Sports figures demand justice for Jena 6

Jocks 4 Justice is a group of sports writers and athletes, former and current, who are progressive on a number of issues. The Oct. 3 statement from J4J demands justice for the Jena 6 in Louisiana. For more information on Jocks 4 Justice, e-mail edgeofsports@gmail.com or go to slamonline.com/online/2007/10/jocks-4-justice/.

We the undersigned members of the sports community call for the egregiously punitive criminal charges to be dropped against Mychal Bell, Carwin Jones, Theo Shaw, Robert Bailey Jr., Bryant Purvis, and Jesse Beard, also known as the Jena 6.

We don’t call for this because all six young men are accomplished athletes in their own right, but because this case is drenched of the worst double standards and excesses of the criminal justice system.

The story by now has become well known. It started in September 2006 at Jena High School in Central Louisiana, where three lynching nooses were hung from a tree after black students dared sit underneath what was known as “the white tree.”

Tensions escalated over the course of the semester that resulted in several altercations. Last December six African American students were involved in a school fight in which a white student suffered a concussion—but was able to attend a school function that same evening.

They were subsequently charged with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy, charges that would put them in jail for a combined 100 years without parole. The Jena 6 range in ages from 15 to 17.

One of the Jena 6, Mychal Bell, was found guilty in less than two days by an all-white jury. He was convicted of aggravated battery and conspiracy charges and faced up to 22 years in prison. His original sentence has since been thrown out, ruled unconstitutional since he was tried as an adult.

Recently, the prosecution has announced that charges against Shaw and Jones have been reduced and we are grateful that Mychal Bell’s initial conviction was dismissed.

That is precisely why now is the time to keep up the pressure and get all of these ridiculously punitive charges dismissed as well. We stand with the thousands around the country who marched on Sept. 20 to just say no to double standards and racism in the criminal justice system.

Sincerely,

• Etan THOMAS, Washington Wizards; Author, “More Than an Athlete” • Joakim NOAH,  Chicago Bulls;  Final 4 Most Outstanding Player 2006 • Scott FUJITA, New Orleans Saints  • Troy VINCENT, Former NFL All-Pro; President NFL Players Association• Billy HUNTER, President, NBA Players Association • Doug CHRISTIE, 14 year NBA Veteran;  Author, “No Ordinary Love”  • John AMAECHI, Former NBA Player; Author, “Man in the Middle”  • Anthony PRIOR, Former NFL Player;  Author, “Slave Side of Sunday”  • Jeff “Snowman” MONSON , Ultimate Fighting Championship   • Dr. John CARLOS, 1968 Olympic Bronze Medalist; 1/2 of the immortal Black Power Salute; Olympic Project for Human Rights  • Lee EVANS, 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist; Olympic Project for Human Rights• Eddie Mustafa MUHAMMAD, Former Light Heavyweight Champion J.A.B.  • Jim BOUTON, Former New York Yankee; Author, “Ball Four” • David MEGGYESY,  Former NFL Linebacker; Author, “Out of Their League”  • Toni SMITH, Former member of Manhattanville College Women’s Basketball Team; Famous for her 2003 on the court stand at the start of the Iraq War  • Dennis BRUTUS,  Former Director of SANROC (the South African Non Racialist Olympic Committee); Professor emeritus Africana studies at University of Pittsburgh  • Dr. Phillip SHINNICK, Former world record holder in long jump; Ambassador of UNESCO; U.S. Olympian • Jemele HILL, Columnist, ESPN.com  • Scoop JACKSON, Columnist, ESPN.com  • Lang WHITAKER, Executive Editor, SLAM Magazine • Ben OSBORNE, Editor in Chief, SLAM Magazine  • Lester RODNEY, Oldest Living Sportswriter; Sports Editor, Daily Worker 1936-1958   • Michael TILLERY, Co-Founder and Writer, “The Starting Five”; SLAM Magazine Contributor • D.K. WILSON, Writer,“ The Starting Five”, Counterpunch Political Newsletter, The Chicago Sports Review • Dave ZIRIN, Writer, The Nation and SLAM Magazine; Author, “Welcome to the Terrordome”