your crusade against Don Imus was somewhat justified, but stooping to rallying behind criminals is low for even you, Jesse. This rally is calling for the release of 6 black kids who beat up one white kid simply because there were some nooses hanging in a tree. Some people are saying that the "Jena 6″ were justified in responding to that 'hate crime'. Nooese hanging in a tree is not a hate crime. I don't understand why this situation is stuck in black and white. Bottome line….6 kids ganged up on 1 kid and sent him to the hospital. That's the real crime. If the white kid would have been black, nothing would have ever been said. If the 6 had been white, nothing would have ever been said. Get a grip on reality people. Mychal Bell is a repeat offender, and while he doesn't deserve to be tried for attempted murder, he does deserve to be put on trial (AS AN ADULT) and given a sentence that fits the charges. Maybe in the future, these kids will choose their battles more wisely.

The Ramblin Man

You do the crime…You do the time. Black or white. When you have people like Sharpton and Jackson serving their own agenda which seems to be agitating every incident that comes along, and the one sided reporting being done by Cnn, I have to wonder why everyone has seemed to forgot the real victim in all of this. I thought no one ways above the law ( excluding the white House leaders ).

Jesse Jackson needs to come out and publicy announce what all we know, that he is a racist… That the only rights he cares about are the rights of blacks.

Martin Luther King must be rolling over in his grave when people are supporting a bunch of kids who thought beating some kid up for using racial slurs.

Posted By Dr. St.Arnaud Nicolas Gonzales Ranch, New Mexico : September 20, 2007 9:50 am

Dr. of what, you can't write or spell?

Are you really equating Jesse Jackson with Martin Luther King?

Jesse Jackson is popular?

I wouldn't let you near my dog for treatment.

The fate of an entire town is upon the shoulders of 6 young african american children. Today I wear black to show my support of these children. Look beyond the color of skin and take notice to the injustice to the situation!!!

For those that agree with the courts and believe this should be treated as a hate crime, I ask you, shouldn't the children who hung the nooses also face hate crime charges?

Or the school and county officials who allowed these crimes to occur in their school? The segregated auditoriums? The 'white only' trees?

As for Jesse Jackson, he is becoming a disgrace. Why on earth at a time like this, would he want to start calling names and labelling people. We are trying to unite people - not saying who's acting white and who's not.

Has anyone ever wondered why the president himself has not commented on this

For the idiots on here saying that these boys deserve what they get you all are stupid and prejudice. If you heard the story right from the beginning, I guess putting nooses on a damn tree isn't being racist? I guess when the white boy beat the black boy up it was ok? When the white kid pulled the gun on these boys and they took it from him and then arrested for stealing a gun that could've killed them but in turn the cops arrested them, that was ok. All of you are stupid and racist. But thats okay, GOD takes care of his own and these kids shouldn't be put in jail for the rest of they're lives for a stupid fight. If thats the case they all should be put in jail for fighting. Those white kids are no better than the blacks. All of you go to HELL! You should all burn in hell. Its ashame racism still exist in this day and age, but guess what, African Americans are here to stay so deal with it!

I think it's important to note that Hillary Clinton only came out against Jena -AFTER- Jesse Jackson said it was a political defining moment. He said that in the morning. Later that same day, Hillary makes her first statement about Jena, and calls it a "teaching moment"

Talk about political opportunism and scavanging…

I agree with Peter - someone needs to denounce those that would rally behind these criminals. Think about that when Hillary has Sharpton and Jesse Jackson standing behind her - they have done more to offset any gains in race relations than anyone else. I would hope that majority of Americans would stand together against them.

I agree with Jesse Jackson. It seems that Mr. Obama is conducting himself as a WHITE MAN instead of a Black candidate. I can understand a candidate should not be concerned with color because he/she will bwe the candidate of all americans, however in this case I did't see Obama the candidate but Obama, the BLACK LEADER THE POPULAR LIKE JESSE JACKSON, MARTIN LUTHER KING WHO SHOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GET INVOLVED IN THE JENA AFFAIR AND SEEK JUSTICE.
Thank you Jesse for having the gut to say it may be that will help Obama . This for us BLACKS AN eye oppenner.

