The national controversy surrounding the "Jena 6" has reached The University of Memphis campus where students have organized a rally against inequality and racism.
The University of Memphis chapter of the NAACP planned the rally to increase awareness of the ongoing racial issues in Jena, La. It will take place this afternoon at 4:30 in the Student Activities Plaza.
"We're gathering to show support for the students in Jena, La.," said Ashlee Roberts, president of The University of Memphis chapter of the NAACP. "We want to bring to light the injustice going on across the country."
The "Jena 6" controversy involves the prosecution of six black high school students from Jena, La., following their attack on a white student.
Louisiana District Attorney Reed Walters originally charged the "Jena 6" with second-degree attempted murder, prompting local and national civil rights advocates to protest, claiming the charges were disproportionate to the crime.
Many other accusations of inequality and racism have resulted from the controversy.
"The injustice was the unfairness in charging one side without the other. They only held African-American students accountable without charging the white students," Roberts said.
Interracial Communication instructor David Acey explained that one of the students was 16 years old, but the district attorney decided to try him as an adult.
"The state authority ruled they couldn't charge him as an adult, but the local DA said, 'We'll charge him as an adult anyway,'" Acey said.
The December assault followed months of racial tension and outbursts of violence in the Louisiana town with a population of less than 3,000.
Problems first started following an incident at Jena High School, during an assembly when a black student asked if he and other black students could sit under a tree in the schoolyard that was considered "whites-only" by some students.
The school principal said that they could sit wherever they wanted, but when they arrived at the tree the following day, someone had hung several nooses from it.
Many racially motivated fights and violent outbursts occurred in Jena during the following months.
"We're not condoning violence on either side, but the laws of juvenile justice are not working. These students have been charged wrongly," Roberts said.
Civil rights advocates cite Jena as proof that racism is still very much alive in many parts of the country.
Roberts said in addition to the rally, many civil rights advocates, including University of Memphis members of the NAACP, Black Student Association and National Pan-hellenic Council, are traveling to Jena this weekend to protest the charges.
"Our country is not perfect. A lot of people think racism doesn't happen anymore, but inequality still exists everywhere - not just in small towns," Roberts said.
While spreading the word about the rally, Roberts said she was surprised by how many students were not aware of what was going on in Jena, La.
"It shows how much our youth doesn't pay attention to politics in this country. Some people are just content to be nonchalant and uninformed," Roberts said.
Acey said the situation reflects serious issues regarding culture and race. He said that it's important for students to get involved in "the righteous cause."
"If you don't do anything, you become a silent onlooker and more dangerous than the person who committed the act," Acey said. "Things like this are still going on, and students are not aware. Next thing you know, we'll have a big riot and not even know why it happened."
