First racisim is racisim. It dosesn't matter what name we name our children. I am a black lady and proud of it. Why charge 6blacks with such a stupid crime. This means whites can have guns and blacks can take the blame. Get a life america and realizie racism is here and if we dont do something about it then we will fall for anything and not stand for something. I really believe all charges should be dropped unless you are going to charge the white kid with a gun. Now be for real and do the right thing drop the charges and these boys finish school.

A Blacklady from TN

Carolyn Gill, memphis, TN

Regardless of what is happening in the UK, or elsewhere in this world, the situation in Jena is unfair, and the story needs to be covered.

Denise S. Beidleman, Germantown, US

Plainly put this is ridiculous! I think it is entirely out of line that these 6 kids have been prosecuted to the extent that they have. Yet the white students have suffered no consequences for their actions. I am amazed that white students got away with hanging nooses. That is a blatant threat of violence towards the black kids at that school and in the local community! I am shocked and dissapointed that people are still raising there children to hate other people because they are black. It angers me beyond words that the DA in that County is trying the six by an all white jury! That is not a fair trail by any streatch o the imagination. And Jessie Jackson needs to retract what he said about Borak Obama,it was very uncalled for! Especially due to the current racial climate. Returning racism for racism is no way to promote understanding or good will between the races! Shame on you Jessie for representing your people in this way! Rodney King was right! Can't we all just get along?!

Denise Lavelle, Santa Rosa, Ca.,USA

Regardless of what is happening in the UK, or elsewhere in this world, the situation in Jena is unfair, and the story needs to be covered.

DSB, Germantown, US

To David Guy - the situation was very different.
Those 6 white men were officers of the law, too much force was used to secure Rodney King.

These are high school students. Its all different.

We really have a long way to go as a (human) race, when people see things so different, depending on the color of one's skin. Frankly, its really a sad state of affairs.

DSB, Germantown, US

Michael Calder, would TNB be the same as WT (white trash)

Monica , Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

I love how the British media washes it's hands clean INSTANTLY of race riots in Britian, but speak of the "Old South" when something this minor goes on in america. Why is the world so keen on finding fault in the US? Lets set the record straight; Has the UK EVER had a ligitimate black candidate for PM (the US has Obama in for a shout for President)? Who had the most recent race riots? Again the UK. Who's suffering the greatest throws of racial divide in the world at the moment? Zimbabwe (a Commonwealth country). Why does the UK hide from it's own racial failings by trying to highlight less substantial ones in the US. Even France has had much more significant race problems than the US has had in 30 years. Grow up Europe!

Me, Manchester,

In a time of peace and harmony, this just affirms the problem with America today. Yet we're spending billions of dollars helping another country thats not even carrying their load. Then this, still Katrina.............we move even slower to help our own yet we're quick to invade other countries!!!!! What else can be said. Wont get a fair trial any any famous/rich black,spanish,white whatever your color is should support this cause and show up. While not rich,I'm sure to be there for support if for nothing else. We all bleed the same color people, get over the past because enough pain has been caused already. Wanna be a warrior?????? Join the Army!!!!!!!

Jose Perez, Gainesville, Ga.

This whole situation makes me so infuriated that i completely understand anyone losing their temper. Hanging nooses in a tree is quite possibly one of the most disgusting, hateful, and ignorant actions I have ever heard of. Anyone who took part in such actions should be ashamed not only of what they did, but ashamed of their upbringing...for clearly they were raised by idiots. Hate, in any form, is a reflection upon oneself. If you feel so consumed with hatred for another person, or group of people--perhaps you should look within yourself and find the actual problem. It's 2007. Hate gets you no where. Get over your ridiculous superiority complex and enjoy life for what it is--and let others enjoy it as well. You only get one.

"white girl", hudson, nh

I am a Desert Storm Veteran and I feel that after fighting for my country my children are not safe here. African Americans must understand that if we do not fight for our freedom we are going to loss it. We have been enjoying our lives the last thirty or so years and now we fine ourselves in a country that do not respect us. I have been teaching AJROTC in an all African American School for the last fourteen years and I see how this is affecting our children. If we let this happen we will loss them. We must pull together and fight for these six young men and all our children.

