Thousands rally for 'Jena 6'

JENA, La., Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Thousands of people traveled to tiny Jena, La., Thursday to protest the issue of racial bias in the prosecution of six African-American high school students.

"This is a march for justice. This is not a march against whites or against Jena," said the Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist and one of the protest organizers.

The situation began last September when a black student defied tradition by sitting under the school’s so-called White Tree. The next day three nooses appeared in the tree. Later, a white student allegedly was beaten by six black students, called the "Jena 6," who were charged with attempted murder.

Charges against four were reduced and action for a fifth is unknown because records were sealed, CNN reported. The sixth student, Mychal Bell, was convicted of second-degree aggravated battery and conspiracy, but both charges were vacated.

"Jena is a point of action for the Jenas everywhere," Sharpton said.

"There's a Jena in every state," the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who also helped organize the rally, told the crowd.

Meanwhile, the U.S. attorney who reviewed investigations into the nooses and the beating said he believes the incidents -- though likely symptoms of racial tension -- were not related.

Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., announced plans Thursday, during a rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, to hold a forum and Judiciary Committee hearing on the case, The Detroit News reported. The forum would be tied to next week's Black Caucus Foundation annual legislative conference.