Exposing Myths About Jena, Louisiana

In previous articles, it's been pointed out just how out of proportion several incidents in Jena, Louisiana, have been blown, especially by the media that so urgently swooped down onto the next big "civil rights" craze. While America over, from content producers to civil rights activists, to songwriters have thought of ways to come up to the Jena 6's aid, the truth has been significantly watered down until the small town of Jena, Louisiana, has been transformed into a haven of the KKK where street lights are replaced by burning crosses and a shaved head is the school dress code.

Where did it all begin? According to Craig Franklin and the Jena Times, it all started with a simple class assembly. Craig Franklin actually lives in Jena - his wife is a teacher at Jena High School, though I suspect that this will already hinder his credibility amongst Jena apologists. The Jena Times, meanwhile, compiled a chronological report of the incident based on Sheriff's/Police Reports, the DA's office, and several other sources so as to catalog exactly where it all began and hopefully shed some light on the issue.

On August 30, 2006 there was a general assembly, whereby the principle was reaffirming several rules, such as dress code and other topics for the new year. This is not something new - it happens every year, so as to tell veteran students of new policies, remind them of old ones, and introduce Freshmen to the school's ways. Several topics were discussed before a student raised their hand and jokingly asked if they could sit under a particular oak tree. According to all witnesses involved, there was a deal of laughter at the obviously absurd question, it was not the moment of civil rights activism many have interpreted it to be.

"Don't even go there, you know you can sit anywhere you want," Assistant Principle Gawen Burgess said, eliciting more laughter. According to the Jena Times, several more joking questions were asked that had nothing to do with the oak tree.

On August 31, 2006, a pair (not three) of nooses were found hanging from the oak tree. According to popular media, this created a sensational outrage amongst students and family members - in truth, many students used them as swings or played in them. School administrators who were informed of the nooses swiftly took them down. Students that arrived at 7:55 a.m. did not even see the nooses to begin with.

Many students didn't even know it happened until it was later reported in newspapers.

This is one of the most important myths of the entire Jena fiasco - the assumption that it was an attempted white power claim by the students in question. According to the Jena Times, Craig Franklin, and the students involved, not only did they not know the historical significance of nooses to blacks, the prank was not intended for black students - but white.

According to investigations, the idea to hang the nooses were directed at the rodeo team - and was inspired by an episode of "Lonesome Dove".

"Instead, they were understood to be a prank by three white students aimed at their fellow white friends, members of the school rodeo team," reports Craig Franklin, an actual resident of Jena, Louisiana. They were heavily investigated by school officials, the police and even the FBI - who unanimously concluded that it was not with racial intent - and the white students, who profess to have several black friends, were reported to show "genuine remorse" when they learned what the nooses signify.

Were they given a basic three day suspension that amounted to a slap on the wrist? No, they had to undergo psychological evaluation, endured 9 days at an alternative school, were suspended, had to undergo counseling, attend weekend detentions, and attend a discipline court. All parties involved agreed this was an appropriate punishment - and after several reviews from several Federal departments, it was agreed that the parameters for a hate crime were not met.

Other common and popular myths were that Reed Walters, the District Attorney, threatened black students saying that he could "end their lives with a stroke of his pen," while neglecting to point out that it was directed at students on a cell phone and that he was pointing out that he was dealing with an aggravated rape case and was required to decide whether or not to pursue the death penalty. It had no racial undertones - especially in its context, or that Robert Bailey, one of those who attacked Justin Barker, was attacked with a bottle.

The person who attacked Bailey, Justin Sloan, was arrested for battery after punching him in the face for attempting to get into a party that he could not procure an invitation for. Likewise, although Bailey claims that a bottle was broken on his head that required stitches, there is no documented proof or medical records to back this.

An incident involving a local grocery store where Bailey, according to police reports, attacked and stole a shotgun from someone has evolved into the Jena Six attacking Justin Barker at school because he "brought a gun to school" - this allegation, however, is entirely unfounded. It appears to be merged with the fact that there was a weapons search that resulted in zero confiscated firearms, simply cell phones.

The final and most interesting myth, is that the nooses were in any way linked to the actual Jena Six attack - as all parties involved have agreed that the two are in no way linked. Justin Barker was attacked for speaking ill of Robert Bailey. Assisted by Mychael Bell, he was ambushed at the gymnasium, knocked into unconsciousness and then kicked repeatedly until broken up. This later evolved into accusations that the Jena Six were all being illegally tried as adults - the closest thing to this was Mychael Bell's case, which was then tossed out and being re-tried because of it being held as an adult. In essence, what has been asked for, has been received.

No matter what one thinks of the Jena Six - it is important to remember that there are many distortions of facts and outright lies out there.

Don't get caught up in them.

Sources-

The Jena Times - http://www.thejenatimes.net/Chronological_Order_of-Events.pdf
Craig Franklin of Jena, LA http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1024/p09s01-coop.htm