Louisiana Students and students around the world debate the 'Jena Six'
The "Jena Six" case has been in newspapers across the world, in magazines such as People and on television stations everywhere.
Discussion of the case now is headed into the classrooms of 11,000 high schools and junior high schools, including in Rapides Parish.
Channel One News, which is shown in high schools and junior high schools across the nation, was in Alexandria and Jena on Monday filming a segment to be broadcast Thursday on the Jena Six case and issues of racism.
A forum of Louisiana State University at Alexandria students will be featured on the segment discussing the case and racism in the South.
The Jena Six case involves six Jena High School students accused in December of attacking a fellow student. The defendants in the case are black, and the victim is white.
The six students initially were arrested on charges of attempted murder. Those charges have been reduced for all of the students charged as an adult except for one who has yet to be arraigned.
Before the December attack, the school experienced such incidents as nooses being hung from a tree in the school's courtyard and fights off-campus. In the midst of it all, the school's main academic building was set on fire.
The case sparked a rally that brought thousands Thursday to the rural LaSalle Parish town of fewer than 3,500 people.
Threats have been made to the victim and the six defendants. The Jena Six members had their addresses placed on a Web site promoting violence against them, which is under investigation by the FBI.
On Monday, LaSalle Parish Sheriff Carl Smith, LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters, Jena Mayor Murphy McMillin and Jena Police Chief Paul Smith issued a joint statement condemning the threats on all of the boys involved in the case.
"These groups are encouraging persons of similar views to do harm to the victim or to the defendants. Such vile and cowardly acts will not be tolerated in Jena or LaSalle Parish," the news release states.
The officials said they do not want anyone in Jena or LaSalle Parish advocating vigilante justice and whose intent is to harm or encourage others to harm anyone.
"We further encourage like-minded persons to join us in denouncing any persons or groups who in any fashion advocate the harming of any individuals or groups connected with this case. We strongly encourage all individuals to think about the consequences of their actions before they do anything that would harm our community and subject them to criminal prosecution," the statement reads.
With all of the events swirling, the LSUA students who had gathered to discuss the case had varying views on case and its impact.
Jennifer Fehmie of Bunkie said she felt it has been blown out of proportion. Others in the group credited the media with stirring the pot, while some said if it were not for the media, then no attention would have been brought to the alleged injustice in Jena.
Most said they wanted to see equality in the handling of the cases. The boys who hung the nooses should have been in trouble just as the Jena Six defendants were, they said.
Many in the group of nine students did not agree with the Jena Six being charged with attempted murder but thought they should face punishment if they were a part of the attack on a fellow student.
"It is all about equality and it is obvious that they are not equal," Will Martin of Alexandria said.
All of the students wanted to see more specific details of the incidents leading up to the fight and be able to separate the stories from the facts. They had all heard different stories of events leading up to the fight and what happened that day.
When asked about the appearance of racism, the group said events like the Jena Six case give the state a bad reputation
"We are not all racists, said Courtney Morace of Deville.
She said the majority are well-educated people, but the few cause a scene and get everyone labeled.
Some felt the rally would make a difference if those who attended work to ensure change, while others in the group felt it would make little impact as people go back to their lives.
"It has made history, and I think it will go down in history," said Leona Dyer of Alexandria.
The broadcast will reach more than 6 million high school and junior high school students.
Rapides Parish Assistant Superintendent Lyle Hutchinson said Channel One has been in Alexandria before to do a feature on the Alexandria Senior High School powerlifting team, which won a national championship.
Note we will be following the Mike Vick Case as well.
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