The Justice that Jena Demands

Xochitl Bervera has a powerful plea up at the Dissident Voice for taking seriously not “simply” what is going on with the Jena 6, but the overall system of juvenile justice in Louisiana — and indeed in the country as a whole. Her piece is powerful, and you should read the whole thing. Here’s just a brief excerpt:

"I believe that this moment in history can be a pivotal one if we make it so. Up to 50,000 people marched in the streets of Jena yesterday — the majority of them Black, many were from the South. All were outraged by the blatant racism evidenced by the criminal justice system. This could be the beginning of the end for a system that should have been dismantled years ago.

But what we fight for and how we fight will make all the difference. The most obvious principle is that we cannot fight for the system to expand — in any way. Asking for the white kids who hung the nooses to be charged, calling for Hate Crime Legislation — these “solutions” just strengthen the system and give the same players — the DA, the judge, the jury — more powers and more validation. If we understand that the system, at its core, is not designed to promote justice, then why would we ask for anything that expands its reach or powers? At the very least, we must only call for things which shrink the system – closing prisons, freeing prisoners, cutting correction budgets, eliminating the death penalty and Life Without Parole, prohibiting juvenile transfers, and implementing sentencing reform.

We can also call for accountability from our elected officials. DAs and judges who perpetuate injustice, state representatives who are in bed with the corrections department and private prison companies — these people should not be allowed to hold office. They should be ousted whether by recall, regular elections, or public pressure to step down.

But we can — and should — also call for the redirection of funds into a real public safety system. We must make it clear that the issue of public safety is fundamentally distinct from the issue of the criminal justice system. The only thing they have in common is rhetoric. Developing a public safety system which is prevention orientated, based on principles of restorative or transformative justice, prioritizes making the victim and community whole, and creatively resolving conflict is a powerful and noble goal and our communities should know more about these models and fight for them. A public safety system includes community based programs, quality education and the elimination of racism.

The families of the Jena 6 are ahead of the crowd in the list of demands they have made public: 1) Drop (or fairly reduce) All Charges; 2) Reinstate School Credits; 3) No Juvenile Records; 4) Investigate “Noose” Incident of September 1, 2006; 5) Remove Reed Walters from the District Attorney’s Office; 6) Conduct Undoing Racism Workshops for Staff, Faculty, Administrators, Students, Parents and Community Members."

One very simple concrete step? Support the work of the Friends and Families of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children. They have lots of ways to do so, and you'll learn a lot more about justice for children across the country in the process.