keithw999's Blog

Chris Rock had a famous comedy routine about the OJ Simpson case in which he outlines a few of the reasons OJ Simpson may have had for killing Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. He repeats throughout his routine that “I'm not saying he should have killed her, but I understand.” This draws roars of laughter from the audience (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjXSOws8o2o).

The case of the “Jena Six” (Jena, Louisiana) has been one that has slipped under the National radar for nearly a year. It involves circumstances surrounding an African-American student taking it upon himself to sit under a tree that had previously and historically been for “whites only” (yes this is 2007). In response the following day, three nooses were seen hanging from that tree, placed there by three white students from the school's rodeo team.

Whether or not this was an implied threat or a “hate crime” only obfuscates the issue. It was stupid. It was an indication that in 2007, ignorant attitudes continue to abound. What followed in the days after this were a series of racial incidents, culminating with the beating of a white student by six African-American students.

A closer look at the facts reveals that like Mike Nifong of Duke Lacrosse fame, this case also has an out-of-control prosecutor. District Attorney Reed Walters of Louisiana's 22nd Judicial District had personally intervened in the case to increase the charges against the six defendants, from simple aggravated assault to attempted second-degree murder. Unlike the Duke Lacrosse case, these six defendants are poor and unable to adequately defend themselves against a determined and misguided public prosecutor.

Justice demands that outside eyes take a look at this case and the ugliness of the underlying attitudes and causes for the violence in the first place. I am not defending any actions that resulted in violence by one group against another. Neither can I agree with or condone the filing of serious charges that carry with them the potential for up to 22 years in prison for what at best was a provoked “butt kicking.” I'm not saying that those six defendants should have gotten into a fight over any of this nonsense, but I understand.

NPR has some background on this case at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12
353776