ELF hits Rio Tinto Alcan in Essex in solidarity with Saving Iceland

In the early hours of 30/07/07, saboteurs struck at Smurfit Kappa, a plastics factory owned by Rio Tinto Alcan in Chelmsford, Essex. The gates were locked shut, office doors and loading bays were sabotaged with glue and a message left painted on the wall. Vehicles belonging to Rio Tinto were also sabotaged.

Rio Tinto, who have recently acquired the business have arguably the worse record of any corporation for abuse of the earth and its people. Whether they're sponsoring and training paramilitaries committing genocide in the South Pacific, removing entire mountain tops in Africa or strip mining virgin rainforest that belongs to indigenous tribes, they must be stopped.

Rio Tinto's recent acquisition of Alcan makes them party to the greatest ecological crime currently being committed in Europe. They are looking to turn Iceland's great wildernesses into a series of monolithic power stations to power aluminium smelters; one of the most polluting and energy intensive industries in the world. Rio Tinto bring repression wherever they go, in Bouganville in the South Pacific they hired mercenaries to rape and murder all who opposed their massive copper mine, Panguna. Their invasion into Iceland is no different and protests against heavy industry are being met with police violence and activists are fitted up and subject to state sponsored slander.

It's necessary to hit Rio Tinto where it hurts, on the bottom line, the balance sheet. Where it matters.

EARTH LIBERATION FRONT

Final Sentencing in Oregon Eco-Sabotage Cases

Civil Rights Outreach Committee

For Immediate Release: August 1, 2007


Contacts:
Alejandro Queral, NW Constitutional Rights Center, Portland, OR, 503-295-6400, 503-490-7333

Final Sentencing in Oregon Eco-Sabotage Cases
Politically motivated prosecution continues as federal judge reconsiders Jonathan Paul’s sentence


Eugene, OR – Judge Ann Aiken today will revisit the sentencing of Jonathan Paul, an animal liberationist whose 51-month sentence was disputed during his initial June 5 sentencing hearing. Paul was the last of ten grand jury-indictees within the District of Oregon who were sentenced as a part of the government’s “Operation Backfire” prosecution. Paul was one of only three defendants who did not receive a “terrorism” enhancement to their sentences. U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken declined to follow the government’s recommendations with regards to Paul but concluded that most of the other young activists convicted should be branded and punished as terrorists, potentially restricting their communication and visitation privileges while serving prison sentences ranging from three to 13 years, even though none of the arsons resulted in any injuries or loss of life.

In a general opinion concerning all defendants, Judge Aiken argued that a “federal crime of terrorism does not require a substantial risk of injury.” The terrorism enhancement provision of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines was then applied to most defendants. Prosecutors have complete discretion to utilize this enhancement, choosing to label environmental defendants as “terrorists.” The Department of Justice, however, appears to have a different standard for right-wing crimes, and has failed to label numerous murders of doctors who perform abortions by right wing zealots as acts of terrorism. Judge Aiken interpreted the enhancement broadly, cobbling together connections among government agencies and the targets of the vandalism, primarily private businesses. None of the acts of property damage injured anyone.

“The imposition of terrorism enhancements on sentences of these activists sets a dangerous precedent that could result in additional politically motivated prosecutions branding activists as ‘terrorists,’ said Alejandro Queral, executive director of the Portland-based Northwest Constitutional Rights Center. “This precedent could also be exploited by the federal government to seek greater prison time for political activists engaged in traditional acts of civil disobedience.”

The government and the court both repeatedly tried to convince the public that the use of the terrorism enhancement was neither ‘political’ nor intended to label these defendants as ‘terrorists.’ Neither statement could be farther from reality. The government has consistently tried to punish these crimes differently for political reasons at a significant cost to our civil liberties and constitutional protections.

Public statements by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales are evidence of the political motivations behind Operation Backfire. Soon after Jonathan Paul’s arrest and a new indictment reflecting additional charges and defendants (the first round of “Backfire” arrests took place a month earlier in December 2005) Gonzales held a high profile press conference with FBI head Robert Mueller to announce the fruits of the FBI round-up. More recently, the Department of Justice released a press statement by the Attorney General wherein he accused the Oregon defendants as carrying out a campaign of “domestic terrorism,” and praised the lengthy sentences as “notice to others.”

“Gonzales’ statements come at a time when his actions interfering with other prosecutions have politicized the Department of Justice, bringing into question the motivation behind Gonzales’ decisions,” said Queral.

