September 20 is the anniversary of the day of The Jena 6 Protests in 2007. Nearly 20,000 people marched on Jena, Louisiana in protest of excessive charges against 6 black kids who had beaten up a racist white kid.

The quasi-segregated school had recently seen an incident where a black student had sat under a tree that was ordinarily used by white students. The next day, three nooses were hung from the tree. The students responsible were merely given a suspension, as the superintendent said:

“Adolescents play pranks. I don’t think it was a threat against anybody”.

After a series of other racist events, the Jena 6 gave one of the ringleaders a concussion and a pretty good beating. He was able to attend the school dance later in the day however.

In response, the kids were charged with a number of very serious charges, up to and including an attempted murder charge that would carry a 50 year sentence without possibility of parole. With an all-white jury. In comparison, some white students had burnt down part of the school the week before (which may have been racially motivated), and received 10 year prison sentences.

On today’s date, thousands of people marched to Jena and demanded justice. After another year and a half of court shennanigans which even saw a judge removed, retrials and appeals, the charges were eventually reduced to simple battery for 5 of them. The 6th was Mychal Bell, who got 18 months in a juvenile hall. He later attempted suicide.