Jena Six Case Heads to Washington Amid Hateful Backlash

The parents of Jena Six teen Mychal Bell and The Rev. Al Sharpton will meet with House Judiciary Chair Congressman John Conyers Tuesday to ask for federal hearings and intervention.

Last week, Conyers, an African American Democrat, said he would hold congressional hearings on the case.

"There should not even be allegations of unequal justice based on race or any other factors. This case brings to light what could be a national trend and the Judiciary Committee should explore that," Conyers said.

Sharpton has also called for Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco to have state police investigate threats being made against the Jena Six families.

The families have been bombarded with death threats after a white supremacist Web site allegedly published their addresses and phone numbers. The FBI is investigating the posting. Sharpton said some of the families have received almost around the clock harassment.

According to a news release from Sharpton, Bell's attorneys are pursuing his immediate release after a judge last week to refused to release him, despite having his conviction overturned by a higher court earlier this month.

Bell has been in jail the entire year, unable to meet his $90,000 bond.

The backlash has not been limited to threats against the Jean Six families. There's a report of noose-hanging copy cats in North Carolina. And not long after the rally on Thursday, two men were arrested outside of Jena who were seen driving a pickup with two nooses hanging off the back. One man was charged with inciting a riot.

Meanwhile, The Associated Press ran a piece Monday that sought to clear up some facts surrounding the Jena Six case that have been misreported by the media at large, among the items the AP pointed out:

_The so-called "white tree" at Jena High was congregated by both black and white students at one time or another, according to teachers and school administrators. (However, some black students have argued this fact.)

_ Two nooses, not three, were found dangling from the tree last year. (Does it matter if there were two or 20?)

_The three white youths accused of hanging the nooses were suspended for three days, then they were isolated at an alternative school for about a month, and then given an in-school suspension for two weeks. (However, the police were never called and a report was never made.)