Afrosphere Jena 6 Coalition
September 6, 2007
Dear Governor Blanco,
In response to your August 30th statement on the Jena 6, as recorded by Mary Mitchell of the Sun Times blogs.suntimes.com/mitchell/2007/08/louisiana_gov_kathleen_babinea.html ; which I believer was itself a response to the Afrosphere Jena 6 Coalition’s “Day of Blogging for Justice”; I have to say you exhibit a sunny optimism reminiscent of Ronald Reagan. And like Ronald Reagan’s tenure in office, under your dearth of leadership (though not solely because of) government in Louisiana has been unresponsive to black folks and marginalized community’s needs, and maybe even hostile to them.
While claiming not to rush to judgment (though how you figure a year is a rush is beyond me), you state that you “fully expect that those involved in this case, including all parties, will act with fairness and in complete good faith.”
So, District Attorney Walters threatening to “end” black kids “lives with one stroke of [his] pen” if they reacted to the racial harassments and threats against them; engenders expectations of fairness and good faith in you? There’s that sunny Reagan optimism again; I guess you just see the good in everyone. Even after he’s followed through on that malicious and racist threat, you still think at some point he’s going to do the right thing out of the goodness of his heart. Now that’s leadership!
I’m glad to hear that now you have at least directed Attorney General Foti to take some measures; though I’m not sure what they are as “consultation” does not mean ‘investigation’ (sorry for going a little Jesse Jackson there).
Though you’re not “rushing to judgment”, would you please have Attorney General Foti rush his consultations, as it has already been a year since this started, and 16 year old (well now 17) Mychael Bell has already been convicted. As I’m sure you are aware, it is much more difficult to un-ring the bell of conviction than it is to stop a false-prosecution from going forward.
You do, on the other hand though, have this little power called the “pardon” which you neglect to mention when giving us your constitutional lectures on separation of executive and judicial powers. I’ll admit, during my Junior High days in Bossier I wasn’t the best student, but I did pay attention in my Louisiana Studies class as a history buff, but thanks.
It would also be very nice and appropriate if you kept the public up to date on the steps that the Attorney General is taking once he’s wrapped up those consultations. Thank you.
Sincerely,
D. Yobachi Boswell
Afrosphere Jena 6 Coalition Coordinator
Lionrunenr777@yahoo.com
www.blackperspective.net
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I sent faxes.
TO: Governor Kathleen Blanco
Attn: Constituent Services
Fax: 225-342-7099
FROM:
If responding please respond by email at lionrunner777@yahoo.com
Subject: Justice For the Jena Six
As I’m sure you are aware, six young men in Jena Louisiana have been charged (and one convicted) in a school fight with criminal allegations that far exceed any reasonable and objective person’s interpretation of a relatively common event. Except the precursor activities that lead to the fight aren’t so common, or at least we would like to think that they aren’t anymore.
Black students were racially harassed and threatened with bodily harm, death and prison, and when they finally reacted, they were charged with ridiculous crimes that clearly don’t fit the facts; while they’re harassers and intimidators were allowed to walk away scott free. We’d hoped this Jim Crow type of “Justice” was over in Louisiana; but apparently it’s not.
I implore you to have the state Attorney General’s Office to act on these civil rights abuses and abuses of power by the local police and prosecutor’s in Jena Louisiana. Sitting by idle, watching these racial abuses transpire; declaring this to be a local issue will only put you in company with many southern governors of times gone by.
If responding please respond by email at lionrunner777@yahoo.com
I also sent a fax to the state attorney general where the first to paragraphs are the same but the last one is different.
TO: Attorney General Foti
C/O Julie Cullen, Criminal Division Director
Fax: 225-326-6297
FROM:
If responding please respond by email at lionrunner777@yahoo.com
Subject: Justice For the Jena Six
As I’m sure you are aware, six young men in Jena Louisiana have been charged (and one convicted) in a school fight with criminal allegations that far exceed any reasonable and objective persons interpretation of a relatively common event. Except the precursor activities that lead to the fight aren’t so common, or at least we would like to think that they aren’t anymore.
Black students were racially harassed and threatened with bodily harm, death and prison, and when they finally reacted, they were charged with ridiculous crimes that clearly don’t fit the facts; while they’re harassers and intimidators were allowed to walk away scott free. We’d hoped this Jim Crow type of “justice” was over in Louisiana; but apparently it’s not.
As the state’s Attorney General and hence chief law enforcement officer, it is your obligation and duty to protect the constitution of the state and protect the civil rights of its citizens; including reigning in rouge and malicious prosecutors. These civil rights abuses and abuses of power by the local police and prosecutors in Jena Louisiana must be confronted and stopped. Please act now.
If responding please respond by email at lionrunner777@yahoo.com
