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Monday, October 1, at 12 noon--Washington Square Park, 1:30pm--March to 250 Broadway
Artist/Activist Mos Def, Idris Elba, Common, Erykah Badu, M1, Talib Kweli, MC Lyte, the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Sankofa Community Empowerment, Change the Game, the National Hip Hop Political Convention, The Hip Hop Association, Color of Change and student leaders from over 100 campuses call for a National Student Walk-Out on Monday October 1 at 12 noon to support the Jena 6, who are being denied their human rights by the Louisiana criminal justice system.
In New York, a MOBILIZATION of all those participating in the walkout will occuring Washington Square Park directly following the 12 noon walkout. At 1:30p those present will MARCH from Washington Square Park to 250 Broadway (near City Hall) where a PRESS CONFERENCE will be held and the demands of the walkout will be read. This mobilization will feature Congressman Charles Barron, HipHop Artist Immortal Technique, Soul Singer/Songwriter Gordon Chambers, speakers from New York Area Schools including New York University, Columbia University, Fordham University, New School as well as area high school students and YOU!
EVERYONE, MARCHING OR NOT, IS ASKED TO WEAR BLACK ON MONDAY TO SHOW SOLIDARITY AND CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
Directions: ACEBDFV Trains to West 4th St.
Mos Def, who spearheaded the campaign, said "This is the time for Black people to support the Jena 6, and call attention to the unequal treatment the criminal Justice system is dishing out not only in Jena Louisiana but across this nation…we all live in Jena."
The Jena case began last fall, when two Black high school students sat under the "white" tree on their campus. White students responded by hanging nooses from the tree, conjuring up images of lynching and racial terrorism endured by Black people across the country. When Black students protested the light punishment for the students who hung the nooses, District Attorney Reed Walters came to the school and told the students he could "take [their] lives away with a stroke of [his] pen." Racial tension continued to mount in Jena, and the District Attorney did nothing in response to several egregious cases of violence and threats against black students. But when a white student--who had been a vocal supporter of the student's who hung the nooses, taunted a black student and called several black students "nigger"--sustained minor injuries from a school fight, six black students were charged with second-degree attempted murder. Last month, the first young man to be tried, Mychal B ell, was convicted. He faced up to 22 years in prison for a school fight until Black people began to organize and his conviction was thrown out by a court that rules he should not have been tried as an adult.
This case has become a symbol for the Black community of the disproportionate arrest and incarceration rate of Black people and the excessive punishment of Black students in schools across the country. Many local organizers say what is happening to the Jena 6 youth is similar to what happens in their cities.
Mos Def added, "Jena Louisiana is the same as 'Jena' New York. From Mychal Bell to Sean Bell our communities continue to be targeted."
The group has created a list of demands that will be read at noon during rallies around the country.
Demands
Judge J.P. Mauffray and District Attorney Reed Walters have engaged in a string of egregious actions. We call for:
1. All charges against the Jena 6 be dropped;
2. The United States Department of Justice to convene an immediate inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the arrests and prosecutions of the Jena 6;
3. Judge Mauffray to be recused from presiding over Bell's juvenile court hearings or other proceedings;
4. The Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel to investigate Reed Walters for unethical and possibly illegal conduct;
5. The Louisiana Judiciary Commission investigate Judge Mauffray for unethical conduct;
6. The Jena School District superintendent to be removed from office; and
7. That each local, state and federal criminal justice apparatus stop profiling the black community in general and specifically black youth for imprisonment and free labor.
For more information: MXGM and Sankofa Empowerment
To add your name and school to join this movement please contact: Assata Richards at assata@pitt.edu or Shantrelle P. Lewis at SJPLewis@hotmail.com
List of additional endorsers: Cynthia McKinney, April Silver/akilaworksongs, Kevin Powell, Immortal Technique, Pharoahe Monch, Brian White, NyOil, K'naan, Goapele, Dwayne Wiggins, X-Clan, Wise Intelligent
List Of Participating Schools: Otterbein College, John Marshal Law School, Georgetown University, Howard University, Hunter College, Middle and High of Yonkers New York, Eastern Michigan University, University of Pittsburgh, Fordham, Columbia, Salem High School, Manhattan College- City Hall, Alliant International University, Shelby High School, Notre Dame College of Ohio, Penn State University, Syracuse University- campus (no specific location yet), University of Alabama, Westchester Community College of Valhalla, Plymouth High School, Canton High School, Morris Brown- Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta GA, Clark Atlanta University- Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta GA, Spellman- Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta GA, Morehouse- Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta GA, Omaha Creighton University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, New Jersey City University, Los Angeles City College, Ramapo College, Wesleyan University, Monrovia High School, Meharry Medical College, Tulane University, Temple University, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Georgia, Georgia State University- Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta GA, Georgia Tech University, University of Texas (Austin)- Capitol Building, Western Washington University, University of California-Berkley, University of Massachusetts, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), University of Pittsburgh, College of The Rockies in Cranbrook, Lehman College- City Hall, Brooklyn College- City Hall, Bushwick High School
Artist/Activist Mos Def, Idris Elba, Common, Erykah Badu, M1, Talib Kweli, MC Lyte, the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Sankofa Community Empowerment, Change the Game, the National Hip Hop Political Convention, The Hip Hop Association, Color of Change and student leaders from over 100 campuses call for a National Student Walk-Out on Monday October 1 at 12 noon to support the Jena 6, who are being denied their human rights by the Louisiana criminal justice system.
