Vol. 71/No. 39      October 22, 2007

“They are a symbol of the lynch-mob terror unleashed to smash gains won by freed slaves and other working people through Radical Reconstruction and recall decades of racist violence during Jim Crow,” she said.

DeLuca spoke at the forum, titled “Justice for the Jena 6,” together with James Carey, chairman of the Elizabeth, New Jersey, chapter of the People’s Organization for Progress.

The Jena Six are Black high school students initially indicted on attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy charges for assaulting a white student in December 2006. The first to come to trial, Mychal Bell, 16 at the time, was charged as an adult. He was convicted June 28 by an all-white jury on the reduced charge of aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit the act. A state appeals court overturned his conviction September 14, ruling that he should not have been tried as an adult. Held two more weeks nonetheless, Bell was released on bail September 27 after 10 months in jail.

The indictments came in the context of a charged atmosphere at the high school and in Jena.

At an Aug. 31, 2006, school assembly a Black student asked if Black students could sit under a tree called the “white tree.” The principal said yes, and Black students sat under it. The next day nooses were hanging from the tree.

Three white students who hung the nooses were recommended for expulsion, but the school superintendent and parish district attorney overturned the decision, calling the matter “a harmless prank.” The students received two weeks in-school suspension. On December 1 a Black student, Robert Bailey Jr., was assaulted by a white student at a party. The white student received probation for simple assault.

Reacting to the unequal justice at the hands of the courts, cops, and school administration, family and friends of the six indicted students formed the Jena 6 Defense Committee. The case has won support around the country. On September 20, tens of thousands converged on Jena to demand justice. Rallies were held in dozens of other cities.

Both DeLuca and Carey participated in the Jena march. They said they were struck by the pride and confidence of those protesting. “I was elated to be a part and felt like we were making history,” Carey said.

“From Radical Reconstruction, to the mass civil rights movement that overthrew Jim Crow and inspired the fights against the war in Vietnam and for women’s rights; the fight against racism during World War II; and the efforts to build trade unions, workers who are Black have historically been in the vanguard in the U.S. class struggle,” DeLuca said. “Today Blacks face deeply entrenched racist treatment under capitalism—discrimination required by the profit system to keep workers divided and worsen wages, job conditions, and living standards of all working people.

“The bosses depend on these divisions among workers so we fight each other instead of our common enemy and oppressor,” she said.

DeLuca noted that there were some immigrant workers at the September 20 march, and they received a warm welcome.

“One white woman was in her yard with a ‘Free the Jena 6’ T-shirt on,” said Carey. “She explained to us that the town is segregated.”

“We should look to the example of Cuba, where since the socialist revolution they’ve combated racist and sexist oppression and continue to work against vestiges of these attitudes today,” said DeLuca. “We need a revolution here to open the road to defeat racism and build a society based on human solidarity and dignity.”

A lively discussion followed the presentations.

“Is there a basis for any charges against the Jena Six?” was the first question. “Some people say there should be, since a white student was beaten up. But I think all charges should be dropped,” said the audience member.

“I think the punishment didn’t fit the crime,” said Carey.

“Knocking out someone from behind and kicking him is not a defensible act,” another participant said. “That has nothing to do with the right of self-defense against racist violence practiced by Black rights and working class fighters like Malcolm X, the Deacons for Defense, and Robert F. Williams.”

One forum attendee said he hated how the Democratic Party portrays itself today as being on the side of Blacks. He grew up in the South and said the Democratic politicians were the ones who enforced Jim Crow. “We called them the Dixiecrats, ” he said.

Carey and DeLuca urged everyone to continue getting out the facts on the case and organizing events to demand justice. “Since I returned I’ve been telling everyone about the trip,” Carey said.  
 
 
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