Jena Six Protest in Louisiana

Nation & World News

Jena Six Protest in Louisiana

Hundreds are expected to descend on the small town of Jena, La., to protest perceived racial bias in the prosecution of six teens charged in a school beating.

Radio personality Michael Baisden (second from left) walks with Rev. Al Sharpton and Melissa Bell, mother of Mychal Bell (right) behind two Louisiana State Troopers during a march in support of the "Jena Six" in Jena.

Loris Boyd, of Marietta, makes signs before a march on Thursday in Jena, La.

Protesters march up First Street in Jena, La. With thousands of protesters expected to march through this tiny central Louisiana town the schools in Jena will be closed and many businesses in the town of 3,500 also say they will shut down, concerned about whether the march will remain peaceful.

Andrea Blalock, left, checks out a shirt for her husband Thomas Blalock, both from Stockbridge, as they prepare for a march in support of the Jena 6 in Jena, La., Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007. Hundreds of people dressed in black, from college students to veterans of the civil rights movements, boarded buses bound for Jena and a rally Thursday in support of six black teenagers who were initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate.

Louisiana State Police and other law enforcement officers arrive at the LaSalle Parish Courthouse in preparation for a march in support of the Jena 6 in Jena, La., on Thursday. Students from schools across the country -- including historically black colleges like Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Howard University, Hampton University and Southern University -- were en route to Jena on Wednesday.

Rev. Al Sharpton gestures while speaking outside of the La Salle Parish Courthouse.

A woman carries a picture of Martin Luther King Jr., during a march and rally in support of the "Jena Six" in Jena.

The LaSalle court house is seen in Jena, Louisiana, U.S, on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007.

Members of The Black Panthers gather for a photo outside the LaSalle Parish court house in Jena on Wednesday. Thousands of protestors are expected to descend on the small town of Jena to protest the perceived unfair treatment of six black students charged in the beating of a white student last fall.

The president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Charles Steele Jr. speaks outside the LaSalle Parish court house in Jena, Louisiana, U.S, on Wednesday.

The site of the Jena 6 incident is seen at Jena High school in Jena, Louisiana, U.S, on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. Thousands of protestors are expected to descend on the small town of Jena tomorrow to protest the perceived unfair treatment of six black students charged in the beating of a white student last fall. The incident was precipitated when white students hung nooses on a tree outside the school a day after two black students sat under the "white tree" on the school's campus.

A sign for the town of Jena is seen in Jena, Louisiana, U.S, on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. Thousands of protestors are expected to descend on the small town of Jena tomorrow to protest the perceived unfair treatment of six black students charged in the beating of a white student last fall. The incident was precipitated when white students hung nooses on a tree outside the school a day after two black students sat under the "white tree" on the school's campus.

Protestors from Atlanta arrive for a rally Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007 in Jena, La. Hundreds of people dressed in black, from college students to veterans of the civil rights movements, boarded buses bound for Jena and a rally Thursday in support of six black teenagers who were initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate.

Melissa Bell (center) wipes her eyes as Rev. Al Sharpton, left speaks before a march in support of the Jena Six in Jena. Behind her is Bryant Purvis (center) and Carwin Jones (right), two of the Jena Six.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference president Charles Steele, Jr. conducts a press conference in front of the La Salle Parish Courthouse in Jena.

Reverend Al Sharpton (right) peeks over the shoulder of a Louisiana State Police officer as he and other demonstrators march from the LaSalle parish courthouse to Jena High School.

People hold signs during a rally in front of the LaSalle Parish Courthouse before a march in support of the "Jena Six" in Jena, La. Thousands of chanting demonstrators filled the streets of the town in support of six black teenagers initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate. The six teens were charged about three months after three white teens hung nooses in a tree on their high school.

Protesters gather outside the La Salle Courthouse on Thursday.

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Radio personality Michael Baisden (second from left) walks with Rev. Al Sharpton and Melissa Bell, mother of Mychal Bell (right) behind two Louisiana State Troopers during a march in support of the "Jena Six" in Jena.

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