Jena politics

Betty, Baltimore, MD — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:45:53 GMT

Jackson isn't a candidate-- and maybe this recent hyper-racial, tone-deaf statement is why he never was a good one in 88.

Jena politics

TheDonald — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:56:30 GMT

Someone should tell Mr Jackson that presidential politics is not a platform for addressing law enforcement issues.

Jena politics

jh, nyc — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:01:41 GMT

Jackson is a racist himself, and is trying to oppress african americans with a victim mentality. It is a form of slavery..

Jena politics

Grace, NY — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:02:27 GMT

We could post THIS...but not the ad...interesting

Jena politics

Rachel, Kennesaw, GA — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:11:21 GMT

I've been following this case of extreme racial injustice in Jena for months now. Until recently the only "media" talking about it on a national level was Warren Ballentine, Michael Baisden, Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson. If you haven't heard of it or don't know the actual facts you should educate yourself.

It's about time the presidential candidates stepped up and declared that this type of injustice cannot be tolerated. I look forward to having a president who will fight for equality. I agree completely that any one of the democratic candidates will do a far better job of ensuring equal justice than the Bush administration has.

Jena politics

Toris — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:19:23 GMT

See, HRC is going to capitalize on this to show that she's more concern on African American issues. Another politics from the Clinton. In clinton's view, african american are bunch of idiots that can be use and dump. Of course i expect her favorability rating to jump further up among them.

What a shame!!!!

Jena politics

Rick, WS NC — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:20:44 GMT

Shades of Reginald Denny...we all saw them beat the snot out of the white truck driver and not one of the criminals was convicted...

Jena politics

Erik — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:20:52 GMT

What the ----! Are you kidding me? Obama is working hard to do something about equality for all and instead of working together Jesse Jackson is trying to bring him down! Is he secretly working for Hillary Clinton campaign? This is jealousy and sabotage happening before our eyes!

As a black man I can say until we all work together on various fronts nothing will be accomplished. Did Jesse ever bother to think that Obama might feel he is (was) such an effective leader that he would let him shine for a bit while but continue to add support! In fact Obama has spoken out about this case! The very thing these leaders are telling our children (that its okay to have diverse points of views and you don't have to be ghetto to be black) is the one thing Jesse is tearing down. This is a slap in the face to Obama and all black people!

I’m so disappointed in Jesse right now I don’t know how to end this message…

Jena politics

anonymous, ny — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:35:47 GMT

I'm confused about this Jena thing...what is there to speak out against? If these 6 individuals beat up another individual, why shouldn't they be punished to the fullest extent of the law? So what if it turns out that a disproportionate amount of blacks are punished in the justice system...if it turns out that they commit crimes in record numbers.

Jena politics

BH — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:54:18 GMT

Strange fruit.

Jena politics

Doris, SC — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:54:34 GMT

Anyone who believes that Hillary's campaign was not behind the article ...I have a bridge to sell you.

1) Jackson says he doesn't remember using those words

2) Hillary just happens to be on Al Sharptons show today, talking about Jena?

3)She just HAPPEN to speak to the NAACP on Sunday

I don't believe in coincedences.....

She better hope the reporter is never tied back to her or anyone in her campaign...or she is TOAST in the Black community. She hopes this will give her stronger support in the Black community but everything I see and hear Black people are rallying to Obama's side. May explain why Jackson put out the statement....It may backfire on her.

Jena politics

Lee Holmes — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:58:23 GMT

Rachel: Nonsense. You will observe that eleven people were shot to death inside of a 24 hour period in leftwinger Barbara Lees[D-Ca] Richmond, who has done nothing,and that the ''economic ethnic cleaning''of Pelosis[D-Ca] San Francisco is now well underway with thousands of longterm resident African-Americans forced out of the city with rampant racism becoming a problem in the allegedly ''tolerant''Castro District.[Bay GUARDIAN,Sept.07,2007].In Feinsteins LA,racist battles between Hispanics and blacks have left Democrat Mayor Antonio Villgarosa totally helpless to deal with the wholesale murders which now eclipse those in Anbar Province in Iraq,and this pattern repeats itself in Democrat bastions in New Jersey,Michigan,Connecticut,Louisiana,Nevada,Illinois,and other states.[ one of the worst nationally is Jerseys Newark,where violence is as routine as that in Baghdad without the IEDs and whose local government has been crippled by the arrest of its solely-Democrat legislators on corruption charges by the FBI].
From the racebaiters and their Democrat dupes,all you get is lip service. Bear in mind that many of the cities where hopelessness and ecomomic catastrophe are a routine way of life, have been Democrat strongholds for decades,even centuries. Patterns undeniably emerge. White liberals in seeking racial''justice'',more often create the conditions for the total destruction of a cities racial identity and replace it with a homogenous caucasian presence,more wealthy in its structure than communities with a larger multi-ethnic construct.

