Judge Reduces Charges in Jena 6 Case But Refuses to Overturn Mychal Bell Conviction
Democracy Now
Wednesday, September 5th, 2007
EXCERPT
On Tuesday, Judge Judge J.P. Mauffray let the conviction stand -- despite ruling Mychal Bell was improperly tried in adult court instead of as a juvenile. Bell's conspiracy charge was dismissed, but he still faces up to fifteen years in prison. Thousands of supporters from across the country are expected to gather for a rally in Jena when Mychal is sentenced on September Twentieth.
EXCERPT
Meanwhile, prosecutors also announced they’ve reduced the attempted murder charges against two others among the Jena Six. Carwin Jones and Theo Shaw are also now charged with aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy. Two other students, Robert Bailey, Jr. and Bryant Purvis, await trial for attempted murder.
EXCERPT
Well, Democracy Now! traveled to Jena over the weekend to cover this story, and I spoke to Theo Shaw and Robert Bailey at their home in Jena. They were ironing their clothes, preparing to go out for the evening. Robert and Theo were held for about eight months in prison until their families raised the money to bail them out. Theo was just released over a month ago on more than $100,000 bail. I began by asking Theo to describe his time in jail. ...
EXCERPT
AMY GOODMAN: I asked Theo to think back to September 2006, when the nooses were hung in the schoolyard tree. I asked him what the nooses meant to him and how they made him feel?
THEO SHAW: A threat: “We gonna kill you. We don't want you around here.” That’s how I looked at it.
AMY GOODMAN: The nooses came after someone, a black student, asked the principal if black students could sit under the tree?
THEO SHAW: Yeah, the next day.
AMY GOODMAN: So what did you all do in reaction to that, when you saw the nooses?
THEO SHAW: Stopped under the tree and questioned a lot of white students.
AMY GOODMAN: Someone told us that the black students thought it was funny. Did you think it was funny?
THEO SHAW: I didn’t. ...
INTERVIEW CONTINUED ...
http://www.democracynow.org/article..../09/05/1422246
Thank God for that!
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