21 SEP 07: JENA TELL-YA
When Thursday began, I had decided in my mind to leave Jena, Louisiana alone. This is The Blog of Columbus, not the Blog of Jena. But then again, Jena's not that much bigger than Hurtsboro - so it may not be able to support a blog of its own.
But then things happened which changed my mind. As I took a morning run across South Commons, a group of about 25 people stood outside the Civic Center - some of them appearing to hold picket signs. Was this a sudden, spur-of-the-moment rally in support of the "Jena Six?" Or did the animal rights groups who oppose circuses show up too late this year?
As I jogged back toward home, the small group still stood in front of the Civic Center. I slowed down intentionally to check the signs, and found they had words such as "Shaw" and "Taylor County." On top of that, the group was multi-racial - so Taylor County may be farther down the path toward unity than we realized.
"Nothing about Jena. I was wondering," I said to the group - then jogged on down the sidewalk. I thought I heard one or two people laugh at my statement. But I wonder how many of the adults dared to start a conversation about it. In 2007, I'm not sure even bringing it up is considered politically correct around here.
(The Civic Center event actually was a Columbus public safety demonstration, discouraging teenage drunk driving. I saw fire trucks behind the arena, as I had to circle the building because of fences set up for next week's fair. That slow-jogging loop-de-loop is about the most thrilling ride I'd want to try.)
The real local Jena Six protest occurred during the lunch hour, at Columbus State University. A table was set up for people to sign what one organizer told WRBL were "beautifully written petitions." I looked at them carefully, and didn't notice any calligraphy.
Compared with the Civic Center, handheld signs were almost nonexistent at C.S.U. One man held a poster explaining the Jena 6 case - but it was a bit out of date, because it said Mychal Bell would be sentenced Thursday. Bell's conviction was overturned last Friday. Too bad the Columbus Times only puts out new issues on Thursdays.
The Jena 6 protest actually was a class project -- arranged by the Columbus State "African-American Literature" class. This seemed puzzling to me, because no blogs were printed out for people to read about the case....
Joy Hughes of the African-American Literature class told me the Jena Six petitions were signed by "quite a few" white people. All the signatures will be sent to Louisiana's Governor, as well as a Congressman for the Jena area. What does it say when local Congressman Sanford Bishop doesn't have the clout to force a hearing?
Joy Hughes says when it comes to the Jena Six case, either everyone should be charged or no one should be. White high school students who hung nooses from a tree received only suspensions - and so far apparently have NOT been ordered to follow Phenix City Central's example, and turn the ropes into swings in a park.
Joy Hughes claimed "no one had gotten in trouble" in Jena, Louisiana until a district attorney filed attempted murder charges against six African-American students. She says the high school took action too late to reduce racial tension. I didn't think to ask if that called for the Taylor County answer - you know, like separate proms.
The protest organizers announced Columbus State University will form its own chapter of the NAACP next week. Oh dear -- Reginald Pugh at the Urban League is getting passed over again....
Meanwhile, about 50 people boarded an NAACP bus in midtown Columbus to travel to Jena, Louisiana. It cost ten dollars to ride the charter bus - which means Greyhound may only be able to pay half its electric bill in October as well.
Columbus NAACP leaders gave bus riders specific instructions for the journey to Louisiana. For one thing, they had orders NOT to buy anything in Jena - which turned out to be no big deal, since the entire town seemed to shut down for the day.
(But what about African-American business owners in the town? Why wouldn't the NAACP encourage travelers to support them? Maybe some shop sold an item which said: "I traveled to Jena, Louisiana for a protest, and all they let me buy was this lousy T-shirt.")
When I went to my neighborhood poker night In the evening (tied for 11th place), a hot case involving Louisiana was brought up by a man sitting next to me at the table. No, not the Jena Six - but whether Britney Spears should keep custody of her children.
All the local news coverage I heard from Jena seemed to focus on the protesters. It was left to the national newscasts to add some important details:
+ Five of the six suspects are out on bond right now. So a majority of the Jena Six technically IS free. But some protesters would say true freedom only comes when the charges are dropped. And the civil suit is won. And the monument is erected on the high school grounds....
