As the dust settles from the largest Civil Rights demonstration of this era, the
New Black Panther Party for Self Defense will remain in Jena, LA to protect the families of the
Jena 6 and other black residents.
Members of the organization, led by
Malik Shabazz, Esq. will be spearheading a coalition consisting of party members, the
Millions More Movement, Jena residents, black Muslims and other civil rights organizations. The end result is the
Security and Protection Committee of the Jena 6 (SPC-Jena 6).
The coalition will patrol the streets around the clock, providing personal security for the families involved.
Last week, it was revealed that several white supremacist websites posted the names, addresses and phone numbers of the
Jena 6 families on the internet, urging other whites
“to do Justice to the Jena 6.”
The
families of the six high school students accused of beating a white
student have received numerous phone calls—ranging from harassment to
actual threats of violence. The FBI has investigated the matter and
Jena police have refused to provide protection to the families,
prompting the creation of the coalition.
“As
Black leadership, we have a moral and ethical obligation to secure the
safety and security of the Jena 6 families and the Black residents of
Jena Louisiana,” Shabazz said of the situation in a statement.
“The New Black Panther Party, the Millions More Movement,
and other volunteers from Civil rights organizations will spearhead a
nationwide call to provide security, patrols and protection for the
families and residents over the upcoming months.”
Shabazz
also spoke of the repercussions of the Sept. 20 rally in Jena, which
some say, has caused an even larger divide between blacks and whites in
the small town.
“This
threat is real. [The rally], which we were a part of organizing, has
created a resentment and backlash in certain quarters of the white
community in Jena. In the spirit of the Deacons of Defense, we intend
to exercise our full range of legal rights of defense and protection to
ensure that this very real threat of violence is neutralized. I want to
be clear, in the name of God we as black men will not stand idly by and
be weak in this hour”.
Thousands of supporters rallied for the six teens last week in Jena. Several syndicated black broadcasters, including
Michael Baisden used their platforms to show support for and spread the word for the
Jena 6 .
With the battle for the freedom of the group far from over, many activist
vow to remain in—or return to—Jena until this situation is resolved.
