Report from Jena: Thousands Gather in Louisiana to Rally for Jena Six

Thursday, September 20, 2007 : Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to gather today in the tiny town of Jena, Louisiana for a rally to support six African-American students – known as the Jena Six -- who were initially charged with attempted murder for beating a white student in a schoolyard fight. On Wednesday, the Reverend Al Sharpton spoke after meeting with the jailed Jena 6 member Mychal Bell. District Attorney Reed Walters also broke his public silence to defend his prosecution of the Jena 6.

Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to gather today in the tiny town of Jena, Louisiana for a rally to support six African-American students – known as the Jena Six -- who were initially charged with attempted murder for beating a white student in a schoolyard fight. Dozens of solidarity protests are also taking place today on college campuses and towns across the country.

The story of the Jena Six began at the start of the school year last year when an African-American student asked at a school assembly if he could sit under a schoolyard tree, unofficially reserved for white students. The next morning, three nooses were hanging from the tree's broad, leafy branches. African-American students protested, gathering under the tree. Soon after, the district attorney, Reed Walters, came to the school with the police, threatening, “I could end your lives with the stroke of a pen.”

No white students were ever charged with hanging the nooses. But when the six African-American students beat up a white student, the district attorney initially charged them with attempted murder. On Wednesday, civil rights activists from across the nation began gathering in Jena. The Rev. Al Sharpton met with one of the Jena Six, Mychal Bell, who has been held in jail since December.

Rev. Al Sharpton. District Attorney Reed Walters also broke his silence. He held a press conference surrounded by police officers and supporters, including Justin Barker, the white student who was beaten up last year. District Attorney Reed Walters.

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