Obama Demands Fairness in Jena 6 Case

Good for Obama!  (He mentions Genarlow Wilson at the end.)

Obama Demands Fairness in Jena 6 Case
September 13, 2007
 
http://www.barackobama.com/2007/09/13/obama_demands_fairness_in_jena.php

Chicago, IL -- Senator Barack Obama made the following statement today in  response to the Jena 6 case.
 
"When nooses are being hung in high schools in the 21st century, it's a tragedy. It shows that we still have a lot of work to do as a nation to heal our racial tensions. This isn't just Jena's problem; it's America's  problem."
 
"There are a number of signs that the system is not working in this case.  It's a problem when criminal charges are brought against some students for  fighting, but not others. It's a problem when a public defender doesn't call any witnesses. And it's a problem when a prosecutor decides to try teenagers as adults for a school fight, a charge that could leave them in jail for the majority of their lives. That is why I join my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus in calling on the judge to consider all the relevant factors and  calling on the District Attorney to drop the excessive charges brought in this  case. And I, along with other members of the CBC, will continue to monitor  this case closely."
 
"Going forward, we have to fix our criminal justice system. Whether it's Jena 6 or Genarlow Wilson, it's long past time for us to admit that we have  more work to do to ensure that our criminal justice system is fair. We must  ensure that both victims and defendants can receive equal justice under the law, regardless of race, wealth, or other circumstances."