Jena 6 Myths

Michelle Malkin posted an editorial on her website today from the Christian Science Monitor that completely debunks the media's portrayal of the Jena 6 incident. And the myths that have pervaded the media are extreme and revealing. You can read the whole article here.

"The media got most of the basics wrong. In fact, I have never before witnessed such a disgrace in professional journalism. I should know. I live in Jena. My wife has taught at Jena High School for many years. And most important, I am probably the only reporter who has covered these events from the very beginning.The real story of Jena and the Jena 6 is quite different from what the national media presented. It’s time to set the record straight.

"Myth 1: The Whites-Only Tree. There has never been a “whites-only” tree at Jena High School.

"Myth 2: Nooses a Signal to Black Students. An investigation by school officials, police, and an FBI agent revealed the true motivation behind the placing of two nooses in the tree the day after the assembly. According to the expulsion committee, the crudely constructed nooses were not aimed at black students.

"Myth 3: Nooses Were a Hate Crime. Although many believe the three white students should have been prosecuted for a hate crime for hanging the nooses, the incident did not meet the legal criteria for a federal hate crime.

"Myth 7: The Schoolyard Fight. The event on Dec. 4, 2006 was consistently labeled a “schoolyard fight.” But witnesses described something much more horrific. Several black students, including those now known as the Jena 6, barricaded an exit to the school’s gym as they lay in wait for Justin Barker to exit. (It remains unclear why Mr. Barker was specifically targeted.)

"Myth 8: The Attack Is Linked to the Nooses. Nowhere in any of the evidence, including statements by witnesses and defendants, is there any reference to the noose incident that occurred three months prior. This was confirmed by the United States attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, Donald Washington, on numerous occasions."