I’m just now reading Ethan Brown’s piece for the Guardian on the rising murder rate in New Orleans and hit this startling bit regarding news I totally missed at the time:
The mayor, Ray Nagin, has been silent in the face of the sort of mass killing that occurred and often dismissive of it. This summer, he told a group of reporters that the murder rate "keeps the New Orleans brand out there."

I’m speechless with disgust.

May still be in progress.  Rizoh has the 411.

I haven’t gotten back to my roundup of hip hop support of the Jena 6 [I will] but big ups to everybody that’s been pushing this thing.  This isn’t the end by any means but it’s a great example of how online advocates helped build the initial critical mass that encourages folks like Al Sharpton to step up and provide much needed media visibility.

Related Material:
Ethan Brown feels that the "most useful outcome of the Jena 6 protests is the interest in sentencing reform coming from the likes of Barack Obama and Senator Jim Webb" and links through to a related article.

That’s an excellent point since sentencing reform is desperately needed nationwide though I would say most immediately and obviously useful.

I think that’s just one example of what could come from a sustained campaign for justice in the Deep South.  I don’t say that out of nostalgia for the Civil Rights movement.  I say that from what such movements have taught us.

In one of the calmest yet scariest blog posts I’ve ever read, Ethan Brown breaks down elements of policing and crime in New Orleans that convincingly lead to the possibility that New Orleans is facing a much bigger catastrophe than Katrina.

In particular Ethan reveals just how fluid the situation remains by adding his own insights to what he’s gathered to date on NO policing and criminality:

My sense is that criminals of all kinds–from rapists to car thieves to drug dealers–know that the momentum here is running strongly in their direction. They’re well aware that thousands of suspects simply hit the streets soon after being arrested because charges aren’t filed in their cases.

Another theory: based on my experience (and from talking to some cops and criminologists down here), the NOPD has retreated from community policing initiatives. In some cases, the cops are just hunkering down in their patrol cars and not even venturing onto the streets

Finally, there’s the issue of population density. The population in New Orleans post-Katrina is down significantly (from around 500,000 pre-K to about 250,000-300,000). The result of all this–abandoned houses, lots, even entire blocks–provides big opportunities for criminals, from creating stash houses to unlit areas from which armed robbers can attack.

The criminally minded would have recognized the opportunities in New Orleans immediately.  Law enforcement should have as well.

Ethan closes with his devastating prediction:
It is profoundly ironic that under the leadership of a Mayor who proudly proclaimed that New Orleans should be re-built as a "Chocolate City," hundreds of black men will be murdered, a blood-letting worse than what’s happening in even apocalyptic urban centers like Compton.

I’ve only been picking up bits and pieces of what’s happening down there but, so far, even the best news doesn’t give me any reason to think that Mr. Brown is the least bit wrong.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Ethan Brown Moves to New Orleans

Ethan Brown, author of Queens Reigns Supreme and the upcoming Snitch, has moved to New Orleans and you can tell already that he’s going to get a great book out of it if he makes it through:

My fears about New Orleans played out for the rest of the summer: muggings spiked dramatically in the French Quarter and surrounding neighborhoods and, worst of all, homicides spiked wildly around the city (26 people were murdered in New Orleans in August alone, a jaw-dropping statistic given that we’re a city of less than 300,000 people).

Best of luck and watch your back.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Ethan Brown Predicts "Blood-letting" in New Orleans
Ethan Brown on Investigative Hip Hop Journalism

BBC Coverage of the Sept. 20th Protest for the Jena 6

I’m really blown away by response to the situation of the Jena 6 and thought I’d pull together some mainstream sources to get a sense of the visibility of today’s protest.  I haven’t seen official numbers but reports range from thousands to tens of thousands.  Lots of protests happened in other places too but the following news items focus on Jena, Louisiana.

Great Photos from ABC News:
Jena Six Protests: Race Debate Explodes in Louisiana

NPR:
‘Jena Six’ Case Prompts Mass Demonstrations

Reuters:
Civil rights protesters converge on Jena

MTV.com
‘Jena Six’ Rally Draws Supporters From Around The World To Louisiana

Detroit Free Press:
‘We’re a part of history’

All ProHipHop Coverage:
Katrina/Jena 6 Category

Free The Jena 6 T-Shirt – [I got one & they look good with crisp readable-at-a-distance printing.]

Whoa, this is great!  The Jena 6 Empowerment Concert scheduled for September 29th in Birmingham, Alabama will feature Nick Cannon, Lloyd, Baby Boy, Sean P, Twista, Tank, Jagged Edge, Killer Mike, Bobby Brown, DTP’s Small World and Hurricane Chris.

The event is designed to raise awareness of the situation of the Jena 6 and will help build nationally following tomorrow’s Rally in Jena, LA.

Billboard also reports that David Bowie has donated $10,000 to legal defense for the Jena 6!  That cat stays relevant with great ease.

Can’t make it to Jena, Louisiana?
Events Around Nation to Coincide With Sept. 20th Rally in Jena

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Please Support the Jena 6 Directly

Jena 6: September 20th March Info & Additional Resources

Related Hip Hop Logic Coverage:
Hip Hop and the Jena 6: Calling All Rappers

Democracy Now Overview of the Jena Six Disaster

Official Sites:
Free The Jena 6

Jena 6 T-Shirt

Dex Digital is working on a Jena 6 Episode of The Mixtape Show and you’ve got a couple of days to call in and get your thoughts included.  Click through to his blog for the number and more info on what you might contribute.

And if you’ve shown your support for the Jena 6 on your blog or website please let me know so I can include you in ProHipHop and Hip Hop Logic’s roundup:
Support the Jena 6 & Get a Link at ProHipHop & Hip Hop Logic

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Please Support the Jena 6 Directly

A lot of money intended for the Jena 6 defense has been going to other organizations.

Currently the only way to be sure your money is getting to them is to send it directly to:
Jena 6 Defense Committee
PO Box 2798
Jena, LA
71342

You can also donate directly online.  The Color of Change folks are now working directly with the Jena 6 Defense Committee.

The Defense Committee is made up of parents and supporters of the Jena 6 and the above options are the only way to be sure the money’s not diverted to support the organizing efforts of other groups, no matter how worthy they may be.

I would suggest keeping track of whether or not your check gets cashed and email the organizers if it doesn’t at:
jena6defense(at)gmail(dot)com

From past experience I know that even Federal postal workers in such settings may get a little too involved in local politics.

Info gathered via Supernegro and chartreuse.

Official Site:
freethejena6.org