Televangelist Bishop TD Jakes Speaks Out About the Jena 6
Bishop Jakes stated he decided to make a $6000 donation to the Jena 6 defense fund and he will continue to donate funds during the course of legal proceedings. The Bishop is reminded of the shameful events of the 1950's and 1960's that took place in the south.
On the subject on how we can help the Jena 6 he goes on to say:
"I reach out and challenge those of us who can, to contribute financially to the defense of these young men. Perhaps you are unable to be there physically. Your schedule like mine may not always allow you to show up on a particular day or time.... However, I challenge those of us who can to give financially, not for publicity, not for fame, not for notoriety, but because it is the right thing to do.
There is an old saying, when you are searching for something, "It is better to light a candle and see, than to scream blindly into the darkness." Financial support combined with raising the awareness of an injustice by protest, is a powerful resource that can yield incredible results. I implore you to, after we have so vividly pointed out the injustice's that still haunt our country, to provide the financial backing to allow them to fight the good fight."
Other celebrities in support of the Jena 6 are Michael Baisden, who brought awareness of the case to masses through his nationally syndicated radio show. Tom Joyner also used the power of his radio show to let people know about injustice in Jena. According to USAToday.com rock legend David Bowie made a $10000 donation to Jena 6 legal defense fund. Actor, director, producer and screenplay writer Tyler Perry joined the protestors this morning in Jena, Louisiana and spoke to CNN about the sentencing of defendant Mychal Bell.
Mychal Bell remains in jail after a district judge tossed out his conviction for conspiracy to commit second degree battery. The minor was initially charged as an adult in the beating of white classmate Justin Barker.
SOURCES:
Bishop TD Jakes: http://thepottershouse.org/_downloads/Bishop%20Jakes%20Statement%20on%20Jena%206.pdf
USA Today: Foster, Mary-Associated Press David Bowie donates to Jena 6 defense fund. Retrieved September 20, 2007, from USATODAY.com Web site: http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-09-19-bowie_N.htm?csp=34
Published by Lorraine Hayden
I'm a freelance writer, wife and mother. View profile
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34 Comments
Post a CommentAlyce you stated,"The cop of course gets zero jail time for his brutality and violence." You are misinformed.
Ha, ha, ha, Deez. Perhaps Shamontiel said that thinking the worst a serial killer could do was kill you; whereas a cop, could do the same kind of nasties, and then lock you up for, oh, 20 to 100 years. I think there are a lot of cops that start out with the concept of protecting and serving, but quickly lose their idealism. Others are simply macho and power hungry; they love having legal use of those weapons hanging at their sides. Breaking someone's arm for not putting a cigarette butt in the trash? The cop of course gets zero jail time for his brutality and violence.
Jakes needs to speak out about this one: http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071027/NEWS01/710270319 If anyone thinks the people in Jena are not racists, they might ask themselves, why the town would issue a permit to people coming with "tools" to block the MLKjr day parade as well as a petition to repel the Civil Rights act.
Shamontiel you stated, "I'd rather walk around with a serial killer than spend a day with a cop." And all I can say is...WOW!
When Robert Bailey Jr. was beat upside the head with a bottle and jumped by several people at a party, the cops told him to get back to "his side of town." Typical of officers. But then the cops wonder why you don't call them, become a witness, or want to talk to them when something is wrong. Hell, 'cause you all aren't on our side. If cops could be neutral parties, people from both parties would be more willing to cooperate. I'd rather walk around with a serial killer than spend a day with a cop.
Shamontiel you stated,"regardless of his trials in the past, he was justified in this one"..."When you're backed into a wall and nobody is on your side, who the hell do you go to?" And to that I say, "you don't take the law into your own hands...period end of story!" It's akin to the lynch mob mentality the white people employed when going after a black person. Wrong is wrong.
I'm starting to grow weary of this Jena 6 Defense fund P.O. box. Mychal Bell's father said he wasn't getting money from ColorofChange.org on Blogtalkradio.weallbe. I watched people collect money when I was at the Jena 6 rally and was told that the money was sent to the courthouse. Bell wasn't released. And now I read in JET magazine Dr. Stephen C. Ayers was the person to bail Mychal Bell out of jail for $11,000 and will get $5,400 refunded back to him. So where did the rest of the money go?
Deez, regardless of his trials in the past, he was justified in this one. What the hell else were these guys supposed to do when one was beat with a bottle and the police told him to "get back to his side of town," the librarian claims she didn't know what a noose was, the school board wouldn't expel the boy, and the stupid lawyer swears that the case was not about race. Who were they supposed to turn to?! Please explain that to me. When you're backed into a wall and nobody is on your side, who the hell do you go to? The police are great for arresting Black folks, especially when they're innocent, but they sure can turn a blind eye to one in need, specifically Robert Bailey Jr. And while you were researching, did you research how Justin Barker was expelled for bringing a gun to school months later?
BTW good article.
Hayden, Is it true that this young man was already on probation for anther assault case? Is it true that he had a few other run ins with the law? I think that I read somewhere that he did. I'm not being sarcastic I just thought I read that somewhere. Maybe if that is true the prosecutor used his prior record in his Pre-Sentence Investigation to determine what charges to file against him in this case. Just a thought.