Can’t find a lot of direct facts, lots of he said she said, though they all seem to agree on what the 2 perspectives are. Here are a couple of links
Link1
Wiki
But when the white superintendent and other school administrators investigated, they decided the nooses were a prank. Instead of expulsion or arrest, the three received in-school suspension.
That’s certainly more descriptive and neutral than, “chalked it up as a harmless prank”. I admit, an in-school suspension (versus out of school suspension) seems lenient (to say the least).
**Blacks called the punishment a double standard. **
They could say “too lenient” and I’d agree. However, if the white students beat the snot out of the black student that sat under the tree, and received a suspension versus police action … that would be a double standard.
Bailey was eventually charged with theft of a firearm, second-degree robbery and disturbing the peace. The white student who pulled the weapon was not charged at all.
Whoa. That’s interesting or telling depending on the facts/witnesses of the event.
The following Monday, Dec.4, a white student named Justin Barker was loudly bragging to friends in the school hallway that Robert Bailey had been whipped by a white man on Friday night. When Barker walked into the courtyard, he was attacked by a group of black students. The first punch knocked Barker out and he was kicked several times in the head. But the injuries turned out to be superficial. Barker was examined by doctors and released; he went out to a social function later that evening.
Six black students were arrested and charged with aggravated assault. But District Attorney Reed Walters increased the charges to attempted second-degree murder. That provoked a storm of black outrage.
Wow. Going by what’s presented here (and admittingly my interpretation), I can see why black residents are alarmed and concerned. The DA better be able to justify his actions, especially in light of other over-reactions we’ve recently seen by a certain DA.
The principal, the school superintendent and the district attorney all declined repeated calls for comment.
I would imagine that’s standard-procedure. Whatever you say can be cropped, edited, AND used against you (or you could incriminate yourself).
But he and many other white leaders agree that the charges are unfair.
And the plot thickens …
“Our town is not a bunch of bigots. They’re Christian, law-abiding citizens that wouldn’t mistreat anybody.”
Other than the three noose hangers and (at least) 6 fighters (and possibly the DA), of course. But other than the law breakers, the rest of the town is law-abiding. <–Grin
The first to go to court was Mychal Bell, the team’s star running and defensive back. Bell’s court-appointed lawyer refused to mount any defense at all, instead resting his case immediately after two days of government presentation.
A whole 'nother can of worms. Has this situation appeared on Law and Order yet?
A talented athlete, Bell had a real shot at a Division I football scholarship. He now faces up to 22 years in prison.
Don’t they know star athletes are suppossed to get preferential treatment not harsher penalties?
While it’s a common joke, I wonder where Jackson and Sharpton are? I ask b/c Jackson was all over a Decatur, IL incident where the black teens involved were legitmately guilty (including a 5th-year freshman) for starting a major fight in the stands and issuing beatdowns as if they were bags of popcorn.
Seriously, if the issue is as it is presented, you’d expect civil rights leaders to be all over this. Regardless, this issue/situation needs more attention … regardless of the towns size and/or geographic location.