Sorry to share that one of the Jena 6 students, Bryant Purvis, was arrested this week in Carrollton, Texas. He was charged with misdemeanor assault after an altercation with another student at Hebron High School. Purvis was released on bail and suspended for three days from the school, where he enrolled as a senior after moving to the area to live with a relative.
This is a bad development for the 19-year old. His Jena attorney may have a tougher time getting a plea-deal with District Attorney Reed Walters.
Purvis' arrest is the latest in a series public embarrassments for the Jena defendants, who last summer attracted the sympathies of more than 300,000 petition signers and donations of more than $500,000 to their legal defense fund. [SOURCE]
Purvis' arrest is the latest in a series public embarrassments for the Jena defendants, who last summer attracted the sympathies of more than 300,000 petition signers and donations of more than $500,000 to their legal defense fund. [SOURCE]
What do you think of this latest Jena Six news?
11 comments:
I bet he was being ragged BADLY by his new classmates. I want to give him the benefit. But still he should have resisted temptation.
It's been my experience that teens can be very high-strung and feel invinsible. They don't think about the consequences or the big picture. And that seems to go double for young black men (and women) who feel like they're always catching hell. They become reactionary.
I have a rather unpopular view on Jena six, and I saw this bit of news over at Hicktown Express and commented about it there. This was my comment:
"I had all types of issues with the Jena 6 group. I do agree they were treated unfairly but I still feel that what THEY DID was not right. I also had issues with them getting all that money and not fully paying their legal fees. but I think what put me on full tilt about them was seeing them at the BET Awards like they did something that other black kids should be proud of.
I am disgusted that this group of black kids jumped this one white kid (The reasons did not justify the act), I was disgusted that they got money for it, I was disgusted that half of America though they deserved all the fame and glory they got(because the world is so unfair to them…yea), and I was disgusted that they were walking the Red Carpet like they were Denzel or Will Smith or someone of character.
They just told black kids in America that no matter what injustices happen to you, retaliation is acceptable, and you get money and fame for it!
I am not at all surprised by this turn of events…"
I am saddened by the continuation of such sad behaviors but not at all surprised.
shocked, but not surprised.
We failed to provide what is needed...conflict resolution training for all involved. Many teens and adults do not know how to resolve conflicts without the use of violence or passive-aggressive behaviors. This is another example of how we don't resolve the problems that are causes these behaviors.
The Urban Scientist - Yes, many of us feel invincible even in our 20s, 30s or 40s. However, you would think that someone in the midst of such a public plea-deal period would know better...
Regina - BET took advantage of the youngsters ... no question about it. I wish that they had parents or guardians that protected them from such poor judgement. I agree that the beating of the white kid deserves punishment. If the district attorney had appropriately punished the six kids ... the issue would be done and over. The problem is that the district attorney tried to convict them of attempted murder with over 20 year punishment. That is where we had a problem...
Bria & Ray - Thanx for sharing your village voice...
I am very saddened by this. It ensures me of at least one thing. Gratitude and respect for the support received from millions is not even the least bit evident.
As others have said, I'm not all that surprised. Their behavior in the aftermath has been a bit indicative of more bull to come. *smh*
Was there not any anger management classes for these kids after they went free? The sentencing for them was a bit much but they were still involved in a fight, they needed some kind of counseling for this as well.
His behavior might be a result of people praising the Jena 6 as if they were leaders of the civil rights movement and people not teaching them right from wrong. Did they just get a smack on the hand and that's it?
I remember this boy and his mom declaring his innocence on tv and saying that he was not even apart of the fight just in the vicinity.
I don't know what the circumstances are that lead him to fight here in Texas, so I'm not going to be too judgmental. He's a teen with national exposure starting a new school, and I will leave at that until we learn more. I don't think this helps his defense any.
Don't blame the kids for the nation raising them up as heroes and icons. This was not about the Jena 6, it was about racial injustice. It was time, if not them someone else would have been symbolic of a racist system that implore different standards based on race and economics.
The protest wasn't about the crime committed, but the sentence delve out for the offense. You don't give teenage boys attempted murder charges for an assault and argue the murder weapon as a tennis shoe.
I am surprised, if I had a whole nation going to bat for me, I would be on my best behavior and my parents would have had their foot so far up my behind that I would be scared to cross the line. At 19 years old, I was in college. He keep this up, he will be 21 before he graduates.
Sheila - Is *smh* your initials? Anyhow, I agree that there is a lack of understanding about how much these six young men will be under the microscope for many years to come...
Deidra - They are still subject to jail time for the beating that they gave to the young man at Jena HS. It does appear that they don't understand how serious a matter that it is for them to stay straight/narrow & clean for many moons to come...
Mrs. Grapevine - Yeah, I was surprised to see that he was still in school at 19 years old. Hopefully, he can turn his life around. I think it was a good idea for him Mom to get him out of Jena ... but, perhaps she should have gone with him...
Villager,
SMH means (shaking my head)
Re the Jena 6- These kids were being who they were. Folks went and made them icons for some movement. They just didn't want to go to jail for 20 years, but it probably was never their intention to become Rosa Parks.
Regarding the BET Awards. I ain't gone lie, i would have had time turning down the opportunity. I have had a fleeting brush with "fame" and know how "caught up' you can get with it.
I agree with Regina. I always questioned trying to convert them into heroes for jumping another kid 6 on 1. People contorted themselves trying to come up with a reson why it was okay, but at the end of the day, the behavior was wrong and we should have found a way to fight against a perceived abuse of prosecutor discretion without attempting to make these boys choir boys.
Gina - All points well taken. I've seen your comments on the Icaraus experience that you've had recently. I don't know the insides of it ... but, I am glad that you are taking back sole control of WAOD!
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