Resolutions
Justice In Jena WHEREAS, Jena, Louisiana, appears to have one form of justice for African-American children and another for white children with the perception that threats and blatant racial taunting are allowed by white children while African-American youth reacting to such hostility are arrested and charged with serious offenses; and WHEREAS, the implication of a “noose” hanging from a tree is a well-documented racist action with long-standing historical significance, given the hanging of Blacks throughout the region during the pre-civil rights era in America where African-Americans were denied justice, basic human rights and the right to live safely as members of a community; and WHEREAS, while local authorities in Jena appear to base their actions on the narrow circumstances presented in the student-on-student altercation rather than view the case in the historical context of racism in America and the inflammatory actions that served as a trigger against the African-American youth and the African-American community in Jena, in Louisiana and in America; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party goes on record condemning the racist action of taunting the African-American community with the display of a “noose in a tree,” and calls for a full federal investigation of this case, dropping the charges against these youths and overturning any convictions unless these youths are charged as juveniles, provided competent legal counsel and are tried in a jurisdiction outside of the greater Jena area; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party calls upon our Democratic leadership to use Jena as a vehicle to open up the dialogue about race in America and in the justice system with a goal toward improved racial understanding and tolerance. Submitted by Mark Hull-Richter, DSCC Member; Patrick Henry Democratic Club * * * Adopted by the Executive Board |
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
