Ensuring equal justice under the law

The quote says it all: "I never believed that this would be going on in 2007."

Elizabeth Redding was quoted by the Associated Press in a story in Friday's Daily Herald referring to the controversial case in Louisiana that had a small town the focus of a huge civil rights rally that reminded many of the rallies of the 1960s. Redding, a 63-year-old New Jersey resident, marched in Selma, Ala., when she was in her 20s.

"This is worse," she said last week, "because we didn't get the job done."

The job, of course, is eliminating racism and intolerance. As we have seen throughout our history, that job may never be done. But it is heartening to see so many -- especially young college students -- stepping up and being heard when they feel an injustice has been done.

The Louisiana case -- known now as the Jena Six -- refers to six black teens arrested in Jena, La., following a fight with a white student. Five of the six were initially charged with attempted murder, though those charges were reduced for four of them. Thousands went to Jena last week to protest the case, saying the Jena Six (one is charged as juvenile) have been treated unfairly.

They claim local prosecutors have been overzealous in the beating case while ignoring, with no charges, the white students accused of hanging nooses in a tree months earlier. At that time, a black student asked at a student assembly if blacks could sit under the shade tree frequented by white classmates. A day later the nooses were hung. Three students were suspended but not criminally prosecuted.

The local district attorney defends his actions. He may or may not be vindicated. But, as a Christian Science Monitor article reports, studies do show that the average black juvenile remains far more likely to be arrested and convicted than his white counterpart.

In fact, cases like the Jena Six are fairly common, according to that article, despite the surprise of some protesters like Redding.

"The public at large basically thinks that these case are aberrations, and that's one reason why so much attention is paid to them," said Kenneth Nunn, a University of Florida law professor who specializes in issues of race in the courts. "It's the idea that it's the redneck sheriff doing this and not the way we sort of stack the odds against black criminal defendants."

So the Jena Six case reminds us that we must be vigilant in trying to root out racism, especially in our justice system. The Duke lacrosse case reminded us that we need to know all the facts and we need to hold prosecutors accountable. The Illinois death penalty controversy reminds us that we must keep watch on all aspects of the justice system to ensure justice is blind and that the wrong people are not incarcerated or put to death.

The Jena case reminds us that a new generation needs to be mindful of history and willing to work to right societal wrongs. Stephanie Brown, a 26-year-old national youth director for the NAACP, said: "It's not just about Jena, but about inequalities and disparities around the country," she said. And that's why this case is important to those of us across the country, not just in Louisiana.