More BS From Jena

Below is a message that a friend of mine has posted, regarding a country music station in Jena, LA and an incident that allegedly occurred the morning of the march. I don't know if it's true or not, because I haven't been able to find any word on it elsewhere, but if it is, please send me what you have, so I can read up on it. I did e-mail the station as a precautionary measure, however. You can read it below, after the links and e-mail addresses.

TM

Racist "Watermelon" Remark from KLAA
FM 103.5 Radio Station

The incident occurred on their morning show the morning of the Jena 6 Protest March.
A radio station broadcaster in JENA on 103.5 KLAA a country station - said "the only business that will succeed today will be a "watermelon stand" as he and the others chuckled."

Everyone please email or call and complain about the Racist Remarks
on the Thursday Morning Show (9/20/07).

Here's the station information:

KLAA – FM 103.5
"Louisiana Country"
Opus Broadcasting of Alexandria, LLC
92 West Shamrock Street
Pineville, LA 71360
Ph: (318) 487-1035
Fax: (318) 487-4419

Email: MCarson@opusbroadcasting.com
Website: http://www.la103.com/home.php

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To whom it may concern,

I have been hearing that one of your broadcasters made a racial comment about black people on the air on the morning on September 20. Words to the effect of "all black people love watermelon."

Now, I don't know if this is true, because, being black, I'm allergic to country music. I have no way to verify this as of yet, but it's merely a matter of time before I, or someone with a much bigger mouth, does verify it.

You know what was said that morning, so you (or whoever is in charge there) needs to do what you know is right: Fire that person. Racially speaking, this simply isn't the time for people to be making comments such as these. I have no problem with the person in question being a racist, because everyone has a right to be ignorant, but he doesn't need to be on the air if he's going to espouse such views about black people at such a tense time.

I don't want an apology, because you and I both know that he won't mean it.

Now, if I am mistaken, then by all means, accept my apology for making such accusations. It is a sincere apology, because I, unlike the white power structure in Jena, am able to accept when I have wronged someone and am not afraid to make it right. But if this did happen, you know what you need to do. I'm sure you don't want your town overrun with black people again, because it's obvious that you don't like us down there. Why would you risk inciting black people and making us come back down there AGAIN?

Thank you for your time.

Thad Martin
Stone Mountain, GA

An Overview of September 20

Yesterday, the Jena 6 Rally went off without a hitch. I haven't heard any news about black people acting up, which really makes me feel good. I wish I could say the same about everybody.

I spent a good portion of the day defending the Jena 6 from white people who didn't seem to understand what the big deal was. They made points that basically said "it's not like these boys didn't commit a crime. Just because nooses were hung doesn't mean that they should beat up white people." And that would be a valid point if that's what was going on.

After informing these people that we also believe they deserve punishment, just not punishment that compares to what murderers and rapists get, I had to stress the chain of events that led to this boy getting his eye swollen. I had to stress the meaning of a noose in our society. White people don't understand this because there is no white equivalent to the noose, or the Klan robes, the burning cross, or the word "nigger." You say you understand, but you don't really understand. Nothing like that has ever happened to you. Your race has never been made to feel like outsiders in the land of their birth. I can't expect you to understand, but I can expect you to understand this: You can't believe that black people are always going to be civil when there are white people constantly harassing and attacking them. It's easy to judge us for reacting when it's never happened to you.

Having said that, I was proud of my people for showing their restraint when two white teens decided to drive around Alexandria, LA last night with nooses hanging from the back of their truck. An estimated 200 people stood by and watched these boys get arrested, most of whom were black. It would have been very easy for someone to throw something at that truck, get those white boys out and beat them until they loved black people. Again, that wasn't a "youthful prank." There was a set of brass knuckles in the truck and they were trying to start trouble. It would have been nice for them to find it.

It was later revealed that the driver said that he and his family are members of the Ku Klux Klan. Time will tell if any of the charges against this boy stand.

Other than that, the day seemed to go well. Well, not 100% well.

Fox News managed to not know about anything that was going on in Louisiana. I personally monitored their coverage and Jena didn't get a single mention until 6:10 PM. CNN talked about it, but even their coverage wasn't perfect. They referred to the boys as the "So-Called Jena 6." None of the speeches were televised during the day, and the stories were told mostly through the eyes of the white reporters. Tony Harris was there, but he wasn't allowed to say what he REALLY thought about anything. He wasn't even allowed to wear all black until after his anchoring duties were done for the day.

