Jena 6

For those of you unaware, the fabulous Rev. Al Sharpton is at it again.  Apparently in Jena, Louisiana 6 black people were arrested for beating up a white kid.  This small town has been simmering in racial tension for at least the past 8 months which climaxed with this beating.  Which prompted Rev. Jesse Jackson criticized Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday over his reaction to the arrest of six black juveniles in Jena, Louisiana, on attempted murder charges, accusing the Illinois senator of “acting like he’s white”.

From what I can gather, this started when a black student sat under what has been known as the “white tree”.  Either the next day, or a few days later, nooses showed up on that tree.  The white students were found, and suspended for three days and allowed to return to school.  For roughly 8 months afterwards, several incidents happened.  Fights, shotguns, arson. 

One incident is that a black student attempted to attend a “white party”.  The student was attacked.  Later, that same black student, along with others attacked a different white student.  The white student went to his truck and pulled his shotgun.  The black student took it away.  The white student was not charged, the black student was charged with theft.  Now – I can kinda understand why they didn’t charge the white student – self defense – although I question whether pulling a shotgun is allowed -even if you are presented with several other attackers.  If he could get his gun, couldn’t he get in his car and leave?  But I can understand, somewhat.  I do not understand the charge of theft. 

About 4 days after the arson of the school, 6 black students,  Mychal Bell, Robert Bailey Jr., Carwin Jones, Bryant Purvis, Theo Shaw and Jesse Ray Beard — were originally charged with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy, according to LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters, for attacking a white student, Justin Barker -what the police originally charge someone with, is not necessarily what they will go to court on.  The prosecutor changed the charges to Agg battery with a deadly weapon.  Barker ended up in the hospital and was released several hours later.  Parents of the 6 defendants claim that Barker was using racial slurs against the 6.  Barkers family argues this point.

The prosecution claimed that a shoe was the deadly weapon.  Before you complain, there is caselaw (at least in Florida) that a shoe can be a deadly weapon.  Of the 6, Bell, one has been convicted of aggravated battery, but the conviction was vacated and he remains in jail awaiting a decision from the prosecution.  There is to be a hearing withing 72 hours.  The judge originally refused to reduce his bond citing his prior record, including battery.

There have been several outcries that this is racially motivated as the original white kids were not charged.  My understanding, from Florida law, is a hate crime can only exist when a crime has been committed.  It’s like a label that is applied.  (If I’m wrong, please point me in the right direction)  Hanging nooses, while disgusting, is protected speech.  (just like the KKK can yell whatever they want, if they do not make a move towards anyone they are allowed to preach whatever beleifs they want) I cannot think of a criminal offense that it applies to, neither did the state prosecutor, or federal prosecutors who looked into the case.

What concerns me is that people are using the race card.  If roles were reversed, and it was 6 white kids who attacked a single black male – the NAACP would still be involved, but they would be screaming for prison as a hate crime.  And if someone came along and claimed the 6 white kids shouldn’t be charged b/c the victim called them crackers, the NAACP would run that person out of town.  So why is it ok when it’s a white victim?

While I do not condone the nooses, it was my understanding that part of the original civil rights movement was to make sure the justice system is color blind.  Not blind to only one color.  I don’t agree with anyone claiming that because a racial slur was used, justifies physical aggression – esp 6 on 1.  (those of you who complained about the police being 6 on 1 on the gater fool, think about it.  cake and eat it?)

I do not agree that these kids, or anyone regardless of their race, should be allowed a free pass b/c a victim used a racial slur.  That is something that can be taken into account at the time of sentencing not the actual trial.  It is not a legal defense.

update to tasing kid

Michelle Malkin updates us on the story – Andrew Meyer, professional taunter

I must say, I ran across her website today for the first time, and I am impressed.

or check out:

tazed and confused

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“You, as an American, have a constitutional right to speak. However, you do not have a right to be heard.”

FU Tasering Student = media whore

I am sick and tired of hearing about police brutality, etc over this whiny, media whore of a kid.    Here’s an article that doesn’t immediately jump to calling for protests at UF (which there were)  fairly interesting. http://www.starbanner.com/article/20070918/NEWS/70918007/1053/BREAKING_NEWS

Here are a few things I would like to add to the mix –

 1.  All these free speech screamers need to realize, the government CAN limit your speech at a public forum.  It’s called time place and manner restrictions.  It is my understanding that this kid, Andrew Meyer, jumped ahead in line to ask his questions.  If that is true, that is a violation of the procedures set up for that question and answer period.  While I’m not saying that leads automatically to being tased, I am saying that if a person violates a procedure that is in place, they can be removed and their speech limited. 

2.  if this kid violated the procedures then LEO had the authority to remove him from the hall.  They have the right to place hands on him, if he does not leave on his own.  Immediately this whiny little chump starting yelling and crying.  Seems to me that he’s being a little media whore trying to get attention.  LEO did nothing wrong at that point by simply placing hands on him.

3.  He beings to resist.  It’s called resisting an officer with violence.  classic case.  that’s a felony people.  at that point leo has the authority to place him under arrest for a felony.  if you listen, while he’s on the floor, leo tells him to stop resisting and warn him that he will be tased if he continues to resist.  What I think is interesting is you see him continuing to struggle, but you don’t see exactly what happens.  he could be kicking the officers, he could be trying to reach for something else – we don’t know – but we do see him continuing to resist arrest and at that point, after warning him, leo has the authority to tase him.

is it fun to see someone tased?  no – ive seen it in court.  it’s scary.  but he wasn’t hurt – he screams like a little girl which just sounds so fake – the topic of police brutality is something that people find sexy, same thing as free speech violations – what you should do before going off the deep end and automatically determine these officers were blatantly wrong is look at the law, look at the video and use your common sense. 

Interesting – this website claims to have the actual police reports.  True that police reports, once a case is filed, is public record, but I wonder how she got them so fast?

http://michellemalkin.com/2007/09/19/document-drop-the-andrew-meyer-taser-stunt-police-report/

 Also – this fellow wordpresser has an interesting quote from someone who claims to have been at the rally when the kid was tased –

http://animamrecro.wordpress.com/

if the quote is correct, that would confirm that the kid originally violated the procedures laid out by rushing ahead of everyone, and it makes sense that people started taping him at that point – and also explains why law enforcement was behind him and were so quick to remove him.

hometown

randomly browseing through myspace – looking at the people who are listed as graduating from my high school the same year i did – odd – about 95% of the people remained in the same state, and 70% of those are still within 40 miles of my old highschool.  my class had a pretty high college percentage, so why would most people, with a college education, remain within 40 miles of where they went to high school, where they grew up?  just seems odd to me.