Jena 6 tree cut down

[Anita Garcia]

<http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770731013>
"A clean slate," LaSalle Parish School Board member Billy Fowler said of why the tree was cut down in the past few weeks. "There's nothing positive about that old tree. It's all negative. And I'm serving on the new School Board, and we're wanting to start fresh on some things."

Schools Superintendent Roy Breithaupt authorized the tree to be cut down, Fowler said. Breithaupt on Monday refused to comment about the tree while discussing plans for rebuilding the school after an arson fire destroyed one the school's buildings.

Fowler said the tree eventually would have been cut down for construction purposes, but that he also is hopeful its removal will help heal old wounds.

"School's about to start," he said. "We don't want the blacks coming back up there looking at the tree knowing what happened, or the whites. We just want to start fresh."

[Az]

1. One tree chopped down does not equal 6 lives destroyed

Justice has still not been served.

[zabet]

2. The tree was innocent. n/t

[angrycarpenter]

3. What the hell?

That school has a more serious problem than A tree bringing back memories.like an administration trying to sweep it under the rug and pretend it didn't happen. I grew up in Alabama continually appalled at the casual racism that surrounded me. I was once beaten because I said that MLKjr had some pretty good ideas(I am white).I kind of naively thought that maybe things had improved in 30 years.

[aikoaiko]

4. Its too bad they didn't cut it down right after the nooses went up...

....and made some strong anti-racist statements.

There might have been a few less beatings and fewer kids on trial.

[Fearless]

5. Well cutting down the tree

means that they've dealt with it, and don't have to do anything else. Hey look guys we did something. It didn't help any but our hearts were in the right place. :sarcasm:

[stillcool]

6. I can't believe this story...

it's coming up more and more. I knew this country had racists but I never realized how little had changed from the 60's. More delusions.