The initial charges against the six are very serious, and may set a precedent for the rest of their lives. I tend to be in agreement with advocates for civil rights, in that these charges were somewhat harsh. The new developments in the sentences are also not likely to mitigate the increasing racial tensions relating to the controversy. Community leaders and educators would also have done well to consider the events leading to the attack. Racial tensions have been increasingly high in the town, with nothing done by education officials or others to mitigate the situation. One example is that white students hung nooses on a tree under which black students were standing earlier. This incident itself resulted in fights between white and black students at the school. The most severe of these is then the assault by the Jena 6. The difference between how white and black offenders are treated should also be taken into consideration.

The students who hung the nooses were briefly suspended, while several black parents felt that this punishment was not severe enough (Jones, 2007).

These tensions were not mitigated by school officials, and it seems to be little wonder that it culminated in more severe attacks. The way in which the whole situation was handled from the start of the tensions therefore contributed to the current controversy.

As a school official, I would have monitored the situation right from its start. Any dissatisfaction among parents or students would have been dealt with right away. Parents and students would be called into my office for a conference regarding grievances. This conference would then provide the opportunity for everybody to voice their grievances in a controlled session. As it was, the situation may have been exacerbated in the students' homes as well, by parents...

Not only the local community at Jena, but also critics from all over the country have voiced their concern and frustration with the system that convicted the Jena 6. Indeed, the very fact that the charges were reduced demonstrates that they were too harsh in the first place.
In conclusion, I agree with opinions that hold the charges to be too harsh for the crime committed. That no murder weapons were involved demonstrates that there was no intention to kill. The United States prides itself on its values of freedom and equality. Citizens should be careful not to let their personal lack of control and reason endanger this tradition.

Sources

Fears, Darryl. (2007, Aug 4). La. Town Fells 'White Tree,' but Tension Runs Deep. Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/03/AR2007080302098.html

Kovach, Gretel C. (2007, Sept 15). "The Jena 6." Newsweek. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20793079/site/newsweek/page/0/

Jones, Andrea. (2007, Sept. 19). Atlanta students rally to free Louisiana teens. The Atlanta Journal - Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/09/18/rally_0919_web.html

Richards, Clark. (2007, Sept 25). Six Lessons from the Jena 6 Controversy. Associated Content. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/392710/six_lessons_from_the_jena_6_controversy.html

Sowell, Thomas. (2007). The last thing the South needs is a return to lynch-mob justice, whatever the color of whoever is promoting it. JWR Insight

http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell092507.php3