William Jones, Memphis, Tennessee

it saddens my heart to see that we are still stuck in the past when it comes to race. this case is racially motivated and it is unfair. no matter how many juvenile cases a teenager has, one still needs to be treated fairly. you have adults raping kids with some not even getting jail time, just a slap on the wrist. you have some that actually kill people and the most time spent in jail is 5-10 with possible parole. now mind you, majority of these people doing the raping are white, go figure. here you have six black boys faced with adult time for, what it appears, standing up for their rights. i do agree that their decision making was inappropriate, but that is what kids go through to make good judgement in the near future with the guidance of their parents. my concern is the message we are sending our children.

confused, philadelphia, pa

One thing I have never been able to figure out or have explained to me is this; Racist people towards any race be it white against black, black against brown the world against middle easterners always say they think they are better then or superior to whatever race it is they don't like. Now if they honestly feel that they are better then someone in all aspects why is it they feel the need to spend so much time trying to keep that group of people down? If they are so much better morally, intellectually, spiritually etc. then what are you worried about? I would think you could walk around all day not giving a care in the world to what another race is doing because if you're so positive that you are better it should all work out in your favor in the end if you truly are superior?

jeff, denver, co

this is al just crazy a boy getting jumped is an attempted murder are you crazy that boy did deserve it but its against the law but these kids are minors get over it

kiki, kiki, kiki

It is clearly not fair with what the young African american kids are being charged with, compared to what the white kids are being charged with. There will most likely not be a fair trial with an all white jury.

John Craig, San Bernandino, CA

Don't give blacks a "get out of jail free card." No white will ever be safe again! Violence is not permissible in any color. Blacks need to learn CIVILIZED ways to solve their problems. It took six black champion football players to down one white, my, my, my. Put the six cowards in jail.

Native-American., San Diego, CA

Sir,
Is it a case of "Back to the future" in America, manifest destiny, white man's burden, and President McKinley's "Christianise & civilise" mission in the Moro lands? Shocking, the noose is as evil as the Nazi salute. Thanks Mr Samuel Huntingdon.

SC, London, United Kingdom

Southern Whites "STILL" refuse to let go of the past. After all the people that have died you would think that things would change. Bell may have had run ins with the law but so has Barker. Why do southern whites hate Blacks so much? It should be the other way around. Blacks were the slaves. It seems like its some kind of reverse guilt. If they are so superior then what is the problem. The answer is deep down inside they feel threatened therefore they keep oppresing . Blacks make up a very small portion of society. Therefore there are more poor white people around to do bad things to others which are not discussed. Segregation was not that bad. Blacks had it alot better than in some cases. All they had to do is make things Seperate but Equal, and they couldnt do that. Racist southern whites got what they deserve. (Intergration) No matter what racist whites do there are still going to be successful black people who prove yall wrong. GLAD I WAS BORN UP NORTH!!!

Dee, Baltimore, Maryland

First off, kids will be kids. There will always be the hot heads that get into fights and skirmishes. How is it that in most states drawing a swastika with threatening remarks is racist, but a noose is not considered anything but a prank? "School" suspensions were given to all White kids involved, the Black kids get serious criminal charges. Fair? No.

How is it a Causian can wield a firearm (gun), threatening two of the Jena 6, and one of them wrestles the gun away from him, but it's the Black that gets charged for burglary of a firearm? The White kid, no suspension, no charges whatsoever.

Review "all" the situations that occurred (the chronological order of all the fights), how were the Whites involved treated? ("boys will be boys, that's okay, here, you get a suspension") even though they wielded guns & racist nooses. How were the Blacks? ("Youur tennis shoes are a dangerous weapon therefore, you will spend the rest of your adult life in prison").

Y. Watson, White Plains, New York

Racism is a two way street.Some things that are called racist are not.. 50 years after schools have been integrated, churches and most neighborhoods are the same. The over whelming majority of blacks still marry blacks. The same in the white community.

