Campus rallies for Jena Six
Students protest racial inequalities
By: Abby Farson, Staff Writer
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: University
|
Hundreds of UNC students joined protesters across the nation Thursday, decrying perceived racism and supporting the Jena Six.
Students waved posters depicting trees and nooses, chanted fervently and signed a petition in support of the six black high school students who were charged with attempted murder in Jena, La.
Many believe the charges against the black students were unjust and racially motivated.
"We need to stop injustice anywhere - wherever it is - on our campus or off," said Tiffany Whiting, a junior who is a member of UNC's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
More than eight campus organizations united Thursday for the rally, which stretched from the Pit to Polk Place.
UNC's protest coincided with nationwide efforts to raise awareness of the incident.
About 50,000 people showed up Thursday to protest in Jena. Twenty of them were UNC students who drove almost 1,000 miles to support the cause.
"Our first goal is awareness," said Nikki Clark, who helped organize the event at UNC. "We still feel like a lot of people don't know about this."
Clark, who is president of UNC's NAACP chapter, said the rally also aimed to fight injustice by allowing students to give donations and to sign electronically a petition to be sent to the Jena local government in support of the six students.
In September 2006, black high school students in Jena wanted to sit under a tree where white students typically sat, and some white students responded by hanging three nooses from the tree branches. Several months later, white students attacked a black student as racial tensions continued to escalate.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 20
nick
posted 9/21/07 @ 7:30 AM EST
Just to clarify, a group of black students attacked a white student which was incorrectly stated at the end of the first page of this article.
w
posted 9/21/07 @ 8:59 AM EST
The black students were attacked outside the party. The gun was pulled a day later at a convenience store. (With both sides presenting differing accounts of who/what sparked the argument at the convenience store). (Continued…)
Rocky
posted 9/21/07 @ 9:10 AM EST
I am writing in regards to Abby Farson's article regarding the Jenna Six on September 21st. Ms. Farson's article suggested the Jenna Six were arrested immediately after being beat up by a group of white students, which offers not only a gross misrepresentation of the facts, but a blatant attempt to falsely fuel the ongoing uproar with inaccurate information. (Continued…)
tarheelalum
Rocky
posted 9/21/07 @ 9:12 AM EST
I am writing in regards to Abby Farson's article regarding the Jenna Six on September 21st. Ms. Farson's article suggested the Jenna Six were arrested immediately after being beat up by a group of white students, which offers not only a gross misrepresentation of the facts, but a blatant attempt to falsely fuel the ongoing uproar with inaccurate information. (Continued…)
DeWhitney
posted 9/21/07 @ 1:15 PM EST
First, people let's stop quoting Wikipedia like it is a credible academic source. Secondly, no one was nearly murdered in any of the incidents that occurred. (Continued…)
Rocky
posted 9/21/07 @ 1:29 PM EST
DeWhitney...the Wikipedia article offers the most chronologically coherent account(with credible sources) and the same information can be verified by looking at various accounts. (Continued…)
w
posted 9/21/07 @ 2:15 PM EST
I'm not supporting what Rocky has said (he definitely exaggerated as far as the victim "almost dying"), but I did want to respond to this statement:
"And the fact that all your previous comments almost entirely focuses on the actions of the black students, and does not take into account the wrongs of the white students & the legal system just further shows that your kind of ignorance is what is truly what is wrong with this country. (Continued…)
JR
posted 9/21/07 @ 4:08 PM EST
Let's talk about the "severely beatenstudent" shall we. My little brother fell from his bike, received similar treatment, about 11 staples in his head, almost 3 and a half hours in the hospital at Duke and I would not characterize his bike fall as severe! He was not "severely" injured. (Continued…)
camryn
posted 9/23/07 @ 7:21 PM EST
all them rich people making videos about how they get money but they need the FREE THE JENA SIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marvin L Foushee
posted 9/23/07 @ 8:09 PM EST
Terrorism in the modern sense[1] is violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians for political or other ideological goals. (Continued…)
Post a Comment