A Call for Help

Napi has been tracking this case (her mentioning it to me last week was the first I had heard of it) and wanted me to post some info regarding planned demonstrations. It's a long read, but I encourage you all to read it when you get a chance. We don't usually preach to people here at NapiSoul, but an injustice to one is an injustice to all... When you're done with this post, just continue down for today's (Thursday) post. Thanks!

The Michael Baisden Show: Live from Jena, LA September 20th

The Baddest Man on radio is putting action behind his words. On September 20th Michael Baisden along with comedian George Wilborn, national celebrities, and thousands of loyal listeners will March on the Jena Courthouse to demand justice for Mychal Bell, one of the black teenagers awaiting sentencing in the Jena 6 Case. Mychal Bell could receive up to 22 years in prison for what amounted to nothing more then a fist fight between black and white high school students.

Michael will need all the support he can get to show the prosecutors, the Judge, and the entire nation that we will not stand by while they steal the lives of our children. Time for talk is over, it's time to act.

Details about Michael's visit to Jena on September 20, 2007:

5:00am Buses meet in Alexandria, LA at Parish of Rapides Coliseum to caravan to Jena
7:30am Meet in Jena, LA at LaSalle Parish Courthouse
8:00am Rally & March for Peace and Justice
9:00am Sentencing for student Mychal Bell

*Wear Black on Sept. 20th to signify unity against UN-EQUAL JUSTICE in America

LOCATION:
LaSalle Parish Courthouse
1050 Courthouse St
Jena, LA 71342
(25 minutes from Alexandria)


AIRPORT:
The nearest airport is Alexandria International Airport

BUSES:
Buses will be leaving from Parish of Rapides Coliseum - go to the message board for the address.

GROUPS:
All out of town Groups will meet in Alexandria, LA and caravan down.
To identify your group please send an email with your information to:
Jena6groups@minglecity.com

PRESS:
All press need to submit their request for interviews to:
Jena6press@minglecity.com

HOTELS IN THE AREA / LIST PROVIDED BY THE
ALEXANDRIA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU:

Baymont Inn and Suites Alexandria
2301 N MacArthur
Alexandria, LA71303US
Phone: (318) 619-3300

Best Western
2720 West MacArthur Drive
Alexandria, la 71301
(318) 445-5530

Clarion
2716 West MacArthur Drive
Alexandria, La 71301
(318) 487-4262

Comfort Inn
2001 N. Bolton Avenue
Alexandria, La 71301
(318) 484-9155

Days Inn Alexandria
1146 MacArthur Drive
Alexandria, La 71301
(318) 443-1841

Days Inn Pineville
11 Lord of Lords Avenue
Pineville, La 71360
(318) 640-5818

Alexander Fulton Hotel (formerly Holiday Inn-Downtown)
701 4th Street
Alexandria, La 71301
(318) 442-9000

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
2340 MacArthur Drive
Alexandria, LA71303
*** SOLD OUT ***

LaQuinta Inn & Suites (near the airport)
6116 W. Calhoun Drive
Alexandria, La 71303
(318) 442-3700

MacArthur Inn
2211 MacArthur Drive
Alexandria, La 71301
(318) 443-2561

Motel 6
546 MacArthur Drive
Alexandria, La 71301
(318) 445-2336

Quality Inn
3010 N. MacArthur Drive
Alexandria, La 71301
(318) 445-6757

Ramada Limited
742 MacArthur Drive
Alexandria, La 71301
(318) 448-1611

Red River Inn
3801 Halsey Street
Alexandria, La 71301
(318) 448-3401

Super 8
700 MacArthur Drive
Alexandria, La 71301
(318) 44-6541

Super 8 Airport
6017 Old Boyce Rd.
Alexandria, La 71303
(318) 619-9200


LIVE BROADCAST:
Local Affiliate KMXH-FM 93.9
"Southern Soul & The Best of Today's R&B"

PARKING FOR BUSES IN ALEXANDRIA, LA:
- The city recommends the Parish of Rapides
Coliseum as the best location.

Parish of Rapides Coliseum
5600 Coliseum Blvd
Alexandria, LA 71303
(318) 442-9581
Call to get directions

Who are the Jena Six?
The Jena Six are a group of black students who are being charged with attempted murder for beating up a white student who was taunting them with racial slurs, and continued to support other white students who hung three nooses from the high schools "white tree" which sits in the front yard.


Jena 6 timeline

Jena 6 Video

Online Petition: Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice

Jena Six slide show

More Photo's

The unjust trial of 6 black teens in Jena, LA

Link to Video
Link to Complete Article

In a small still mostly segregated section of rural Louisiana, an all-white jury heard a series of white witnesses called by a white prosecutor testify in a courtroom overseen by a white judge in a trial about a fight at the local high school where a white student who had been making racial taunts was hit by Black students.

The fight was the culmination of a series of racial incidents starting when whites responded to Black students sitting under the “white tree” at their school by hanging three nooses from the tree. The white jury and white prosecutor and all white supporters of the white victim were all on one side of the courtroom. The Black defendant, 17-year-old Mychal Bell, and his supporters were on the other.

The jury quickly convicted Mychal Bell of two felonies — aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. Bell, who was a 16-year-old sophomore football star at the time he was arrested, faces up to 22 years in prison. Five other Black youths await similar trials on attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy charges.

The people in Jena are fighting for justice and they need legal and financial help. Since the arrests, a group of family members have been holding well-attended meetings, and have created a defense fund — the Jena 6 Defense Committee. They have received support from the NAACP, the Louisiana ACLU and Friends of Justice.

More information about Jena 6

FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE
People interested in supporting can contact:

Links to Online Petition

Jena 6 Defense Committee
PO Box 2798
Jena LA 71342
Email: jena6defense@gmail.com

Friends of Justice
507 N. Donley Ave
Tulia TX 79088

ACLU of Louisiana
PO Box 56157
New Orleans LA 70156


Thanks to following for their continued help:
- KMXH-FM 93.9 Staff (our local affiliate)
- City of Alexandria, LA
- Alexandria Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Alexandria Police Department