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Free Mychal Bell of the Jena Six Tuesday Oct 16th

by Amber Saunders and Alice Woodward

Tuesday October 16 National Mobilization to Demand Free Mychal Bell! Free the Jena Six! Drop All the Charges!

On October 11th, 2007, Mychal Bell of the Jena Six was sentenced to 18 months in Juvenile facilities. The re-imprisonment of Mychal Bell is a legal act of revenge. Those who work in the Jena legal system are proving a point and those of us who want freedom must prove a point as well. Just as the imprisonment of Mychal Bell was unjust before, it is unjust now. In fact, we submit that District Attorney Walters is only holding Mychal Bell in prison on a probation violation until he can figure out a more permanent course of action. The system is unjust and Mychal Bell will not be freed unless we demand it!

The Jena Six are are still facing decades in prison for standing up against racism. Remember, this all started when a Black student, asked to sit under Jena High School's whites only tree and racist white students hung nooses on the tree. Black students took a just stand and protested. The District Attorney and police were brought in to threaten the Black students by saying the authorities can take students' lives away "with the stroke of a pen." Remember, white youth in Jena attacked a black student and got probation. A White youth pulled a gun on Black students and when the Black students took it from him and fled the scene, they were charged with theft. Then a schoolyard fight occurred and the law came down on the Jena Six with a brutal Jim Crow Injustice. People found out about this all over the country and were outraged. The nationwide movement to Free The Jena Six sent a message on September 20, 2007 when tens of thousands of people converged on Jena, La to demand "Free the Jena Six." The struggle must continue, if the Jena Six are to be Free

Don't be fooled. An investigation has already been held by the U.S. justice department. At a Jena townhall meeting in July of 2007,U.S. attorney Donald Washington, declared that the handling of the whole situation at Jena High- the nooses, the fight, the law coming down on black youth for standing up to white supremacy- to be "Regular." Governor Blanco has made a statement upon Bell's reinprisonment that does not talk of Bell's release but the "customary procedures" through which he will now be funneled through the criminal justice system. We say NO! We must all act in solidarity with Mychal Bell and the Jena Six on Tuesday October 16th. Without the struggle of the people the Jena Six will not be free.

Tuesday morning, Oct 16th, as a hearing is held on the Jena Six in Washington D.C. where Mychal Bell's parents will be fighting for their son to be released, people will demonstrate en mass demanding Free The Jena Six!

Rally at 9 a.m. outside the Rayburn House Office Building on Independence between 1st Street and South Capitol. Everyone in or near Washington, D.C. who opposes racism and injustice come out into the streets!

While all over the country people will WEAR BLACK and RALLY IN TOWNS AND CITIES NATIONWIDE AT 12 NOON making the demand Free Mychal Bell, Drop All The Charges, Free The Jena Six! Make Banners and Fliers, Read them in the streets, Deliver them to the Justice department, propose a resolution to your city council and mayor. INFORM and INVOLVE all who attend.

SPREAD THE STRUGGLE TO FREE THE JENA SIX! Leading up to Tuesday and all throughout the week get with your friends or on your own create youtube videos that condemn the reinprisonment of Mychal Bell, declare Free The Jena Six!, and challenge others to JOIN the struggle!Hold teach-ins and house parties to discuss the Jena 6 case. Make it known that the struggle to Free the Jena Six must and will continue and grow until all the charges are dropped and we won't allow them to spend one more day in prison for standing up against racism.

In solidarity, we demand:
1. The Immediate Release of Mychal Bell
2. That all the charges against the Jena Six be dropped
3. That the system apologize to all the Jena Six and their families and those responsible for the enforcement of white supremacy, including District Attorney Reed Walters, Judge J.P. Mauffrey and Officials at Jena High School, be held accountable.

Endorsers: Amber Saunders, Student Organizer John Marshall Law School, Alice Woodward correspondent in Jena,LA for Revolution newspaper, October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation executive committee.

Endorse and build for Tuesday October 16th!