"We just learned that the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals has granted a writ filed by Mychel Bell’s legal team which vacates his conviction. The details are still sketchy, but it seems likely that Mychal will be able to bond out and return to the free world. I assure you that events like this only happen when the court of public opinion trumps the court of law. Friends of Justice is overjoyed for Mychal, his family, the other Jena 6 defendants and all the people who have worked so hard over the past nine months. We will have updates on this story as they become available."


Big step for justice! Woo!

Okay. This is an important entry, and I hope you all read it and consider the favour I'm going to ask.

Most of you know that my newest cause has to do with the Jena 6 in Louisiana. Those of you newest to my friends list might be a little lost, but if you want to know more, please ask. Suffice it to say that there is a travesty of justice taking place in Louisiana, based deeply in racism against six young men whose freedom hangs in the balance, all because of the colour of their skin.

One of these, Mychal Bell, has been convicted of aggravated assault for a schoolyard fight, and faces many years in prison, His sentencing is September 20 (my birthday, ironically enough). Well, this young man, who is 18 now, I believe, needs to feel support from people.

I received an address at which to write him as he waits in jail for the time to come when he'll find out what his future holds. I got this from ColorofChange.org, who asks that people send letters of support to him. He needs to feel this, and I think it will help him to know that so many people stand behind him and really care about what's happening to him. I just wrote a letter to him, and I'm asking that as many of you who can do the same. My heart goes out to him, and I would like to see him get as many letters/postcards/cards with words of support on them as possible. Even if it's only a short note that says something like "I'm behind you all the way," it will help. Maybe it'll bring a smile to his face. I'm sure smiles are few and far between with him these days.

So write to him if you can. Tell him that you care. Let's show him that we can all stand together against injustice and are there for him, if only in spirit.

Write to him here:

Mychal Bell
Inmate, A-Dorm
LaSalle Correctional Center
15976 Highway 165
Olla, LA 71465-4801

If you can do this, great, and thank you very much. It's important to me that I can do even a little part to help.


Cross-posted to betherevolution

I thought that you might all like an update on the Jena 6 trials in Louisiana. I joined a website for Friends of Justice and get updates on this all, and I'm going to share my recent e-mail. It definitely gives me hope! The more voices that are heard, the better the chances for these kids, so don't be silent! Please, pass it on and continue to pass it on.

A step that gives some encouragement and hope is that the "White Tree" at the school has been cut down and chopped into firewood, as you'll see in the e-mail.

I'm seriously wanting to go to another one of the protests in Jena. I really would love to do that.

You'll note farther down the e-mail that people have e-mailed the governor only to have a staffer reply that the governor can't do anything to help, what with the three branches of government being separate and all. I was one of those who wrote and got that reply, and frankly, it pisses me off. She could, at the very damn least, speak up and say something about the injustice, but she doesn't even seem to be able to do that. It's very disheartening, really.

( A step towards justice )

So please please please people, speak out! Pass this story on through your LJs, by word of mouth, e-mail, or however you can. Let's see if we can't force a little justice past the racism and get these kids a fair deal. It means a lot to me, and it should mean a lot to you, too.

x-posted to betherevolution