Also see: The Washington Post Mar.16,2006-''Where Did All The Children Go?/Blacks Lead Exodus''[in just ten short years,1990-2000,San Francisco had lost nearly 50% of its black children.This number has now increased to nearly 70%].

Jena politics

Kenneth Wesley Livingston, Chatsworth,California — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:00:18 GMT

Once again, Mr. Jackson makes a gaffe that he disowns as soon as it is published beyond a black audience. It is a safe bet that he assumed that because he was speaking at an impoverished African-American college that his intemperate comment would travel no farther.
Didn't he learn anything from "Hymie" "Hymie-Town!" The Newsweek reporter who made that comment public was an African-American man who, rightly so, maintained the integrity of doing his job rather than sheltering a racist "Brotha'". Considering the incredible weight of the JENA 6 Case on America's social fabric, what we do not need on the eve of Mychal Bell's sentencing is the flippancy for which Mr. Jackson is so well-known.

Jena politics

Hillary 4 Prez 08 USA — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:01:04 GMT

Mr Jackson is just expressing his feelings and thoughts here, he knows Mr Obama will be Hillarys running mate in 08. I think Obama should just go on and accept the compliment to be Hillarys Vp and begin working on getting her heathcare proposal through and start bringing peace to the earth, which only Hillary can do

Jena politics

Carrie, Eastern Iowa — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:03:54 GMT

Anonymous - Way to be courageous and leave your name.

The charges are racially motivated. Period. The white kid involved in the altercation produced the gun. One of the black kids tried to wrestle the bun away from him, at which point the others got involved. The white kid who brought out the gun in the first pladce was charged with nothing.

The tensions began when a black kid asked to sit under the shade of the "white tree" - and the next day, there were 3 nooses around the white tree. Although this is a federal hate crime, the police were not called and the board of education (against the recommendation of the principal, who wanted expulsion for the white students responsible) gave the offenders 3 days of in school suspension.

Fights broke out here and there over the few months leading up to the incident for which the black students were charged. The DA in question reportedly told black students at an assembly that he could end them with a stroke of his pen. At a party the night before the fight in which they were charged, a fight broke out between black students and white men.

One of the black students who was charged was 15 or 16 and wanted to be charged as a juvenile. Instead he was charged with second-degree attempted murder. That was eventually thrown out and he was charged with aggravated assault. That charge requires a deadly weapon. The deadly weapon he used? According to the DA (the same one who allegedly made the pen comment) his tennis shoes were deadly weapons, because he used them to kick the white kid. He was convicted by an all-white jury. The LA Court of Appeals overturned his conviction, and the DA is appealing to the LA Supreme Court.

This is not a case of 6 guys beating up another individual. This is a case of the system ignoring the racial tensions that were threatening to boil over, and then charging only the black kids involved - and charging them with crimes that are ridiculously overblown.

Jena politics

danielle wilmington NC — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:06:54 GMT

I think that the boys should not be convicted of such crimes. they voices should be heard at least give them that right. And convicted some one for stealing a gun, come on they were protecting theirselves get serious.

Jena politics

amazed, atlanta ga — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:22:56 GMT

Rachel in Kennesaw.. right on! I'm with ya, been following it too and clearly, a lot of injustice here. I am glad it's finally got the nation's attention. We cannot tolerate this sort of behavior in the USA. EVER.

Jena politics

Sierra, SF — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:44:33 GMT

Lee Holmes: 'Rachel: Nonsense. You will observe that eleven people were shot to death inside of a 24 hour period in leftwinger Barbara Lees[D-Ca] Richmond, who has done nothing.....'

What should she do, Lee ?
I notice YOU haven't done anything ?

'....and that the ''economic ethnic cleaning''of Pelosis[D-Ca] San Francisco is now well underway...'