As a result, I e-mailed both Fox News and CNN to let them know what I thought. I suggest you do the same. I also e-mailed Fox News pundit Armstrong Williams to get his comments on Fox News' apparent lack of concern for his people. I have yet to receive a response. I'm almost hoping he'll come at me wrong, because I've been itching to call someone a "boot-licking Uncle Tom" lately.

I'll bet if we were Mexican, Fox News would have covered it.

And of course, there was President Bush's press conference that happened at the same time the rally coverage was getting going. Some people might think it was a coincidence, but being a disciple of "Conspiracy Brother," I believe it was done on purpose. Doesn't the President normally do things like this on Wednesday nights, not Thursday mornings?

But all in all, the day went well. Like I said, no incidents (except the one perpetrated by a white person), no embarrassments (I don't remember Jesse getting much TV time), and I did see a lot of black people wearing black. I don't know how many of them were wearing it out of protest and how many just dressed in the dark, but there was a good number of black people supporting the Jena 6, even if it was by accident. In other news, I met Dominique Wilkins in the post office, and he wasn't one of them. For shame, 'Nique. I would have told you as much if I wasn't trying to keep myself from telling you stories about how I still hate Pete Babcock.

Just a few words about the rally in Jena

Peace and blessings to everyone in Jena.

Today is the day and I wish I could be there with everyone else.

I hope everyone down there stays safe and I hope that the entrenched white establishment there (and its supporters) don't do anything stupid.

Let me stress this, white people: Bull Connor is dead.

Black people, from what I've seen and heard, you are representing us well. Let the new movement begin.

And a special shout-out to Fox News, who apparently has declined to cover this story, instead choosing to focus on the world-shaking story of the cop who shocked a white woman with a taser outside of a club, and of course, O.J. Also, a shout-out to CNN, who chose to refer to the Jena 6 as the "So-Called Jena 6" in their coverage this morning. That's mighty white of both of you.

Shout-out to President Bush, whose press conference just so happened to coincide with the rally. It is Thursday morning. Doesn't he normally do these things on Wednesday night?

A few words for Jesse Jackson: Just stop, brother. Now is not the time. You know what I'm talking about.

To the people around the country who just don't understand what the big deal is: Hanging nooses is NOT FUNNY. White people beating up on black people should also be arrested, but they weren't. It's a crime to point a shotgun at people. You don't have a leg to stand on.

I hope everyone down there stays safe.

TM

A Show of Support for the Jena 6

As part of the case against the Jena 6, it was alleged that the sneakers that the boys were wearing could be considered a “dangerous weapon,” because as we know, rubber soles have a long and wholly imagined history of causing severe head trauma. This was the reason why the charges brought included “aggravated battery.”

On September 20, 2007, black people are going down to Jena to protest this sham of a judicial system. Now, we all can’t go, because everybody doesn’t have money like that. I, personally, do not have a job, so there’s no way I can make the trip. But I want to show support for the Jena 6. Yelling about it in my blog isn’t enough.

On the Michael Baisden show, he had a caller (Shanelle, I believe was her name) suggest a way to mock the judiciary down there: She suggested taking shoes down to the police department in Jena and turn them in as “dangerous weapons.”

I thought it was a brilliant way to show support for the Jena 6 as well as give a “f-you” to the police department, the district attorney, and basically the entire local government of Jena. So that’s what I’ve decided to do. I’m sending about four pairs of sneakers to the District Attorney’s P.O. Box with the following note enclosed: “Just wanted to help you get these ‘dangerous weapons’ off the street.

At the very least, I’ll mildly irritate this man. And it’s funny to me.

If you want to show support for the Jena 6, but don’t have the resources to get down there on the 20^th, then send a pair of sneakers to the following address:

Mr. Reed Walters, District Attorney
28th Judicial District Attorney’s Office
P.O. Box 1940
Jena, La. 71342

Spread the word and if you know anyone else who might be interested, please pass along this information.

Thanks for reading and Support the Jena 6!

TM