The deliberate racially prejudiced reporting by CNN in their news reporting of Jena 6 appalls me. That is not to include in their fact reporting of the "white tree" incident, the "pen statement", Jena High School arson, Fair barn party incident, Convenience store incident, trial, prosecution, and legal proceedings, Public outcry, etc. Instead CNN interviews a white youth who states the black kids deserved to get what they get. Shame on you if you want real reporting I guess you need to go to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jena_Six#The_.22white_tree.22_incident

As an African American Household my children, wife and myself no longer watch CNN.

How can six people stomp someone to the ground, and then have thousands marching through the town for "injustice"?

This whole situation regarding Obama being "too white or not black enough" is old. Did anyone ask Hillary or Edwards if they were "white enough". Everyone is always preaching racialy equally, it time they start practicing what they are preaching. Jesse Jackson should be ashame of himself.

Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson are exploiting this situation for their own personal gain and it is despicable.

This is not an issue of Black and White. The six black kids beat another kid to the point of unconsciousness and then kept beating him 6 on 1. What should their punishment be a stern “don’t do that again”? The are getting what they deserved and no matter what the geniuses of this issue the 6 kids had no right to beat down anyone 6 on 1.

I feel that all 6 should be charged with a hate crime ontop of the other charges. If this was turned around and 1 black boy was attacked by 6 white boys it would be a hate crime. So why are hate crimes one sided? Do white people have any rights or is this race card one sided?

I just don't get it. There is a SLIGHT difference between hanging nooses and speaking racial epithets, and six people beating up on one guy. One involves psychological harm and the other physical harm. Psychological harm can't kill, but physical harm can. Why would anyone want to defend 6 people who beat up on one guy and compare it with hanging nooses and speaking racial epithets? Either I don't have the story right or people are defending these six just because they're black.

I think everyone should stand and take notice as to the great job that these people are doing organizing buses, meals, and all nessecary sanitary devices in order for this protest to take place. Where were they before Hurricane Katarina.

Why is there no "related" link to the story about how Barack was the first candidate to speak out about the Jena 6?

Could what Barack Obama said about this case, way before Clinton and Edwards be kind of "related' here?
PLEAAAASE,just pretend for once that you are covering the news…
It is not getting any better over there at CNN.

Why is there no "Related" link to the story about Obama being the first of the candidates to speak out about the Jena 6?

Never mind, I'll do it for you. Here is what Barack said:

"When nooses are being hung in high schools in the 21st century, it’s a tragedy. It shows that we still have a lot of work to do as a nation to heal our racial tensions. This isn’t just Jena’s problem; it’s America’s problem."

"There are a number of signs that the system is not working in this case. It’s a problem when criminal charges are brought against some students for fighting, but not others. It’s a problem when a public defender doesn’t call any witnesses. And it’s a problem when a prosecutor decides to try teenagers as adults for a school fight, a charge that could leave them in jail for the majority of their lives. That is why I join my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus in calling on the judge to consider all the relevant factors and calling on the District Attorney to drop the excessive charges brought in this case. And I, along with other members of the CBC, will continue to monitor this case closely."

"Going forward, we have to fix our criminal justice system. Whether it’s Jena 6 or Genarlow Wilson, it’s long past time for us to admit that we have more work to do to ensure that our criminal justice system is fair. We must ensure that both victims and defendants can receive equal justice under the law, regardless of race, wealth, or other circumstances."

I watched Bill Schneider's video about the "Jena 6″, and predictably Schneider says ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the crimes committed by the six thugs. If any Democrat dimwit who knows nothing about the events in Jena watches Schneider's video, the Democrat would actually "think" that the six thugs were the victims of a crime instead of the perpetrators of a racially motivated crime. Nothing new for CNN.

The Jena 6 are accused of beating a fellow student senseless over some turf under a tree. Until the trial, it is indeed premature to make any judgments, but that's never stopped has-been black spokespimps Jackson and Sharpton. Why Chris Matthews keeps aksing Sharpton to blather on his show is a mystery to me.

HOW DARE YOU JESSE JACKSON….WHY OBAMA? LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR BEFORE UTTERING SUCH VENOMOUS ATTACK.