The Case of Louisiana's 'Jena Six' Racial tensions have run high in Jena, La., ever since a December fight at a high school sent a group of students to jail. The disparate treatment between the white and black students involved has caused outrage and brought national media attention to the small town.
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Tensions run high over the disparate treatment of black and white students involved in a fight.
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Judge Removed From Jena Six Case
August 5, 2008 A new judge has been appointed to hear the cases against five of the remaining Jena Six defendants. Last Friday, J.P. Mauffray Jr. — the judge presiding over the case — was removed for making biased remarks. NPR's Tony Cox gets an update.
Analysis
Member of 'Jena Six' Strikes Plea Deal
December 5, 2007 Mychal Bell, one of the "Jena Six," has accepted a plea bargain as one of six black teenage boys accused of beating a white classmate after a series of racially motivated incidents in Louisiana. Chicago Tribune reporter Howard Witt and Louis Scott, attorney for Bell, explain details of the plea.
Congress Questions 'Jena 6' Lawyers
October 16, 2007 Lawyers and legal advisers defending the African-American men known as the "Jena 6" testified before the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday morning. The team was asked about the legal and social circ*mstances surrounding the allegedly racially motivated attacks in the central Louisiana town.
Member of 'Jena Six' Free on Bail
September 28, 2007 Mychal Bell is now free on bail after 10 months in jail. The teenager, one of the "Jena Six," was accused of beating a white classmate last year. The case gained widespread attention, including a recent rally that drew thousands to Jena, Louisiana. Lindsey Dial, a young woman who attended the protest, reacts to the latest developments.
'Jena Six' Outcry Spreads to Capitol Hill - Part II
September 26, 2007 U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, a democrat from Michigan, chairs the Congressional Black Caucus and participated in a recent press conference demanding justice for the "Jena Six." Kilpatrick explains how her group plans to fight the charges.
'Jena Six' Outcry Spreads to Capitol Hill
September 26, 2007 Prominent African-American leaders demanded justice on behalf of the "Jena Six" during a recent press conference on Capitol Hill. Chicago Tribune Bureau Chief Howard Witt discusses the latest developments and the stir in Washington.
All Eyes on Jena: Thousands Prepare for Protests
September 20, 2007 Thousands from across the nation are expected to march the streets of Jena, Louisiana, to rally in support of the "Jena Six," six African American teens facing charges for assaulting a white classmate. The Rev. Eddie Thompson, who leads a majority white Jena congregation, and Lindsay Dial, who's traveling from Atlanta to Jena to protest, explain what they expect to come from the demonstrations.
'Jena Six' Brings Youth, Elders Together in Protest
September 21, 2007 Protesters from around the country rallied in Jena, Louisiana to support the "Jena Six," six African American teens charged with beating a white classmate. NPR correspondent Audie Cornish reports from Jena on the rally's aftermath.
'Jena Six' Story Gained Momentum Online
September 24, 2007 The "Jena Six" are still in the national spotlight, but it took several months for the racially charged story to get picked up by the mainstream media. The story simmered on blogs and social networking sites for months, gradually building an online life of its own.
Father of Jena Attack Victim Speaks Out
September 21, 2007 Student Justin Barker was beaten up by six black youths in Jena, La., last year. Now his father David talks about his son, the Jena Six case and race relations in the rural Louisiana town.
Father of Jena Attack Victim Speaks Out
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All Eyes on Jena - Part II
September 20, 2007 NPR correspondent Audie Cornish, reports from the front lawn of the LaSalle Parish Courthouse in Jena, Louisiana. Cornish explains the public sentiment and how demonstrators are expected to spend their time in Jena.
Bloggers a Force Behind Jena Protests
September 21, 2007 Before it emerged in the mainstream media, the case of the Jena Six simmered for months in the African-American blogosphere. Protests were organized, petitions were launched and thousands of dollars were raised online.
Protesters March in Support of Jena Six
September 20, 2007 Demonstrators gather in Jena, La., for rallies and marches in support of six teenagers charged in the beating of a white classmate. The crowd chanted "free the Jena six," as the Rev. Al Sharpton arrived at the courthouse with family members of the teens.
"Jena 6" Teen Has Verdict Vacated
September 17, 2007 Mychal Bell, one of six black teens arrested for allegedly attacking a white classmate in Jena, La., has had both of his convictions in the case thrown out. A Louisiana judge ruled that Bell, a minor at the time of the crime, should not have been tried as an adult.
Faith Matters: Rev. Jesse Jackson Visits Jena
September 14, 2007 In a special edition of Faith Matters, the Rev. Jesse Jackson talks about the "Jena Six" tensions. The civil rights leader recently met with community leaders in the town and explains why he's counting on faith to unify the residents there.
'Jena Six' Case Exposes Town's Racial Tensions
September 10, 2007 A racially charged case has brought Jena, a small town in central Louisiana, into the national spotlight. An e-mail petition supporting six black high-school students accused of attacking a white classmate has more than 100,000 signatures.
Case of 'Jena Six' Tears at Small Town's Harmony
September 7, 2007 The town of Jena, La., copes with a case of racially motivated violence, even as court proceedings against those involved move ahead. The case centers on a tree at a high school that was a meeting place for white students. It exposes racial tensions in a small town.
Pastors: 'Faith Matters' for Hometown of 'Jena Six'
September 7, 2007 Racially fueled events between black and white high school students have divided the town of Jena, La. The Rev. Brian Moran, of the Antioch Baptist Church, and the Rev. Eddie Thompson, of the Sanctuary Family Worship Center, describe the potential role of faith in healing Jena's wounds.
Is Jena Getting a Bad Rap?
September 6, 2007 Many who live in Jena, La., worry the media attention about racial tension is giving the town a bad name. Billy Wayne Fowler, a member of the La Salle Parish school board, says some of the coverage has been unfair.
Analysis
Charge Reduced in Jena 6 Case
September 6, 2007 A Louisiana judge has reduced the possible sentence for Mychal Bell, one of six black teens accused of beating a white classmate in Jena, La. But the so-called "Jena 6" could still face stiff prison terms.
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