+ The prosecutor in Jena says he couldn't arrest and charge white high school students for hanging nooses from a tree, because he could find nothing in state law declaring that a hate crime. But at least the Boy Scouts haven't awarded any medals, for rope-tying skills.
+ Some people in Jena boarded up their windows, apparently fearing the civil rights protests would end in violence. That's where the Columbus NAACP was smart with that ten-dollar fare. Homeless ex-cons would have a hard time begging for that much money.
BLOG UPDATE: Perhaps you already knew this, but we didn't until Thursday - that two Columbus radio stations have swapped dial positions. "Da Beat" is now at 98.3 FM. "Magic 98.3" has moved to 101.3 FM. And the Magic 101 van I saw Thursday was repainted so quickly, Clear Channel must be serious about keeping it there.
Both FM stations have been owned by Clear Channel. We called the office Thursday, and learned the radio station swap occurred about two weeks ago. But when we asked why it happened, the woman on the phone couldn't explain it -- so for all we know, some executive may have lost a football bet.
But we can make a semi-educated guess about why Clear Channel switched these stations. It's giving up control of WAGH-FM at 98.3 - but it's keeping WBFA-FM at 101.3. Apparently the company decided one Edgar Champagne was more valuable than "10,000 joints in a row" which started "Da Beat."
The Courier reported a few weeks ago that Archway Broadcasting was interested in buying a hip hop station. With "Da Beat" now at 98.3 FM, this could be what Archway's after. Then "Wild Bill" can be on WKCN-FM in the morning, and go really wild down the dial in the afternoon.
BIG PREDICTION: This weekend's big college football prediction comes from someone who's been following the Southeastern Conference closely for years - my next-door neighbor. He says Georgia will go to Alabama and win, 21-7. This is despite the fact that the Bulldogs will play their first game in years without Larry Munson in the broadcast booth.
But here's the strange thing: my next-door neighbor rooted for Alabama to beat Arkansas last week. Now he's turning around and picking Georgia to beat Alabama. Why? "I live in Georgia," he told me late Thursday. Based on this logic, he'll be on my side when Kansas meets Nebraska and Colorado in the coming weeks.
Coach Mark Richt has closed Georgia football practices to reporters for the last few days, as he prepares for Alabama. So he could be preparing a big surprise - such as installing Auburn's Brandon Cox at quarterback.
We'll see if that prediction comes true - and in the meantime, we'll check other Thursday news stories:
+ WDAK Radio reported Police Chief Ricky Boren intervened personally, to catch a fleeing robbery suspect on Macon Road. Either he's working on a pilot script for a TV crime drama - or the officers' shortage suddenly is worse again.
(Chief Boren told the evening news the crime surge in Columbus seems to have died down abated in recent weeks. One resident in the Baker Village neighborhood even called to thank him, for putting all the drug dealers in jail. That resident also should thank the Columbus Housing Authority -- for moving all the Baker Village Apartment residents out, to demolish the complex.)
+ Fort Benning marked the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Infantry School. So back in 1907, who was the first person to tell soldiers "Follow Me?" And how did this person do it, without a Cunningham Center for Leadership Development?
+ The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation held a "cultural expo" at Fort Benning. Some students who attended this may have been surprised - as there were no displays showing how torture is different in Chile as opposed in Panama.
+ WRBL showed the "previously recorded" Mega Millions drawing - as in the drawing of two nights before. If the jackpot already has jumped, why would any viewer call and ask to see the winning numbers again?
+ The Four Tops performed at the RiverCenter. I read somewhere that only one original member of the soul group is still alive - but renaming the group "The Top and his Second-Best" wouldn't sound quite right.
+ Atlanta Police reported a man stole a radio and several batteries from a discount store. The suspect was identified as a blond man, wearing a dress. [True/Interprep.com] I've never heard of anyone with such an urge to listen to Barry Manilow songs.
+ LaGrange conquered Kendrick 34-0 in high school football. The Grangers are now 4-0 on the season, and all the wins are shutouts. So much for the Atlanta Falcons holding a scrimmage with them anytime soon....
This blog has thousands of visitors each month, from people in Columbus and around the world. To advertise to them, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.
BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 3002 (+ 85, 2.9%)
If you mention this blog in public, please be polite enough to let me know.
© 2003-07 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.