The only one of the “Jena 6″ to be convicted, Mychal Bell, remains behind bars tonight, despite the fact that the conviction had been overturned. Lawyers for Bell requested that he be freed while an appeal is being reviewed.
Last week, an appeals judged overturned the conviction for aggravated second-degree battery when he determined that Bell should not have been tried as an adult. Bell was 16 at the time of the beating.
The judge in this case stated that Bell’s juvenile record, which includes two simple battery charges, was the justification for his $90,000 bail.
Participants in the Thursday rally at Jena stated that they expected this outcome and, therefore, continued on with plans for the rally, despite the conviction being overturned last week. It is believed that as many as 20,000 people showed up to protest in a town whose population is some 3,000.
In the end, people are not asking for these young men to get away with a crime. We are just asking that they face the same punishment that white kids would receive in that community under the same circumstances.
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