100,000 March for Jena Six in Louisiana
Washington Afro-American, News Report , Valencia Mohammed
More than 100,000 people, according to Louisiana State Police, predominantly African Americans, swarmed on a little-known community called Jena, La., on Sept. 20 to demand justice for six Black teenagers convicted as adults for aggravated assault of a White student. The cheers of the crowd echoed across the small town of 3,500 residents to free the teens, stop the alleged established injustice against Black residents and called on African-American leaders to do more. The crowd also demanded the resignation of the district attorney in Jena.
“Free the Jena 6,” the crowd yelled for several hours. “We are here Jena and will come back again. No justice, no peace.”
The case involving the teens dubbed the Jena 6 caught the attention of the masses through the Black media months ago and finally made its way to the mainstream several weeks before the march. People are attributing Black bloggers and the Black Press, including the Final Call, the AFRO American Newspapers and websites like BlackAmericaWeb.com, for printing the stories months ago that started a catalyst of events which led to Black syndicated radio talk shows, cable networks and list serves picking up on the case.
Later, the involvement of the Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network and syndicated radio personalities, Michael Baisden and Tom Joyner pumped the airwaves daily about the case which led to the organized march. [more]