Former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, David Iglesias, told the Eugene Weekly that he thought the Oregon prosecutions appeared to be politically motivated. About the environmentally motivated property damage that injured no one, Iglesias said: "It seems to me what happened here should not fit my traditional definition of what terrorism is."

In what can only be seen as a politically self-serving statement, Attorney General Gonzales and the FBI identified a group of people who have never harmed a living thing as the ‘number one domestic terrorist threat’ to this country. That characterization tends to belittle acts of mass murder like the Oklahoma City bombing and the World Trade Center attacks, and is insulting to victims of those horrific events. Prosecuting acts of property destruction as “terrorism” gives Attorney General Gonzales a justification for the Bush Administration’s intrusive domestic spying programs and to continue the harassment, investigations and prosecution of dissenting voices. Anyone concerned with civil liberties should be scrutinizing the government’s motivations in this case.

Antti R. has been moved

UPDATE ON ANTTI

Finnish anti-war activist, Antti, who is serving just over two weeks
imprisonment for non-payment of fines imposed on him when he refused
to be conscripted into the army, has been moved to a new prison
address.

Such movements can delay a prisoner from receiving their letters of
support.  Therefore to help Antti stay strong and remind him he is
not forgotten please write to Antti today and send your letter via
his support e-mail address

supportantti@hotmail.com

Antti is a well known prisoner support activist who has always sort
to help others.  Now it is our turn to help him.

Aracruz works to criminalize Activists in Brazil

• Posted by Ahni July 27, 2007 intercontinentalcry.org
  

Aracruz Cellulose, the world’s leading supplier of bleached eucalyptus pulp, has recently begun taking advantage of the Brazilian Judiciary for its own economic benefit.

Aracruz has specifically targeted Priest Emil Schubert, union leader Luis Alberto, professor Elza and radio broadcaster Ligia Sancio, demanding reparations to the company for moral and physical damage if they don’t cease their protest against Aracruz’s contemptible social and environmental practices.

This is not the first time Aracruz has taken such steps. In 2006, they successfully prevented the demarcation of 11 thousand hectares of indigenous land in Brazil, by rallying the support of the Brazilian People through a propaganda campaign, which included the strategic use of Billboards and tv commercials. Aracruz also gained the support of it’s workers through indirect threats that they’ll lose their jobs if they didn’t.

Further, Aracruz accused the Tupinikim and Guarani communities of not being true indigenous groups and told the local population of Aracruz County that the Tupinikim and Guarani intends to commit violence against them. People in Aracruz County now react in fear. (From Indymedia. See more billboards here)

From Indymedia - In Brazil, the judiciary power is often used in an attempt to criminalize activists within social movements and their supporters, trying to coerce and restrain them both politically and socially. This is a way for the multinational corporation Aracruz Cellulose to take advantage of it’s economic power, by abusing this restrain instrument in an attempt to dismantle those who dare to oppose it’s wicked development logic.

The priest Emil Schubert, union leader Luis Alberto, professor Elza and radio broadcaster Ligia Sancio have been targeted by the corporation, which has decided to open a lawsuit against them to demand reparations to the company for moral and physical damage if they do not cease their political protest. This means that Aracruz is trying to stop them, using a judicial measure, from expressing themselves against the irresponsible social and environmental practices of the company.

In October 2005, indigenous Tupinikim and Guarani occupied Aracruz factories in the state of Espírito Santo, after trying every bureaucratic way to claim back their ancient land currently occupied by Aracruz. The activists were present during the action to witness the reaction of the Brazilian State, which has shown itself to be excessively violent against many social movements. In one example of such violent actions, the Federal Police, a couple of months after an indigenous protest in January 2006, destroyed two villages and injured thirteen indigenous people. The police action was condemned by the Organization of American States (OEA) as well as several international groups. (source)

Further Reading
Sept 06 - Brazil: The Tupinikim Indians Vs. Aracruz Celulose War Gets Ugly
Jan 06 - Twenty Tupinikim and Guarani Indians injured in police evictions
About the Guarani and the Tupinikim

Eric McDavid - 7/29

From: sacprisonersupport@riseup.net

We wanted to give you a quick update about Eric, fundraising, and the

status of his trial.

Fundraising

We have now passed the $10,000 mark with our fundraising. We currently

have $10,300. Thanks to everyone who has donated - especially to those of

you who have offered up matching funds, which has allowed us to double the

amount of money we would normally be making in a very short time period.

In that vein, another anonymous donor has offered up matching funds of

$500! If you donate now, every dollar you give to Eric's legal defense

will be matched, allowing you to double the amount of your donation.