You're getting crazy, now !!
Housing prices are high is SF !!
There is a well noted flight of 'FAMILIES' from SF
Many 'families with children' can't afford to live in SF
There's no master plan to drive Black people from SF.

Dry your weeping eyes, Lee !!
Your Crocodile tears are sooooo unbecoming !!

'....In Feinsteins LA,.......'
Diane Feinstein was the mayor of SF
But, you're close, Lee, LA IS IN California !!!

'....From the racebaiters and their Democrat dupes'

I thought you LIKED RACE BAITERS, LEE !!
George Wallace ?
Strom Thurmond ?
Orville Faubus ?
Jerry Falwell ?
Rush Limbaugh ?
Spare a tear for Don Imus, Lee !!

'........ continued inanities .......'
'........ mindless ranting ........'

YOU FORGOT YOUR MEDICATIONS, LEE !!
Take a deep breath !!
Look under your bed, there's no monster
Look in the closet... No boogy man there, Lee

'...Also see: The Washington Post Mar.16,2006-''Where Did All The Children Go?/Blacks Lead Exodus''.....'

2006 ?
How long do you save your newspapers, Lee ??
That's why this place is such a mess !!
CLEAN UP YOUR ROOM !!
YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR TEDDY BEAR BACK UNTIL IT'S CLEAN !!!

Jena politics

Lee Holmes — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:15:01 GMT

Sierra:BS. I have done more than you can possibly know. Outside of my work for Habitat for Humanity and pressing local city councils in detailed[admittedly impassioned] presentations advocating affordable housing,[and getting it],as well as organizing a tome full of 100 blueprints for the construction of homes of less than 1000 SF[that will soon be published],which benefits people of ALL races, and economic levels, you forget that Feinsteins senatorial district represents Los Angeles. Not Frisco. Your failures in dealing with the tragedy are too well known. You would have Frisco as a lily-white bastion and consign blacks and others with lower incomes to the Richmonds of the world. When given the opportunity to turn Hunters Point into an affordable housing zone,Pelosis hack profiteers went for luxury homes and condos instead. The plague rests itself in you and yours. You bring no solutions,therefore,you remain a problem. It is in bringing up such issues that I remind you of your venality and hypocrisy in the regions of racial ''justice'' and ''tolerance''.Blacks,as proposed by white politicians are tools for the vote. Nothing more.

Jena politics

VoteObama — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:17:35 GMT

What's wrong with beating up a white boy - it's not like it's a big deal. After all, Jesse and the boys are always right - just like them Duke boys who got away with it.

Jena politics

Gvswilson, Oklahoma — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:29:23 GMT

It is evident that there is racial ignorance in the deep South, if minority races must ask permission to sit under a tree. It is very different from the East and West Coast where most minorities are treated equally and respect and embrace diversity. In the deep South there is ONLY ONE LAW and it depict the very same face that run this country, caucasian male. There are some many stories of inequality and disparities in the U.S.A. It would take every law student and active attorney to begin to scratch the surface. We are one people and race should NOT be at the forefront of every situation that occurs in America. This will be our demise. Race is only part of the issue. The biger issue is INJUSTICE. If you are going to deal out punishment you deal it out equally no matter what the color. You don't make excuses or try to justify why you play favorites. If the playing field were fair, it never would have gotten to the point where a city(or town) is so afraid of minority people that they have planned to closed down every business.

1) When those nooses were hung from the tree, the expulsion should have stood. The Jena school board /city legal defense (because they are one in the same)were dead wrong on reversing that decision. The Federal Government should have stepped in inmmediately because it was a clear violation of civil rights. Whether it was a practical joke or not, it was interpreted as a threat.
2) All the incidents leading up to arrest of the Jena 6 that were handled incorrectly. So much for the incompetent District attorney, who has a seat on the school board. He should be held accountable just like the DA in North Carolina with the Lacross incident. There should have been arrests made when and adult assualted a student and in the incident where the shot gun was pulled on children.
3)America continues to allow attacks on minorities and birth racial injustice.

When are we going to start playing fair for all people. As long as there are Causasian who hold places of Authority and exhibit racism while denying its existence, this country will never heal.

