Black Men and Boys Commission and Norton Speak Out on Jena 6 (9/20/07)

Black Men and Boys Commission and Norton Speak Out on Jena 6
September 20, 2007

Washington, DC - The D.C. Commission on Black Men and Boys (BMBC), which sponsors hearings on issues and problems facing black males in the nation's capital, today joined Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) in supporting national efforts to support the "Jena 6," six Jena, Louisiana high school students, all African American males, who face discriminatory treatment in the criminal justice system. The Commission, established by Norton in 2000, is chaired by former D.C. Police Chief Isaac "Ike" Fulwood and WYKS-FM radio personality Russ Parr, who broadcast his syndicated show from Jena today.

In a response reminiscent of the demonstrations of the 1960s civil rights era, Americans have responded to the Jena 6 case in a national outpouring of concern led by young people rallying in the small, rural town today from all parts of the country. The Commission expressed indignation about the unequal handling of black and white students involved in a schoolyard fight, resulting from nooses hung from a tree where black students attempted to gather after getting permission. Following the fight among the teens, the Jena 6 were charged with serious offenses and expelled from school while white students faced little consequences.

The men of the BMBC said in a statement: "We are men from various age groups who are working to assist black males in our city today. African American boys and young men here and throughout the United States who get caught up in crime too often fail to find justice in the criminal justice system. The disproportionate number of black men in jail has had an alarming impact, not only on those directly affected, but on black communities and families in particular." The Jena 6 incident occurred in a small town, but African American males in urban areas also fall victim to a disproportionately heavy hand in the enforcement of our laws. Commission members believe a schoolyard fight should not have ballooned into charges that could send some of the teenaged boys to prison for a long time. This outcome speaks to the racial injustice that remains in the criminal justice system in the United States. This injustice has drawn many thousands of young people to Jena in peaceful protest. The only fair response to them is a re-examination of the prosecution and the court penalties for the six black students.

Norton said, "When six black students are expelled from school, arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder while white students are barely suspended, the appearance of discriminatory treatment is unavoidable. This case called for action by the school, not an attempt to ruin the lives of the six boys with felony charges."