MYCHAL BELL IS RELEASED ON BAIL—FAR TOO LATE FOR A JUST AND SPEEDY TRIAL GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION
DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN JENA, LOUISIANA, REED WALTERS HAS NO CONCEPT OF JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE NEW TESTAMENT OR THE NATURE OF GOD IN CHRISTIANITY
The District Attorney of Jena, LA, Reed Walters who has prosecuted the Jena 6 has mishandled this case from the very beginning. I for one do not understand why Mychal Bell has been incarcerated for nine months without a trial.
At one point in our justice system does someone who has been charged, but not proven guilty go free on bond? And why would a seventeen year old, be a flight risk? And why would he be treated as an adult, other than the fact, the D. A. has the option open to him to treat any youthful offenders as adult, if he so chooses.
When there is a question of guilt or a question of circumstantial evidence surrounding the case, it would appear that the judicious answer for the D. A. would be to pursue a more cautious line against those charged.
If Mychal and his five friends are guilty, indeed, what is the typical sentence under juvenile law? Why was Mychal held in prison for nine months without a trial or to put it bluntly, why was he denied his constitutional right to a speedy, fair and impartial trial?
It is obvious that the good people of Jena have some heavy racial issues the community needs to confront. There is no excuse for six young black men to take justice in their own hands. There is even less need to be provoked by a group of white young men by hanging nooses in a tree on public property previously claimed by the white young men as their own turf. It isn’t the white men’s tree. It is on public property and is paid for by public funds.
None of this, however, addresses the issue of the D. A.’s behavior in this case. In particular, as a graduate of a certified theological seminary with a M. Div., I assure you that your statement relative to Jesus’s role in last week’s demonstrations is totally outside the basic teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. I believe in these matters Jesus was quite clear: “give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God those thing which are God’s.” He did not take sides in such matters as pertain to the law. Jesus does not lower his hand down into the affairs of men and prevent violence. It is the freedom of men and only the freedom of men that prevents violence.
He saw a specific delineation between His God and government. He never called for revolution except in the cold hearts of those who are racists, criminals, and those who do not practice the only specific laws he outlined, “Love God, and love your fellowman, as you love yourself.” The agape of the Cross is a self-giving love that expects nothing in return.
Jesus does not control marches of civil disobedience. One fool with a gun shooting aimlessly into the crowd would in no way be Jesus’s fault, or be indicative of Jesus presence or lack of presence.
It would be wise for Reed Walters to stay with his job of providing a fair and speedy trial for the six young black men who have been accused and to step aside so that the federal agents can find those guilty of hanging the dreadful nooses with all of the symbolism those horrible emblems of racial death engender hanging there in the tree that sits on public property in Jena, Louisiana.
6:53:40 PM 
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