Arts And Entertainment

In an effort to express how the penalization of Evangelist Mellencamp touches our routine lives, a display of one picture and one lyric, module be posted every period as conception of a year-long project. Images and thoughts to ponder. This is picture # 56.

Jena from Life Death Love and Freedom

An all-white commission hides the executioner's face See how we are, me and you? Everyone here needs to know their place Lets ready this merle unseeable in the flue

Oh oh oh Jena Oh oh oh Jena Oh oh oh Jena Take your nooses down

So what becomes of boys that cannot conceive straight Particularly those with essay activity skin Yes sir, no sir, we'll pass1 that smile right soured your face We've got our rules here and you staleness fit in

Oh oh oh Jena Oh oh oh Jena Oh oh oh Jena Take your nooses down

Some period whatever artefact sanity module prevail But who knows when that period strength come A effort in the dark, substantially it just strength find its way To the whist of those that stop the keys to kingdom come

Oh oh oh Jena Oh oh oh Jena Oh oh oh Jena Take those nooses down

Oh oh hey Jena Oh oh Jena Oh oh Jena Take your nooses down

Take those nooses every down

It begins again in added small municipality about 60 miles east of Jena, Louisiana.

Waterproof, Louisiana, a agricultural accord within the southward conception of Tensas Parish and the terminal parish to earmark its black citizens to register to vote, was FTO land substantially into the 20th century. Crosses executing on face lawns and lynching’s were common practice. Tensas Parish is the smallest in the state, has the fastest declining population, and is one of the worst communities in the United States. The majority of its residents are black. White children listen clannish school. The black children listen public school. Jobs in municipality are restricted to working on farms owned by its albescent accord members.

At this rattling moment, past mayor, Bobby Higginbotham, a black man, sits in a jail cell, his possess clannish inferno for the terminal 365 days, awaiting sentencing. His ordain was sealed the period he took office, as the town’s DA, a albescent man, wanted to vanish him from office. It began with an endeavor to process the town’s revenue, gain curb of the parish Police Department, and bring whatever efficiency to its operation. He ordained Miles Perkins, also a black man, as the Chief of Police. The two began in earnest, disagreeable to run the municipality of Waterproof as a just and humane parish in Louisiana. Like every politicians, mistakes were made. The DA used those mistakes to file malefactor charges.

A 2008 legislative auditor’s report shows errors prefabricated by the Mayor, errors he corrected, but was ultimately live as a malefactor for those mistakes; live with 21 counts of felony theft, when in actuality, he gave himself a improve that was approved by the Board of Alderman. A achievement of the budget gathering approbatory the raise, was later “lost”. Mayor Higginbotham was also live with 18 counts of malfeasance in duty for using a municipality assign card for personal purchases. This nonachievement was rectified immediately when it occurred.

Mayor Higginbotham was blameable by a nearly all-white jury, one black juror and 5 whites, in a municipality that is more than 60% black. Jurors were presented polling slips where blameable was pre-selected. Record of the budget gathering approbatory the Mayor’s improve is mysteriously “missing”.

Mayor Higginbotham wants to attractiveness but suite transcripts from key witnesses for the continuation are non-existent. Mayor Higginbotham was denied bail, a consequence commonly distant for violent offenders. At the instance of Mayor Higginbotham’s election, added newly elected black mayor, dies from an manifest suicide. His kinsfolk doesn’t believe it. Another black politician in added small municipality had shots fired into his concern and a for understanding clew planted in his face yard.

The underway politician of Waterproof is white.

Jim Crow laws at their finest.

To help in the fisticuffs to liberated Bobby Higginbotham, clew the petition here.

Love and Happiness~ Christine