Racial tension sparks debate among students

MEGAN PELLEGRINO COPY EDITOR MRP727@CABRINI EDU

GRAYCE TURNBACH A&E EDITOR GRT722@CABRINI EDU

“I can be your best friend or your worst enemy. I can take away your lives with a stroke of my pen,” Jena district attorney Reed Walters said, according to freethejena6.org.

In September 2006, a chain of events happened at Jena, La. leaving a small town of 3,000 in racial tension. Thousands stood up in pro- test including students from the Greater Philadelphia area. Cheyney and Temple University participated and petitioned the following chain of events.

Incident 1

African American students at Jena High School asked permission to sit under the “white tree,” outside the school where typically white students gathered. The next morning three nooses where found hanging from the “white” oak tree.

“Black students, it is reported, were initially delighted by the sight of nooses hanging from the tree… they stuck their heads through the loops, laughing and clowning. A good time was had by all,” Dr. Alan Bean, executive director of Friends for Justice, said.

The nooses were considered to be merely a prank by school officials and “light punishments” were given to the three white students.

Incident 2

Jena High School’s main academic building was burnt down. The crime to date remains unsolved. Some officials suspect it is link to arson and the actions are related to the ongoing racial tensions at Jena.

Incident 3

Tensions continue to

JENA, page 3