MOS DEF SPARKS HIP HOP SUPPORT OF JENA SIX

Last week, Mos Def sent out a viral video calling for students to walk out of classrooms to protest the prosecution of the Jena Six, six black teens in Jena, La. who were initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate.

The rapper has been outspoken in his outrage over the Jena Six case, and was front and center at the march in Jena last month, as were fellow rapper Bun B of UGK and singer Lyfe Jennings. Ice Cube and T.I. are among the rappers who have supported the protest either morally or financially, reports AP.

"I don't know what motivated the prosecutors to do what they did but what's definitely evident to anybody who looks at the case is that he placed a bigger (punishment) upon the black man than he did upon anybody else was involved," Jennings told the Associated Press.

Soulja Boy, who has the No. 1 song in the country with "Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)," has also gone public with his feelings about the case.

"Right now with the situation going on with Jena Six, I got to pay my respects to them," says 17-year-old rapper. "When I was in high school there was a lot of fighting going on; I ain't never really seen nobody get the type of punishment they got, where the dude is trying to throw the book at them. I feel like that's not right, so I gotta send my respects out to those young dudes, and I hope everything go well with them and their families."

Mississippi rapper David Banner, who spoke out against censorship in hip hop during a recent Congressional hearing, decided not to attend last month's protest in Jena. Instead, he went on a radio tour to promote his album so he could spread the word about the case.

"I thought it would have been more powerful for me to get on the radio and talk about it, and drive people there and let people know what's going on than actually being there," said Banner. "We wanna be there to show face, but if you're actually more powerful at the capacity that you are, then you should do what you do."

Banner says he became involved because "it's so close to home.

"No. 2, there's a Jena Six that goes on in Mississippi every month — or every two months," he continued. "See that's the thing. America has a tendency to try to make things — single out things — as if this is a one-time occurrence. ... We have to stop acting like stuff don't exist."

According to the AP, the walkout planned by Mos Def was a collaborative effort among artists Talib Kweli, M1 of Dead Prez, Common and the activist groups the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Sankofa Community Empowerment, Change the Game and the National Hip Hop Political Convention.

"We will continue with these acts of civil protest until Mychal Bell's freedom, not only — but safety, is secured," Mos Def had said in a video last month publicizing the walkout.

Rappers Mos Def, Common, More Urge Walk Out In Protest Of Jena 6

By Nolan Strong

A number of rappers and activists will support Mos Def's call for a National Student Walk-Out today (Oct 1) in support of the Jena 6.


In addition to Mos Def, rappers Common, Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique, M1, Rep. Cynthia McKinney, Idris Elba, Pharoahe Monch, the Malcolm X Grassroots, the National Hip Hop Political Convention, The Hip Hop Association and student leaders from over 100 campuses will support the Jena 6 by walking out of class at 12:00 noon (Central time).

The rappers and activists are asking students to peacefully walk out of class and rally either on campus or at other designated areas, in protest of the case.

"This is the time for Black people to support the Jena 6, and call attention to the unequal treatment the criminal Justice system is dishing out not only in Jena Louisiana but across this nation," Mos Def said. "We all live in Jena. "

A list of demands created by the organizations will be read at each of the organized rallies around the country.

The group is calling for all charges against the Jena 6 to be dropped, to prevent Judge Mauffray from presiding over Bell's juvenile court hearings, that the Jena School District superintendent be removed from office and more.

The "Jena 6" are six black students who were charged with assaulting a white teenager at Jena High School in Jena, Louisiana after a series of racially motivated incidents.

The students were initially charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit attempted murder in connection with the December 4 beating of a white student.

The incident was the culmination of months of racial tension following a black Jena High School student’s request to the principal sit under an oak tree that was a frequent hang out for white students.

A day after the request, sat under the tree, three nooses were found hanging from the branches. Although the school’s principal recommended that those responsible for the nooses be expelled, the three white students were suspended for three days for the action, which was labeled as a "prank."

Soon after, Justin Barker, a white student, was jumped by a group of students who knocked him unconscious while stomping and kicking him.

Criminal charges were later directed towards the Jena 6, although the parents of the Jena 6 said they heard Barker was hurling racial epithets earlier.

On Thursday (September 27), Mychal Bell, the last of the "Jena 6" behind bars, was released from custody after a juvenile his bail was reduced to $45,000.

Over 15,000 demonstrators protested how the case was handled, claiming the black teens were being treated more harshly than the three white students who hung the nooses.