Case evokes sympathy and dissent across U.S.

WASHINGTON -- In Washington, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said Thursday he would hold hearings on the case, though he did not set a date.

President Bush said he understood the emotions and the FBI was monitoring the situation.

"The events in Louisiana have saddened me," the president told reporters. "All of us in America want there to be, you know, fairness when it comes to justice."

Other rallies in support of the black teens were held elsewhere, including Oklahoma City, where about 500 people gathered.

"It is time for us to express our outrage that such a blatant injustice should happen," said Roosevelt Milton, Oklahoma City NAACP president.

"I'm just glad people are starting to stand up for what is right," said Kiara Andrews, 15, of the Oklahoma City suburb of Midwest City.

But many white residents of Jena expressed anger at the way news organizations portrayed their town.

"I believe in people standing up for what's right," said resident Ricky Coleman, 46. "What bothers me is this town being labeled racist. I'm not racist."

Another white resident, Bill Williamson, 59, said he tried to convince visitors the town was being treated unfairly and that once of the black defendants among the "Jena 6" belonged in jail.

"I think we changed one man's mind," he said. "But most of these people don't want to hear."

Reginne Gardner, one of Jena's roughly 350 black residents, was collecting money Thursday from protesters who parked their cars on the lawn of a relative's home. She said race relations in town have always been strained, but have grown even worse since this episode unfolded.

"I hope this makes things better," the 38-year-old said. "We all have to live here. I wish we all could get along, black and white."