By Taylor Davis and Elizabeth Middlebrooks
More than 200 students turned out in support of the “Jena 6” Thursday toting signs that declared “Racism still exists” and “Free the Jena 6.”
“People out here are dedicated to this cause,” said Are You MAD? Founder Hamida Labi. “They’ve done all they had to do, school-wise, and come right back out here to show their support.”
Labi, a junior, helped coordinate the West End Avenue protest and was the first student to arrive outside Carmichael Towers East Thursday morning.
A group of Vanderbilt and Fisk students coordinated the rally in support of the “Jena 6,” a group of black high school students in Jena, La., who are facing trial for assault after a 2006 fight.
Protestors call the charges and trail unfair due to the “racism (that) is alive and well” in Jena, according to an informational flier.
Several organizations sponsored the protest, including the Black Student Alliance, Are You MAD?, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and Fisk's Women of Perfection, among others.
Rallies took place around the country in support of the six teens, drawing more than 10,000 protestors to Jena, La.
Students dressed in all black for the rally from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Several cars honked their horns to show support of the “Jena 6,” and the group of students received several donations of money, water and pizza from community members.
But the afternoon did not pass without controversy.
“A car, a truck, drove by and threw out a bunch of cards in front of the group of students,” said junior Charles Stanley Jr. “The students went over to see what the cards were and they were KKK business cards. Also, a few guys with Swastika tattoos drove by and recorded us with their phones and gave us the thumbs down.”
Senior Dominique Harris, who got involved with supporting “Jena 6” through the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, said, “This rally should be an event for people of all races and ages to show their support and raise awareness of this issue.”
Junior Stephanie Harris, who participated in the rally on and off all day, said she has been passionate about this issue since she learned about the incident from watching the news over the summer.
“This is such a big crime of injustice that you can’t help but get involved,” Harris said.
For more, see Our View