Jena politics

Al, KS — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:52:24 GMT

12 white jurors, a white judge, a white prosecutor, a white public defender (who BTW called zero witnesses for the defense) and 13 white witnesses all for the prosecution. All of this in a town of 3,000 where the winesses, jurors and prosecutor were all related or good friends. No change of venue. No plea bargains. Excessive bail. I'm white, but even I can see the injustice in all of this. I didn't think this could happen in this day and age in America...but I'm wiser now.

Jena politics

Carrie, Eastern Iowa — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:16:02 GMT

Doris - Have any proof to back up your allegations of wrongdoing on Hillary's part? I bet not.

Jena politics

Carrie, Eastern Iowa — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:19:05 GMT

Uh, Lee? There is no such thing as a senatorial district. The Senators represent the state in its entirety.

Jena politics

Ashe, SF CA — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:20:38 GMT

Obama was the first candidate to mention the Jena 6 case...calling it the "Fake Rape" case. However, there was no mention from the MSM...as usual.
It is my belief that Hillary's campaign is behind this Jackson story, the Indonesian madrassa, and the non-sense behind questioning Obama's "blackness." They are using the same Rovian tactics that were used against McCain in '00.

Jena politics

Sierra, SF — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:43:22 GMT

lEE:
So, it's the Liberals that are racist ?
not THAT clever !

'I thought you LIKED RACE BAITERS, LEE !!
George Wallace ?
Strom Thurmond ?
Orville Faubus ?
Jerry Falwell ?
Rush Limbaugh ?
Spare a tear for Don Imus, Lee !!'

Do you admire any of these guys, Lee ??

How about:
Tom Tancredo bombing Mecca.... ?
George Bush I and Willie Horton ?
Jesse Helms and 'lazy blacks' ?
Ronny Ray-Gun and 'welfare queens' ?
How about his 'young bucks' ??
Billy Grahm's son and Muslims ?

I know things are gonna be OK !!
Now that Black America has Lee Holmes looking after them !!

Jena politics

Ray Seattle — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:46:55 GMT

Jesse Jackson is the biggest racist,womanizer around.

The Black Community would be better off with another leader who works for them and not his or her self interest.

Jena politics

Sierra, SF — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:09:29 GMT

Lee Holmes:
If you work for Habitat for Humanity,
My hat is off to you.

It's a great organization !!
Hats off to you for doing something to help your community.

I have to admit, that I don't do anything like that, Lee
I just talk (or email)
.....

Still, to blame Barbara Lee for violence in Richmond is a stretch.
To try to blame Pelosi for the flight of families with children from SF is also a stretch
This is an economic trend that won't be stopped without government intervention.
Is that what you're advocating, Lee ??

SF does build 'affordable housing' in small amounts.
Land is too valuable to be able to build much.
SF also asks developers to include below market rate housing in their projects.
This is all government intervention.
Do you support or oppose this, Lee ?
I thought you were a conservative ??

Jena politics

nuanced — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:17:23 GMT

Run Jesse run -- and don't come back.

Jena politics

Lee Holmes — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:59:20 GMT

SIERRA:It is not so much ''blame''as much as they are not doing anything to alliviate these conditions which are a stark affront to the liberal ideals that they claim to hold. Bobby Kennedy,Adam Clayton Powell,Eleanor Roosevelt,John Lindsey,were tireless liberal advocates for change,justice and the alleviation of poverty without masking themselves behind suave portraits of Saville Row-suited racial provacateurs and limosine liberalism which is not bringing either justice,nor racial harmony,nor the decrease of poverty. They walked the streets,ate with its people, worked for their betterment,sought to reduce its crime. Conservatism is not an end-all be-all of the total removal of government assistances and alleviations to the nations less fortunate. Indeed,conservatism maintains that these goals can be furthered without the strings attached to them by busybodies who impart partisan socialist ideals. Earl Warren saw this,as did Eisenhower,so too,in a smaller way,did Nixon,for all of his other faults. This did not diminish their conservative lustre,nor did it deter them from seeking racial and poverty remedy in all spheres. [Indeed,as late as the summer of 2006,a Cornell study found that self-described conservatives gave far more to charity than their liberal peers].
To ''walk the walk''of racial and economic advance means to go into the cauldron to effect meaningful change. You can talk the big talk from the brahmin confines of a Hamptons,a Cape Cod,a Beverly Hills,or a Pacific Heights but it is nothing more than talk. Action at any level is what is most required,bringing in,as FDR,Kennedy,and LBJ in their times,both liberal and conservative minds of all races to move towards solution. It is not enough to merely say, ''but land is expensive here''. It is how far a people or a government are lawfully willing to go to actually bring forth tangible results rather than holding up placards at some rally or falling in behind the dubious heirs to ML Kings legacy.[who if alive,would have called these guys for the phonies that they are].