Carl A. Burns, Shreveport, U.S.A/ La

it is just amazing how these issues always come down to black and white instead of right and wrong. Some of the comments left here make you wonder if they read the story at all. the world is round and full of differences but the law should be the law not the law by the color of ones skin.

michael harris, moreno valley, CA

I feel that if we all seek first Gods face, there would not be room for racism. Hate is taught. I am the parent of two bi-racial children. They do not see color, race, social standing only the carater of their friends and others. We are all different. I do not feel that the Jena Six are being treated fairly; but then, I do not know all the facts. The trial should have been relocated to ensure a fair trial. This type of conflict deserves a mixed impartial jury. I do not think this was the case here.
A question to Michael Calder of North Hollywood, CA.
What is typical negro behavior?

Josh, Mobile, Alabama

If they are going to give the black kids pen time. Are they going to give the white boys time for beating up the black kid the day before when he walk under the tree? Which they failed to mention in the news.

sandra w , dallas, tx

Why is it that the white kids also exhibited TNB as well as TRB (Typical Racist Behavior). As a matter of fact the entire white population of the town of Jena seems to exhibit TRB. I don't see the difference in TNB as you call it or TRB. Both behaviors are based on ignorance regardless of how high your IQ may or may not be. Segregation will never end as long as White people keep their "Elitist Attitude" that their race is better than any other race based on the color of their skin. White people don't want to live among any other race, it's not just black people. So, don't blame the fact that Blacks like to name their children names with imagination and flair rather than what is deemed "acceptable" by white people. The fact that the situation existed with the tree in the first place is a crime it itself that the townspeople should be held accountable for. The Whites for perpetuating the racism and the Blacks for accepting it all these years.

Lisa Beckham, BIRMINGHAM, AL

This is unbelievable we need this on the evening news the town should be inundated with reporters and give Britney Spears a rest. Why aren't civil rights activists yelling where is oprah

eileen, scottsdale, az

Fortunately Michael Calder's comment does not reflect "TWB", typical white behavior in most of the United States.

William, Annapolis, MD

No matter what Mychal Bell has done in the past, in this case he and five other boys were charged with attempted murder for participating in a school-yard fight. The white boys involved - some of whom had records as well - were not prosecuted at the same level. In fact, their only punishment was three days of in-school suspension.

To make a comparison, in my own high school days I once received the same punishment for starting a food fight - in which no one was injured. But then I am a white female, after all.

Nooses in a tree are equivalent to a death threat, which is illegal in Louisiana. Adding the undeniably racist motivations makes that a hate crime, a federal crime much more harshly punishable. For the district attorney to dismiss this crime as a 'schoolyard prank', while over zealously prosecuting the young black males just smacks of racism.

Christina S, Redmond, Washington

your reporter should do some research. he was convicted by an all white jury because no black person responded to the mailings for jury duty. The court had no choice but to use all white jurors. And as already quoted Bell had had several run ins with the law already. do some fact checking first.

Brian, syracuse, US

Mychal Bell, the poor, innocent, fun loving young man accused of the criminal assault already has four juvenile offensives with two of those offenses being battery charges. Why am I not surprised. There are reasons why caucasian parents keep their kids in segregated schools and why caucasians live in all white suburbs. Racism has nothing to do with it. TNB has everything to do with it. Abolish Typical Negroe Behavior and segregation would end immediately. Start by having a high enough IQ so you can spell your child's name properly would be a good start.

Michael Calder, North Hollywood, USA - California

IF THIS IS HOW THE SCHOOL 'S ARE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORK PLACE.

YOU ARE NOT BORN WITH THIS KIND OF HATE ,

YOU LEARN IT. AND THATS SAD

DIANE, WHITE PIAINS, NEW YORK

I grew up in South Africa (I am caucasian) and have seen at first hand discrimination based on the colour of a person's skin. It has all been said before: we breathe the same air, bleed when we are cut etc; yet some choose to arrogate to themselves superiority over others who appear different.

Discrimination is unjust, unjustifiable and abhorrent!! Intelligent people everywhere must maintain the struggle against it.

Duncan McGregor, Melbourne, Australia

isnt it ironic that 6 white men were video taped beating an african ameican man and the black community was insensed saying the white men shoud be imprisoned but when its six blacks beating a white its an injustice to imprison the blacks.talk about double stamdardss.

david guy, dorchester, south carolina