Posted by Tierney Cook

I am sure you have heard this story.
It comes out of a small town in Louisiana (Jena, LA population 4,000).

6 African-American boys (ages 14 to 17 years old) are charged with attempted second degree murder of a white student.

This all started September of last year at the small Jena High School.
Three nooses were found hanging from a tree on campus.
Three white students are suspended for the act, the black student form a sit in under the tree.

This prompts a number of racial fights on campus, once incident even involved an arsonist setting part of the school on fire.

Then December of last year, a white student is beaten by 6 black students.
The victim is knocked unconscious, has cuts and bruises. He is sent to the hospital and later released.

Five of the six African American teens (ages 16-17) are charged as adults and sent to jail.
All are expelled.
Mychal Bell a 16 year old is convicted and stands to serve 22 years in prison for the fight.

He will be formally sentenced on Thursday.
This story is gaining national attention because the boys are charged and possibly sentenced as adults.

Rocker David Bowie has donated money to the boys legal fund, Hollywood musicians and actors even Barak Obama have made comments about the case.

On Thursday the OKC Chapter of the NAACP will hold a rally at the state capitol from 11-1pm.
There are several planned across the country.

I am posting this blog, hoping to get comments from you.
What do you think about the decision to try the young boys as adults, and are you surprised by the actions that took place in Jena, LA?

Sound off!
Tierney