Jena politics

Harrison, Closter, New Jersey — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 02:00:26 GMT

Jesse Jackson is a skunk and racist pig......he probably bailed OJ out of jail today.....now Obama is acting a little "too white" for him.....well Jesse he does have a white mother and a black father so go figure.......

Jena politics

Vale MacRorie, Seattle WA — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 07:04:03 GMT

LOL

Once again, Jesse Jackass proves he's as racist as the people he complains about.

Everyone would be much better off if both he and Sharpton were to quietly fade away. All they're doing is making themselves rich, while they make black Americans look bad.

Jena politics

Rick, Germany. — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 10:23:46 GMT

Yeah. I think any white kid who takes an ass whuppin by six other kids in Jena should of know he had it coming and no charges should be pressed.
Matter of fact Jena should just declare every Monday as "whip whities ass day"

Jena politics

Sara, New orleans, LA — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:48:17 GMT

Why does the black community so readily attack the white community yet expect for the white community to be supporters of every "black issue"

Why is "acting white" a negative thing?

Jena politics

Ted, NY — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:54:00 GMT

I think it's gret this is 90% about the candidates who have nothing to do with the actual event. Lets hear more about what actually happened between the six black kids and the one white kid. It may well be the system f*cked these kids but ya know what? When you beat a kid nearly to death, thats what happens, ya get in trouble. Violent crime is violent crime. I'm not afraid to say that I'm black and if all of these kids rot in jail, they probably deserve it.

Also, lets have a little more hypocricy about how 'backwards' the south is when the rest of the country is just as segregated. I remeber moving to NY, land of diversity they called it, and then seeing just how divided and racist it was.

Jena politics

Rick — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:58:03 GMT

where where all the protesters when a friend of mind was robbed, beaten left for dead by 4 black thugs..oh sorry this just in .they where headed down to Jena to protest 6 black kids beaten the hell outta a white kid. and getting to harsh of a sentence.

Jena politics

Shadie — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:32:49 GMT

Will just one person claiming that this is all UNFAIR tell me, what punishment fits the crime? What do you do when a known CRIMINAL beats someone while they are on probation?

How can you say with a straight face that they should be set free?
What punishment is fair?
Truly, what would happen if 25,000 white people organized against the release of the criminals who beat the white boy?
ooh that would be slanderous, now wouldn't it?

Jena politics

Sara New Orleans, LA — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:35:56 GMT

Attention every one!

For the record, there were black voters subpeonaed but none showed up for jury duty, see the article in the Jena newspaper.

Jena politics

Alora — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:27:41 GMT

Remember Justin Barker!! He is the teenager that was beaten. Where is the outrage that a convicted criminal was roaming the streets free to participate in beating him?

Jena politics

John, San Jose, CA — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:32:11 GMT

When I was a child, Civil Rights involved dismantling unjust laws that prevented blacks from voting, from equal education, from achieving economic and political equality.

When did Civil Rights become about defending violent criminals because they are responding to racist actions? Is that really the society we want to live in - where it's OK to beat someone unconscious because they're bigoted?

My current fave for president is John Edwards, but I'm very disappointed in his reaction, as well as Hillary's and Obama's. Not one ounce of condemnation for the beating? I'm astonished at peoples support for these thugs. Frankly, I see it as absolutely no different than the support that white-supremists got when they violently suppressed blacks in the 60's. In both cases violence against individuals of one race is being accepted (or quietly celebrated) as a means of keeping the correct social order. The only difference is what social order is being used as the justification.

Jena politics

Basil — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 10:14:47 GMT

Frankly, I think it is terrible that there was a whites only tree. The students who put up the nooses should have been expelled, but I am appalled that some African Americans think that beating up a white student in the name of racism is okay. Some of the protestors who are asking he be freed can be accused of prejudice as well since they are thinking beating up a white person is okay. And frankly, there are cases where whites are assaulted based on their race, it is just not reported. Mychal Bell had a criminal record before this all happened. He was just looking for an excuse to attack someone. I am against prejudice against black and white people.
This protest doesn't represent all black people.