Jena 6: Mychal Bell released, to face charges as juvenile

good news

Sharpton's words:

"We do not condone violence of any kind, but we ask that people be given a fair and even chance at the bar of justice," the Rev. Al Sharpton said outside the courthouse.

"Tonight, Mychal can go home, but Mychal is not out of the juvenile process. He goes home because a lot of people left their home and stood up for him," he said.

"Let America know -- we are not fighting for the right to fight in school. We're not fighting for the right for kids to beat each other. We're fighting to say that there must be one level of justice for everybody. And you cannot have adult attempted murder for some, and a fine for others, and call that equal protection under the law. Two wrongs don't make one civil right."

That last bit sums it up. The attempted murder charge should have never happened.

Electricity's for light bulbs!

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by: n8nyc @ Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 19:39:55 PM CDT

he got that right

great quote.

Lurleen on Twitter

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by: Lurleen @ Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 00:22:28 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

OMG... I actually like everything Sharpton said...

And usually I can nitpick one thing that makes me go, "oh, my people, my people..."

 I'm sick of Jena apologists saying, "What you want them to get off?" No, but how about equal application of the law?

 

Now, is anyone gonna press for charges against the fool with the shotgun?

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by: lyonside @ Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 09:01:37 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Jesus

Check out the part of the article where the prosecutor discusses the role of Jesus.  And the response.  Nonsense.

This young man still has a lot of bad stuff ahead of him.  He probably do some more juvie time, but anything that happens to him now is far more in line with what is appropriate than before Jena became well-know.  

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by: tony @ Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 20:39:58 PM CDT

a response

so a gang of kids beats another poor guy to a pulp, yes, let's reward them with heroe status!  the smirk on this guy's face is repulsive.

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by: nils @ Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 22:28:19 PM CDT

Where Does This "Hero" Thing Come From?

Yes, the smirk on Mr. Bell's face is repulsive, but as GiftedGuru says below, screenshots can be deceiving. For all we know, the photographer may have taken eighty shots and deliberately chosen the one that made Mr. Bell look smug.

But in any case, the cause people are fighting for is not the exoneration of an innocent man. I haven't heard anyone call Mr. Bell a hero.

Have you?

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by: Jim @ Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 00:59:06 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

You have a point in there, but it is lost

I haven't seen anyone here say these kids are heros or suggest they should go unpunished.  Certainly beating someone severely is a more serious crime that using racial intimidation.  There are some ill-informed people out there that think justice is those who were grossly over-charged getting off free.  That is wrong, and it isn't going to happen.

Sometime when you are on the verge of unjustly being sent to prison for a good chunk of the rest of your life and courts and people intervene to get you a chance at actually getting justice, and then you get bail, then let's see if you smile.  If this kid was not pleased with the recent turn of events I would be terrified of him because it would mean he does not emote well.

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by: tony @ Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 01:42:13 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Funny...

"To a pulp" evidently means "walking, talking, and hanging out at a party the same night," huh?

Free = bail and fair application of the law, not no consequences. Did you READ the post? 

Bottom line: you shouldn't be executed for walking on the grass (quick, catch the lame 80s sci-fi reference there)... and people who are pale shouldn't get a warning, while people who are darker get cuffs and a ridiculously harsh penalty.

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by: lyonside @ Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 09:06:10 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

How did Sharpton get to become Mr. Figurehead?

Considering that the groundswell of support for the rally came from the blogosphere, this is almost appalling.  But you know what?  It's not the fault of the bloggers, or african americans in general. 

Blame the MSM.  They cannot have any Civil Rights stories without some kind of familiar figurehead.  THAT is what makes me want to hurl.

As for the "smugness" of Mychal Bell?  Well, screenshots can be deceiving.  Fact is, he should be allowed out on bail.  No one wants him to go unpunished.  But the thought of these kids feeling entitled?  Entitlement is hanging nooses without the fear of punishment.  Entitlement is feeling free enough to think you can drive a truck past a crowd of black people with nooses, with no problem.  Entitled is being able to kick a black kid's ass and pretty much get away with it. 

If there is any entitlement enjoyed, it's not from the Jena 6.  Word is bond.

Sorry..felt like I was back in college there.

 

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by: giftedguru1970 @ Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 00:32:28 AM CDT

This is a fine damn situation.

This whole thing is insane. And the insanity comes not from the kids but from every adult who has been personally involved in this shameful exploitation. What we had in the beginning was some kids acting stupid. Some white kids acted stupid, then some black kids acted stupid. Acting stupid is a thing kids do. They do it because they're kids and haven't yet learned better. They are supposed to learn from the adults in their lives. What do you think the kids in this case, white and black, have learned from the grandstanding of officers of the court, the exploitation by national media figures, the nauseating antics of those neo-Nazi $#@!s? Have they learned how to solve problems peacefully? Have they learned that it isn't okay to try to bar others from sitting under a tree? That it isn't okay to hang nooses in a tree to frighten and threaten? That it isn't okay to beat somebody up no matter how stupid they've been acting? I doubt it. I can't imagine what sort of lesson these kids will take away from this debacle, but I doubt it will be a good one. These kids were let down by everybody involved, the adults they have a right to be able to trust for effective guidance. The original incident could have been a catalyst for a greater spirit of understanding and empathy among these young people. Instead, it has become a circus and it is generating greater and greater amounts of hate and ill-will all over our global village. Where is President A$$hole, excuse me, Bush? Why hasn't he stuck his nose into this too? This might be a good time for an effective and compassionate leader to make one or two little statements about the importance of working to get along with others to overcome differences of outlook and opinion. It's really too bad we don't have a leader like that. Our great leader is entirely too busy trying to pick fights of his own with dark-skinned people halfway around the world.

Think about all this and then tell me where you see this country going in the next 10 years. if it doesn't scare the crap out of you, you aren't paying any attention.

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by: drsivana99 @ Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 12:16:39 PM CDT