The Observer, October 5, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 6
National Student Walk Out for Jena Six comes to Case
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Something as simple as a tree has caused Americans to wonder more seriously if racism still exists in America today.
The people of Jena, Louisiana called it the "white tree," not because of the color of the tree, but because of the color of the skin of the people who would sit under the tree. In August 2006, a black student decided to sit under the tree, an act which sparked a series of events that leaves many people wondering about the state of race relations in America.
A day after the black student sat under the tree, nooses were discovered hanging on it. Three white students were identified as responsible and were punished with time in an alternative school, in-school suspensions, and Saturday detentions. The students also had to undergo an evaluation before being allowed to return to school.
In December of that year, six black students beat up a white student in response to an insult from the latter; the six black students were jailed and charged with attempted murder. This sparked outrage across the United States, and the charges for four of the six have been reduced to aggravated second-degree battery. The charges have not been dropped, which has lead to nationwide protests of the injustice of the charges facing the Jena Six.
One of these protests, National Student Walk Out for Jena Six, was held last Monday. Case students participated by holding a rally on the KSL Oval.
The National Student Walk Out protest at Case was organized by junior Camille Thornton. Thornton felt that the rights of the Jena Six weren't upheld. "The injustice was clear," said Thornton. Many other Case students at the protest felt the same way.
"I most definitely believe that the rights of the Jena Six weren't upheld. Mychal Bell was being tried as an adult, even though he is obviously a juvenile," said junior Chioma Anigbogu, who helped organize the rally.
"The rights of the Jena Six were unequal. I feel that they took it overboard; it shouldn't have got this far," said sophomore Jacquelyn Smith.
Thornton organized the rally at Case to inform more people informed of what happened in Jena. "I feel people need to get aware and get involved. We are the leaders of today for tomorrow," said Thornton. Her fellow demonstrators agreed with her about the purpose of the rally.
"This rally will help the students of Case be more informed of Jena Six," said sophomore Karlton Harrison.
"I feel that this rally will make a difference on campus; it helps more people on campus get informed, because many people did not know," said sophomore Courtney Lowe.
The students who attended the rally came to support the Jena Six and themselves. They believed that in supporting the Jena Six, they were in turn supporting themselves. "It's a part of me, it could have happened to all of us…it's good to have a support system that helps bring people together," said Smith.
"I want to back up what I believe in," said freshman Radiance Thompson.
National Student Walk Out was created to display outrage that racism still exists in America, with the Jena Six as proof of it.
"I feel it is blatant racism. It needs to stop; it is just like racism back in the '50s and the '60s. It makes me feel like there is no such thing as justice," said Lowe.
"It was a grave injustice; it sheds light on how the world is today. It shows how much the world needs racial equality among all races," said Harrison.
Students interested in supporting the Jena Six or racial equality at Case can contact Camille Thornton at cdt@cwru.edu.
