Jena 6 Rally (Part 3: The Understanding)

Jena 6 Rally (Part 3: The Understanding)

I got a letter in the mail today from Jan Schakowsky, of the House of Representatives, who stated that "...the original charges, which allow up to 100 years in jail, are extremely out of line with the crime. I applaud the decision, by the District Attorney in this case for reducing the charges against one of the defendants, Mychal Bell." But Schakowsky also goes on to say, "Although I am a member of Congress and can have no official role in this matter, I assure you that I am monitoring this situation closely." Well, Ms. Schakowsky, I assure you that grassroots members all over America are not only monitoring this situation closely-we're also taking an official role in this matter. I've said it in a previous article, How African American Followers Can Be Leaders, and I'll say it again. If regular common folk wait for other people to do something that they can do on their own, we will never get anything accomplished. I heard complaints about the NAACP, Jesse Jackson, and major news networks not covering the issues. But the more I listened, the more I wondered "Why can't you step up to the plate instead of waiting for someone else to do it?" If not for those who were less popular to speak out, I still would have never known about the Jena 6 case.