JENA, La. -- Rev. Al Sharpton will speak in support of six black students, some of whom are still facing attempted murder charges in connection with the beating of a white school mate. Sharpton is scheduled to speak at the Trout Creek Baptist Church in Jena Sunday. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, calling the charges against the six black teens known as the "Jena Six" "disgraceful" said he was coming to Jena to spread a message of "reconciliation rather than retaliation." A date for Jackson's visit has not been set.
Robert Bailey Jr., Mychal Bell, Carwin Jones, Bryant Purvis, Theo Shaw and an unnamed juvenile were charged in December with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit the same after a Dec. 4 attack that left white student Justin Barker unconscious and in need of medical attention.
Alexandria defense attorney Mike Small said the widespread attention generated by the cases should have a positive affect. "That's not to say that the sentence should be driven by publicity, but only that the extensive interest in the cases underscores the need for a sentence which reasonable people can view as just and fair."
Jackson, who said he still isn't sure when he will visit Jena, said he has talked to members of the U.S. Congress about having a congressional hearing about the cases."There must be some admission by the leaders of the system that these charges against these boys are onerous and exaggerated. (The defendants) face being in jail for the rest of their natural lives.
In order to have healing, there must be a basic commitment to fairness and justice to man. This is so un-American the charges and the punishment," he said.
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