Dear Editor:
The decision by the Louisiana Court of Appeals to overturn the conviction of Mychal Bell, one of the \”Jena 6,\” confirms the long-held belief by Alpha Kappa Alpha’s international president Barbara A. McKinzie that the charges levied against the young man were motivated by \”prosecutorial overzealousness.\” She said the dramatic turn of events should strengthen the resolve to demand \”justice in Jena . \”
To that end, she urged Alpha Kappa Alpha’s 200,000 members – and all fair-minded citizens – to fire off letters to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and Attorney General Charles Foti and demand that they wield their constitutional power to call for a new trial. McKinzie said that on behalf of the membership, she is sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice asking that federal officials intervene and investigate this issue to make sure the Constitutional rights of these young men are protected.
\”Driven by a racist dynamic in the city of Jena, Louisiana , the district attorney who levied the charges is guilty of prosecutorial overreach,\” declared McKinzie. \”Because lives are at stake, we demand that the Governor, the Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice launch an immediate investigation and right this judicial abuse of discretion. These boys are entitled to their Constitutional right to fairness. Right now, the scales of justice are heavily tilted against the young men.\”
Barbara A. McKinzie
Alpha Kappa Alpha international president
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