Statement by Nat LaCour,
Secretary-Treasurer, American Federation of Teachers,
On the Racial Inequities and Judicial Abuses in Jena, La.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Obtaining fairness and objectivity in the judicial system for all Americans has been a hard-fought struggle. The current situation faced by the six young men in Jena, La., strikes an unfortunate chord in the minds of those of us who lived, fought and triumphed during the civil rights era. Nearly 50 years after standing up to racial injustice, all Americans should be offended by the blatant discrepancies in the charges stemming from a schoolyard fight and by the apparent abuse of power exhibited by public officials in Jena.

We should also be alarmed by the events that sparked this regrettable episode. The designation of a “white tree” on a public school campus and the display of such violent symbols of hatred as nooses hanging from trees cannot be tolerated in our society. It is painfully clear that we still have a lot of work to do to overcome racial prejudice.

I commend the thousands who have sprung into action to draw attention to the judicial inequalities in Jena. We must refocus the time and energy being spent on this matter on eradicating racism.

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