By Howard Witt
Chicago Tribune senior correspondent
JENA, La. - There is no single leader. There is no agreed schedule.
Organizers aren't even certain where everyone is supposed to gather,
let alone use the restroom. The only thing that is known for sure is
that thousands of protesters are boarding buses at churches, colleges
and community centers across the country this week, headed for this
tiny dot on the map of central Louisiana.
Part of 'Jena 6' conviction dropped; charges reduced
By Howard Witt
Chicago Tribune
September 5, 2007
HOUSTON — Ruling in a racially charged case that has drawn scrutiny
from national civil rights leaders, a judge in the small central
Louisiana town of Jena on Tuesday partially vacated the conviction of a
black teenager accused in the beating of a white student while the
district attorney reduced attempted murder charges against two other
black co-defendants.
Judge J.P. Mauffray threw out a conspiracy conviction against Mychal
Bell, granting a defense motion that Bell's June trial was improperly
held in adult court and should instead have been conducted as a
juvenile proceeding.
Residents: Nooses spark school violence, divide town
Susan Roesgen and Eliott C. McLaughlin
CNN
September 5, 2007
JENA, Louisiana (CNN) -- A judge Tuesday vacated one of two
convictions against a teen involved in a violent, racially charged
incident in Louisiana that left another teen hospitalized.
Defense lawyers argued -- and 28th Judicial District Court Judge
J.P. Mauffray Jr. agreed -- that a charge of conspiracy to commit
second-degree aggravated battery should have been brought against
Mychal Bell in juvenile court rather than adult court.
But he left standing Bell's conviction on a second-degree aggravated battery charge.
The teen's attorneys said they would file an emergency appeal and ask
for a stay of Bell's September 20 sentencing date until the appellate
court rules.
A judge threw out a teenager's conspiracy conviction in the alleged
beating of a white student by a group of black schoolmates, but the
teen's battery conviction still stands.
The ruling Tuesday means
Mychal Bell, 17, will face at most 15 years in prison rather than 22
1/2 when he is sentenced later this month.
Jesse Muhammad Final Call Staff Writer reposted from finalcall.com
JENA, La. (FinalCall.com) - Marcus Jones, the
father of 16-year-old Jena High School football star Mychal Bell, pulls
out a box full of letters from countless major colleges and
universities in America who are trying to recruit his son. Mr. Jones,
with hurt in his voice, says, "He had so much going for him. My son is
innocent and they have done him wrong."
An all-White jury convicted Mr. Bell
of two felonies--aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated
battery--and faces up to 22 years in prison when he is sentenced on July
31. Five other young Black males are also awaiting their day in court
for alleged attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit
second-degree murder charges evolving from a school fight: Robert
Bailey, 17; Theo Shaw, 17; Carwin Jones, 18; Bryant Purvis, 17; and
Jesse Beard, 15. Together, this group has come to be known as the "Jena
6."