Please take advantage of this opportunity while it's available.

Eric says...

Eric has asked us to share this visualization with all of you, and that we

all keep it in mind as trial approaches:

the locomotive has made it's way and passed over the summit. now, it's

momentum is kinetic as it crosses the valley below... throughout the

journey, this train has been guided by rails woven of the love and support

of family both large and small... not too far off in the distance, is the

place where the mountains gave passage to the river on it's way to the

sea; this is the convergence point to which the rails lead. a sphere of

crystalline light is tucked into those folds of green; therein, the image

of the judge is reading off a piece of paper = the verdict of

not-guilty........

Trial Date

Trial is still set for September 10. Jury selection will occur on that

day, with open arguments most likely starting on September 11. We would

love to have the courtroom full of supporters for Eric throughout the

duration of the trial - especially the last few days, and the day the

verdict is announced. We realize this is tricky, as no one knows exactly

how long trial will run, or when the last day will actually be... If you

are available at all those two and a half weeks, please seriously consider

coming to court to support Eric. He has relied on everyone's love and

support these past 19 months, and it's imperative that we carry that

through trial - the time when he will most need everyone's love, courage

and strength.

Fundraiser in Sacto

For those of you in the Sacramento area, we will be hosting a Bicycle

Drive-In fundraiser for Eric on Friday, August 10, at the skatepark at

28th and B (over the railroad tracks). The final details are still being

worked out, but you can expect an evening of music, a vegan bake-sale, and

a showing of the movie "Over the Edge" (if you haven't seen the movie,

prepare to be amazed...). If you would like to bring something to the

bakesale, please let us know ahead of time. Suggested donation will be

$5. Stay tuned for more details.

Free The San Francisco 8: Former Black Panthers in Prison Need Your Support

by Ron Jacobs; ZNet July 30, 2007

Eight former Black Panthers are currently in prison in California on charges related to the 1971 killing of a San Francisco police officer. Similar charges were thrown out back in 1975 after it was determined that the evidence used to indict the men was extracted by police torture. Two of the men have been held as political prisoners the past thirty years in New York State prisons, but the other six have been living regular lives, working and raising families. A ninth man is still being sought by the police.

These men, known collectively as the San Francisco 8 (SF 8) are being held on $3 million bail each. This bail is considered excessive and the men, their legal team and their supporters are trying to get it reduced so that those members of the SF 8 who are not currently serving time can go home during the upcoming legal proceedings. The struggle to gain these men's freedom is gaining but will require much more public support. In a manner similar to the campaign waged in 1971-1972 to free Angela Davis and the ongoing campaign to free Mumia Abu Jamal, this campaign must become a widespread and international campaign.

As part of this growing effort, several supporters of the SF 8 spoke on a panel at the US Social Forum in Atlanta, Georgia in June 2007. Among the speakers were former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and former Panther Kathleen Cleaver. Ms. Cleaver's remarks were addressed to the mostly young audience at the forum and provided them with a historical overview of the Black Panther Party. In addition, she talked about the US government's counterintelligence program known as COINTELPRO and how the Panthers and other leftist popular organizations organized despite the police harassment and attacks. In addition, she spoke about the differences between the 1960s/1970s and now. Most importantly, she spoke about community and the need to understand the nature of how the State has been very successful in criminalizing groups and people who organize against it. To fight this phenomenon, Cleaver emphasized the need to organize and maintain popular support beyond the radical community. When she introduced Ms. McKinney, she spoke to McKinney's attempts to get Congress to investigate the COINTELPTO program.

In order to gather some information about the current status of the case, I recently got in touch with Claude Marks- a member of the Freedom Archives and one of the main organizers of the Free the SF 8 Defense Committee. Our exchange follows.

Ron: Hi Claude. The last time I checked in with you , most of the SF 8 had just been arrested and the authorities were working on getting the others extradited to California. Can you update the readers to where the case is now? Are the men still in jail? What is their bail?

Claude: Yes, they remain in jail and the bail is currently set at $3 million each. August 6th is when hearings on bail reduction continue - starting with Ray Boudreaux and Richard O'Neal. Arguments based on their responsible roles in their communities and to their families and countering the notion that they are flight risks, will be made. In the case of Ray Boudreaux, it is evident from the video "Legacy..." that he was fully aware of being targeted and yet, voluntarily made all of his appearances before the 2005 grand jury. Their intent is to fight the unjust charges and win!

