Technician Online

Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Sequoia Ireland

Approximately 400 students from four different schools in North Carolina marched single file through downtown Raleigh Thursday in support of six black high school students in Jena, La., who were charged with attempted second-degree murder after beating a white student.

The attack came after several white students at the high school hung nooses on a tree on the school grounds.

"Justice, Equality, Now, Always" is what Jena should stand for from this day forward, Rev. William Barber, president of the NAACP of North Carolina, said during the rally.

Along with N.C. State students at the rally were Shaw University, North Carolina Central and Elizabeth City State students.

Kevin Hicks, senior in meteorology, said the demonstration was important to create a stand against injustice.

"It's sad that in the 21st century that we've got to deal with blatant racism," he said. "The punishment didn't fit the crime, this whole entire situation is ridiculous."

The march went from the Shaw University chapel to the gymnasium in a route around the perimeter of campus to maximize visibility of large roads. Onlookers in vehicles honked horns, some residents from the local area rooted for the Jena Six. Demonstrators rooted chants such as "Not one, not two…not five, but six," "Free Jena Six" and "Justice, Equality, Now, Always."

Hicks said what happened in Louisiana is an injustice to all people regardless of race.

"It's really nice to see people across campus participating in something like this, either wearing all black or telling people about the travesty," he said.

Arlene Ensley, vice president of the NAACP at Shaw University, said so many people have fought for civil rights and it is unrighteous to violate those rights.

"The Jena Six case is a case where we will definitely see the integrity of our United States of America, the integrity we so claim to have," Ensley said.

Student development coordinator at Shaw University and junior in English education Jarel Johnson said socially conscious students at Shaw felt it was their personal responsibility to protest the punishment of the Jena Six.

"This movement being sparked by young people from different campuses no matter what race, color or background that it may be signifies that we're standing up for justice," Johnson said.

Ensley said it is the responsibility of public officials to ensure that individual civil rights are not infringed and that it is the responsibility of the public to hold officials accountable for their actions.

Denita Denny, a senior in Africana studies, said it is important to remember that the issue isn't necessarily about the violence that occurred, but that there was not equal and fair treatment between the two races.

"For me to be able to see the movement, to hear the voices of encouragement and also be in the street united shoulder-to-shoulder and hear people beep there horns as they go by -- it reminded me…to be aware of what's going on," Denny said.

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