The lone, black teenager jailed for the beating of a white classmate was released today on $45,000 bail. Seventeen-year old Mychal Bell was facing 15 years in prison for aggravated second-degree battery but prosecutor Reed Walters has decided to lower the sentence. Instead, Bell could be held until his 21st birthday if he is found guilty in a juvenile court. I'm still perplexed as to why none of the white students, who hung nooses on the "all-white students' tree," are not facing any criminal charges because the last time I checked, the hanging of nooses is a hate crime. I would also like to know why black Americans (as well as other minorities) have to continue to fight for equal rights and justice, yet our commander-in-chief continues to send our young men off to fight a senseless war in Iraq for their democracy. Not once have I heard George W. Bush address this heinous act in Jena. Honestly, I am not one to scream racism, but I find myself agreeing more and more with Kanye West's comment made in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. After two years, the people of New Orleans are still unable to return home because they have no home to return to, but he continues to try to rebuild Iraq... It's "1964" all over again in Jena, La., but Bush has decided to ignore that, as well. Am I the only one who feels like this?
(Photo courtesy of AP press. from l to r: Rev. Al Sharpton, Mychal Bell, Pastor T.D. Jakes)
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