The hope is that bail will be reduced and will be set at amounts obtainable through securing property (by California law at twice the value of the bail amount) allowing their defense to continue with them in the streets and with their families.

Ron:I know this is conjecture, but why do you think the state has set the bail so high? What are they afraid of?

Claude:I think the bail is set high as part of the state's criminalization of them - the same reason they are brought into the public courtroom in chains and shackles.

Ron: How has the response of the public been--in San Francisco? How about the rest of the country? The world?

Claude: Support is growing tremendously - as people find out about the case they are outraged that such enormous resources are being expended to prosecute these elder of the Black community. National and now international showings of "Legacy..." along with our efforts to speak widely about the case are responsible for a much broader movement being built.

Ron: Most observers agree that this case is (as the SF 8 said in their May 19, 2007 statement) "a continuation of COINTELPRO." Can you explain how and why this is so?

Claude: The prosecution is designed to re-criminalize resistance to a repressive and racist state. The conditions that led to demands for self-determination and an end to police & government violence against the Black community, that led to the ten-point platform of the Black Panther Party and the creation of community programs, still exist. The fact that more Black people are in prison than in higher education, that poverty levels are unrivaled, that the future for Black and Brown children is so bleak makes the politics of these men and the movements they helped lead even more urgent today. The state wants to warn people that resistance to colonialism and empire is futile or comes at a very high price.

COINTELPRO's goals and practice are not only much the same under Homeland Security and The Patriot Act - but are unencumbered by a political climate that took outrage at violations of civil and human rights in the 1970s when a Congressional investigation declared illegal the FBI led program. Today, the government, state and federal, act with impunity as long as they use the 'T' word. The evidence in this case - still based on the torture and brutality of police interrogators against some of these men - is now being put forth as acceptable - torture having been re-defined and also justified in the Guantanamos and Abu Ghraibs and Atticas...and the jails of New Orleans.


Ron: Also, what do you all make of the recent release of the CIA documents (the so-called Family jewels)? I read a writer somewhere making the point that the release was timed to turn our attention away from the current doings of the government and its secret police. What's your take on that?

Claude: The current regime is worse, and feeling emboldened by numbed public opinion. It is up to us to marshal the community outrage and build a movement that rejects the sense of government impunity - a movement that forces the dropping of these charges and a release of these 8 men - including the long overdue release of Jalil Muntaqim and Herman Bell who are parole eligible and have lived more than half their lives in prison behind COINTELPRO prosecutions.

Ron: In recent months, several environmental activists have been jailed for their supposed involvement in arson and other such actions against various corporate and research facilities. Without getting into the logic behind these actions and their effect, do you believe the government's pursuit and prosecution of these activists is related at all to the government's insistence on prosecuting the SF 8?

Claude: The so-called justice department wants to smash any and all dissent and has for years targeted the environmental and animal rights movements to make their resistance costly. The sentencing of Jeff 'Free' Luers to almost 28 years for property crimes by an Oregon Judge who stated that Free was being made an example to discourage the building of a movement was the opening parry of the 'Green Scare.' Yes, this is part of creating a chilling effect on dissent and a repressive atmosphere that selectively labels people terrorists to suit the goals of an extreme right-wing agenda.

Ron: These folks have received some pretty stiff penalties because the prosecution has been able to portray them as "terrorists." What do you think this means in the long term for the SF 8 and for political activism of any sort?

Claude: The SF 8 will prevail because the legal case is weak and the political movement will expose the torture-induced statements and build sizeable community-based outrage at these prosecutions.

Ron: Back to the SF 8. When is the next bail reduction hearing? After that, what's next?

Claude: Bail hearings resume August 6th. Other motions will address matters like the 30+ year delay when there is no new evidence, lost evidence, as well as the unnecessary chaining and shackling of these men in court.

Ron: How can the readers support the defense? Are there buttons and bumperstickers? What about speaking engagements? And personal support for the brothers in jail?

Claude: For a list of what you can do to stay informed and contribute to building a support movement in your community check out this site

7/26 Letter from Daniel McGowan

July 26, 2007

I'm pretty convinced at this point, nearly 20 months after my arrest, that I am incredibly lucky to have the best support network I have ever seen, the aptly named Family and Friends of Daniel McGowan. No offense is meant to any other defendant (or prisoner) support group, but I've only experienced the love and support of my crew. That intense support - moral, legal, financial and otherwise - has made all the difference to me and it's why I write today with acceptance of my current situation and with clear conscience. Ok, maybe not full acceptance - I mean, I still have eyes and ears and can see what is going on in America's prisons.

