It's not over yet!

Funds Raised for Jena Six Defense Covering Legal Fees, but Monies Drying Up, Activists Say source



As thousands rallied in a Jena, Louisiana ballpark on Sept. 20 to support six black youths facing stiff charges for fighting a white school mate, realtor Robert Clark climbed atop his recreational vehicle with a public address system and went to work raising money.

“I was looking at all the slogans -- ‘Free Mychal Bell’ and ‘Free the Jena Six,’” Clark told BlackAmericaWeb.com. “I said we can raise enough to free Mychal Bell right now if everyone puts in $2.”

His goal was to raise about $10,000 to bail Bell out of jail. He ended up raising about $27,000, with the first contribution of 500 $1 bills coming from a Monroe, Louisiana motorcycle rider. A Louisiana doctor paid Bell’s bail. The money raised by Clark was handed over to Louis Scott, the lead attorney for Bell.

In the weeks since thousands flooded the tiny Louisiana town calling for equal justice, groups raising funds for the defense say the inward flow of money has tapered off.

The Color of Change, a California-based group that began accepting contributions for the Jena Six's defense early in the case, reported raising about $230,000 to help pay lawyers and court expenses. To date, $170,000 has been paid, said James Rucker, executive director of Color of Change. Lawyers representing five of the six youths have received money. The organization is awaiting invoices from a sixth attorney, Rucker said.

“The fund was building and building, then it peaked just after Sept. 20,” Rucker told BlackAmericaWeb.com. “After a week or so, it slowed down.”

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Family, we need to look into this. I'll research an address, email or something so that we may continue to send money for Jena 6. If we don't do something, no one else will.