September 21, 2007
“The denial of bail for Mychal Bell is yet another outrage in a case that has been a travesty of justice. This is another example of the institutional racism in our criminal justice system, and it is unacceptable. As I said before, if we are ever to overcome the tragic legacy of racism in this nation, we have a duty to our young people to see to it that the principle of equal justice is upheld, and in this case, at the very least that means allowing Mychal Bell should be out on bail so that he can be with his family.”
Barbara Lee Condemns Denial of Bail in Jena Six Case
(Oakland, CA) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement in response to the news that a Louisiana judge denied bail Friday for Mychal Bell, the only one of the “Jena six” teens who is jailed in the beating of a white classmate:“The denial of bail for Mychal Bell is yet another outrage in a case that has been a travesty of justice. This is another example of the institutional racism in our criminal justice system, and it is unacceptable. As I said before, if we are ever to overcome the tragic legacy of racism in this nation, we have a duty to our young people to see to it that the principle of equal justice is upheld, and in this case, at the very least that means allowing Mychal Bell should be out on bail so that he can be with his family.”
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