I can remember a conversation I had in early January 2006 with my wife jenny. I was in Lane County Jail in Oregon and my bail hearing was a few weeks off but she told me, "We put a website up for you - supportdaniel.org." That news helped sustain me through my 23 hour lockdowns knowing my friends had my back and the country would soon hear about the Green Scare being promoted by the good ol' US of A. To name or attempt to list the many things my support network has done would be a failure. The list is too long and surely I would forget many things. More than things I could list are the intangibles - the subtle and not-so-subtle hints - "Either way, we got your back", "I don't care if you did it or not", "We'll be here to the end". Most recently, I've had people remind me they will be there with a hug the day I walk out of these prisons.

This will sound cliché, and it is, but maybe that's a sign you are doing something right. Mail call is my favorite time of the day! You've heard this before, maybe from Josh Harper, Peter Young or Jeff Free Luers and others. Since I've been here at MDC, I have been embarrassed (in a good way) over and over, each and every day by the insane amount of mail, books and magazines I get. It keeps me reading for hours and although I cannot write people back right now, I at least have a mountain of mail to chip away at. I get this mail because my support network sends out countless bulletins on my list, myspace, IMCs, etc and has printed over 250,000 flyers with my mug on it and because my wife works her ass off on my website. I could go on forever praising people but it can never fully express how thankful I am for all of the support. Solidarity is what makes this term on the "disabled list" doable. (sorry for the sports reference - I stole that one from a friend.)

As always, please keep my codefendants Sadie (statename Joyanna Zacher), Exile (statename Nathan Block) and Jonathan Paul (set to be sentenced in early August) on your mind and in your hearts. All of us are or will be in federal transport soon - a very stressful and chaotic affair.

Finally, I've read a few good books lately and highly recommend them:

Dam Nation: Dispatches from the Water Underground by Cleo Woelfle-Erskine (Editor), Laura Allen (Editor), and July Oskar Cole (Editor) (2007). This anthology of writings on water range from dam removal, international water struggles and Manifest Destiny to grey water system construction. This book made me long for the outside where I could set up a grey water system in my own backyard. Published by Soft Skull Press and available there or through AK Press.

The Fight in the Fields: César Chávez and the Farmworkers Movement by Susan Ferriss (Author), Ricardo Sandoval (Author), Diana Hembree (Author). I was so hopelessly ignorant of the plight of farmworkers in California before reading this excellent book. I still am but realize there is a tremendous amount to learn from this hard-working and fairly successful movement. It also made me think a lot about the recent campaigns against Taco Bell and Burger King by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Florida.

Love and rage,

Daniel McGowan

Daniel McGowan is an environmental and social justice activist. He was charged in federal court on many counts of arson, property destruction and conspiracy, all relating to two incidents in Oregon in 2001. Until recently, Daniel was offered two choices by the government: cooperate by informing on other people, or go to trial and face life in prison. His only real option was to plead not guilty until he could reach a resolution of the case that permitted him to honor his principles. As a result of months of litigation and negotiation, Daniel was able to admit to his role in these two incidents, while not implicating or identifying any other people who might have been involved. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison on June 4, 2007 and began serving his time on July 2, 2007.

Current address for Romaine Chip Fitzgerald

We have received a letter from Chip, so we now have his current address. His new address is the following:

Romaine 'Chip' Fitzgerald B-27527
FC-2-110
PO Box 921
Imperial, CA 92251

We have no current news as to when his parole hearing will be scheduled again. We ask everyone to stay updated on his situation and support his parole campaign when he has a new date.

Please keep updated by reviewing our Chip Freedom Campaign at:
http://www.abcf.net/la/laabcf.asp?page=lachip1

Corrected Birthday List for August

August

BILL DUNNE
10916-086 / P.O. Box 2068
Inez, KY 41224
USP Big Sandy
August 3

DEBBIE SIMS AFRICA
OO6307 / 451 Fullerton Ave
Cambridge Springs, PA 16403-1238
August 04, 1956

OJORE NURU LUTALO
59860 / PO 861
SBI# 0000901548
Trenton, NJ 08625
August 6th

DR. MUTULU SHAKUR
83205-012
P.O. Box 8500
Florence, CO 81226
Florence ADMAX
August 8, 1950

ANDREW STEPANIAN
26399-050 / Box 1500
Butner, NC 27509
FCI Butner Medium II
August 8

RENE GONZALEZ
58738-004
FCI Marianna P.O. Box 7007
Marianna, FL 32447-7007
August 13, 1956