In New York, a MOBILIZATION of all those participating in the walkout will occuring Washington Square Park directly following the 12 noon walkout. At 1:30p those present will MARCH from Washington Square Park to 250 Broadway (near City Hall) where a PRESS CONFERENCE will be held and the demands of the walkout will be read. This mobilization will feature Congressman Charles Barron, HipHop Artist Immortal Technique, Soul Singer/Songwriter Gordon Chambers, speakers from New York Area Schools including New York University, Columbia University, Fordham University, New School as well as area high school students and YOU!
EVERYONE, MARCHING OR NOT, IS ASKED TO WEAR BLACK ON MONDAY TO SHOW SOLIDARITY AND CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
Directions: ACEBDFV Trains to West 4th St.
Mos Def, who spearheaded the campaign, said "This is the time for Black people to support the Jena 6, and call attention to the unequal treatment the criminal Justice system is dishing out not only in Jena Louisiana but across this nation…we all live in Jena."
The Jena case began last fall, when two Black high school students sat under the "white" tree on their campus. White students responded by hanging nooses from the tree, conjuring up images of lynching and racial terrorism endured by Black people across the country. When Black students protested the light punishment for the students who hung the nooses, District Attorney Reed Walters came to the school and told the students he could "take [their] lives away with a stroke of [his] pen." Racial tension continued to mount in Jena, and the District Attorney did nothing in response to several egregious cases of violence and threats against black students. But when a white student--who had been a vocal supporter of the student's who hung the nooses, taunted a black student and called several black students "nigger"--sustained minor injuries from a school fight, six black students were charged with second-degree attempted murder. Last month, the first young man to be tried, Mychal B ell, was convicted. He faced up to 22 years in prison for a school fight until Black people began to organize and his conviction was thrown out by a court that rules he should not have been tried as an adult.
This case has become a symbol for the Black community of the disproportionate arrest and incarceration rate of Black people and the excessive punishment of Black students in schools across the country. Many local organizers say what is happening to the Jena 6 youth is similar to what happens in their cities.
Mos Def added, "Jena Louisiana is the same as 'Jena' New York. From Mychal Bell to Sean Bell our communities continue to be targeted."
The group has created a list of demands that will be read at noon during rallies around the country.
Demands
Judge J.P. Mauffray and District Attorney Reed Walters have engaged in a string of egregious actions. We call for:
1. All charges against the Jena 6 be dropped;
2. The United States Department of Justice to convene an immediate inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the arrests and prosecutions of the Jena 6;
3. Judge Mauffray to be recused from presiding over Bell's juvenile court hearings or other proceedings;
4. The Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel to investigate Reed Walters for unethical and possibly illegal conduct;
5. The Louisiana Judiciary Commission investigate Judge Mauffray for unethical conduct;
6. The Jena School District superintendent to be removed from office; and
7. That each local, state and federal criminal justice apparatus stop profiling the black community in general and specifically black youth for imprisonment and free labor.
For more information: MXGM and Sankofa Empowerment
To add your name and school to join this movement please contact: Assata Richards at assata@pitt.edu or Shantrelle P. Lewis at SJPLewis@hotmail.com
List of additional endorsers: Cynthia McKinney, April Silver/akilaworksongs, Kevin Powell, Immortal Technique, Pharoahe Monch, Brian White, NyOil, K'naan, Goapele, Dwayne Wiggins, X-Clan, Wise Intelligent
List Of Participating Schools: Otterbein College, John Marshal Law School, Georgetown University, Howard University, Hunter College, Middle and High of Yonkers New York, Eastern Michigan University, University of Pittsburgh, Fordham, Columbia, Salem High School, Manhattan College- City Hall, Alliant International University, Shelby High School, Notre Dame College of Ohio, Penn State University, Syracuse University- campus (no specific location yet), University of Alabama, Westchester Community College of Valhalla, Plymouth High School, Canton High School, Morris Brown- Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta GA, Clark Atlanta University- Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta GA, Spellman- Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta GA, Morehouse- Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta GA, Omaha Creighton University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, New Jersey City University, Los Angeles City College, Ramapo College, Wesleyan University, Monrovia High School, Meharry Medical College, Tulane University, Temple University, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Georgia, Georgia State University- Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta GA, Georgia Tech University, University of Texas (Austin)- Capitol Building, Western Washington University, University of California-Berkley, University of Massachusetts, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), University of Pittsburgh, College of The Rockies in Cranbrook, Lehman College- City Hall, Brooklyn College- City Hall, Bushwick High School