Constance+2A

(The Jena Six) This case is called the Jena Six by the media. The events occurred in 2006 and the case was resolved recently. At Jena High School in Louisiana six black adolescents (Robert Bailey, 17, Mychal Bell, 16, Carwin Jones, 18, Jesse Ray Beard, 14, and Theo Shaw, 17) were arrested because of an assault on a white student, Justin Barker.

There were a number of racially charged events that led up to the assault on Justin Barker. Jena High School had a 90% white population and about a 10% black population. The first event was a prank by students who hung nooses on tree where white students generally sat outside for lunch. On November 30th 2006 the main building of the school was burnt down.

On December 4th 2006 the six students attacked and beat Justin Barker. He was jumped by the six and beat into unconsciousness Barker was released after three hours of treatment and observation at a local emergency room for a concussion and an eye that had swollen shut. He also had injuries to his face, and hands. The police arrested the six dubbed the “Jena Six”. Five of them (Robert Bailey, 17, Mychal Bell, 16, Carwin Jones, 18, Bryant Purvis, 17, and Theo Shaw, 17) were charged with attempted murder as adults. (The state of Louisiana tries 17 year olds as adult.) The sixth Jesse Ray Beard was charged as a juvenile. Despite Mychal Bell’s age he was tried as an adult

The jury found Mychal Bell guilty and he faced 22 years in jail, however he was retried as a juvenile and sentenced to 18 months in a juvenile facility. The other five involved pleaded guilty to battery charges and paid a $1000 in fines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jena_Six http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/14/AR2007091402162.html