HANIF SHABAZZ BEY
#295933
P.O. Box 860
Oakwood, Virginia 24631
Keen Mountain Correctional Center
August 16, 1950

RUBEN CAMPA
#58733-004/ Box 1000
Oxford WI 53952-0505
F.C.I. Oxford
August 18, 1963

RUSSELL MAROON SHOATS
AF-3855
175 Proggress Dr.
Waynesburg, PA 15370
August 23, 1943

Of 'White Trees', Black Boys and Jena, Louisiana

[col. writ. 7/21/07] (c) '07 Mumia Abu-Jamal

If you asked me two weeks ago if I've ever heard the name of a little town in Louisiana called 'Jena', I would've drawn a blank.

Jena? Never heard of it.

It made me think of the ill-fated Palestinian village called Janin, that Israel crushed into oblivion several years ago.

I think the incumbent president's daughter has that name (with and additional 'n').

But, that's it.

When a friend sent me several internet articles about recent events there, I was, quite frankly, flabbergasted.

I was astonished to learn that today, in the first decade of the 21st century, in Jena High School, there is still a 'white tree', called that not because the leaves are white, but because it is a generous giver of shade, and only white students sit under it.

In Sept. 2006, a young student named Kenneth Purvis asked the school principal for permission to sit under the 'white tree.' The principal answered that he could sit where he liked.

So, they did.

The next day, the 'white tree' was festooned with three nooses, in school colors.

In the South (or the North, for that matter), nooses have one clear meaning -- they are threats of death.

People naturally got riled up, angry, or scared.

Jena's High School principal looked into the matter, found the three white students responsible, and recommended that they be expelled.

The school superintendent felt otherwise, rescinded the expulsion, and instead recommended a 3 - day suspension. Speaking to the Chicago Tribune, the superintendent said, " Adolescents play pranks. I don't think it was a threat against anybody."

(Perhaps he meant anybody important - or white)

For Jena's Black community, this was but the latest slap in the face.

Black students at the high school decided to resist by holding a sit-in under the 'white tree' to protest the light suspensions given to the 3 white noose-hangers.

When word got out about the pending sit-in, the local DA came to a Jena school assembly, with several cops to threaten the students who dared to think they could do what people did some 40 years ago throughout the South (before the so-called 'New South'). He told them if they didn't stop making a fuss about this 'prank' he could be "your worst enemy." To make the point plain, he told the teen gathering, " I can take away your lives with a stroke of a pen."

Several days later, a white Jena student, who reportedly made racist taunts, including calling Black students 'niggers', got knocked down, punched and kicked. The boy was taken to the hospital, treated and released. That very night, he was well enough to attend a public event.

Within days six Black Jena students were arrested and charged with attempted second degree murder. All six were also immediately expelled.

The 6 teens were given bails set from $70,000 to $139,000.

Bail at these ranges could've just as easily been set at $1 million, for they were at rates that none of the local parents could afford. That meant, of course, that all of the accused were held in jail for months, awaiting trial.

And if money for bail was out of reach, what about money for attorneys?

Again -- out of the question.

That meant that public defenders were appointed by the court.

For one of the accused, Mychal Bell, this meant little better than no counsel at all, for his trial was soon decided by an all-white jury, who promptly convicted him of aggravated second degree assault, battery and conspiracy.

Bell now awaits sentencing which may put the teenager in prison for the next 22 years.

The public defender never challenged the all-white jury pool, put on no evidence, and didn't call a single defense witness.

The law of aggravated assault requires the use of a deadly weapon. What was the weapon?

Tennis shoes.

Families and friends of the Jena 6 are organizing against this case, and are also being threatened by the local establishment. One woman told Louisiana ACLU member, Tory Pegram, "We have to convince more people to come rally with us.....What's the worse that could happen? They fire us from our jobs? We have the worst jobs in the town anyway. They burn a cross on our lawns or burn down my house? All of that has happened to us before. We have to keep speaking out to make sure it doesn't happen to us again, or our children will never be safe."

To contact the Jena 6 Defense Committee, write:

P.O. Box 2798

Jena, Louisiana 71342

Or on the web: jena6defense@gmail.com.

--(c) '07 maj

[Sources: Quigley, Bill, "Injustice in Jena: Black Nooses Hanging From the 'White' Tree", July 3, '07; Quigley@loyana.edu.; Mangold, Tom, " 'Stealth racism' stalks deep South", BBC News, 5/24/07 online]