Attorney Alan Howard Gives Jesse Ray Beard, the Youngest of the Jena Six, a Second Chance to Excel

I fervently believe in giving people a second chance to prove themselves and their mettle. I was deeply moved when I read about Jesse Ray Beard, one of the Jena Six, who has turned his life around and is well on his way to realizing his potentials. He would not have changed courses in such a remarkable way had it not been for his attorney Alan Howard, a white man, who saw the goodness and the potential this young man holds. Mr. Howard met Beard, the youngest of African American kids who made up the Jena Six, when he represented him in a lawsuit filed by beating victim Justin Barker. Howard said in an interview with CNN that his first impression of Beard -- that he had "tremendous character, tremendous resilience and tremendous potential" -- was so strong he invited the teen to live with his family in New England. This meeting has forever changed Jesse Ray Beard's life.

Beard, 18, now interns at a New York law firm as he prepares for his senior year next month at Canterbury School, a Connecticut prep academy where Beard is highly regarded among peers and teachers. There is always a lesson to be learned from the most adverse situation we can find ourselves in. Had it not been for the palpable racial tension in the small Louisiana town of Jena and the controversy surrounding the Jena Six, this young man would never have crossed paths with Mr. Howard. He removed him from everything he has ever known and forced him to fly -- to soar the skies -- and chart a new course for his life.

Beard's mother, Stella, made "the ultimate sacrifice," to allow her son a shot at a better life. She allowed Howard to pursue guardianship and sent her son 1,500 miles to the New England town of Bedford. Howard said she put aside Jena Six donations to help Howard pay Canterbury's $40,000-a-year tuition. The best thing Beard did was to leave Jena in 2008 and the past behind him. This act of kindness by a white man, Alan Howard, has forever changed Jesse Ray Beard's life for the best.

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Photo credit: Jesse Ray Beard & Alan Howard, CNN

Mychal Bell, Jena Six Icon, Arrested on Shoplifting Charges, Reportedly Shot Himself in Chest

After so many people championed the cause of Jena Six, the last thing I expected to hear was that Mychal Bell, 18, was in trouble again. According to the Newsstar, Bell is free on bond following a Christmas Eve arrest on multiple charges, including shoplifting, resisting arrest and simple battery, related to an incident at Dillard’s in Pecanland Mall. Bell was arrested less than one month after he completed a sentence for his role in the beating of a fellow classmate, Justin Barker, at Jena High School in 2006.

Police said Bell and an unidentified male were spotted Wednesday by store security after they placed $370 worth of merchandise in a Dillard’s shopping bag. After the two separated, Bell left the store, was followed by a security officer, and began running through the parking lot. Police said Bell was discovered under a vehicle in the Sears parking lot. Lt. Jeff Harris said Bell began “swinging his arms wildly” and delivered a glancing blow to the security officer with his elbow.

Bell was booked into Richwood Correctional Center and released on $1,300 bond. He will be arraigned at a later date. Each of the charges carries a possible penalty of up to six months in jail. Louis Scott who has represented Bell in the past said that preconceived notions on the part of Dillard’s employees may have played a role in Bell’s arrest. “Dillard’s has a tradition of being overly suspicious of young black males,” Scott said. Scott said that personal and court experiences have led him to that conclusion. “He should at least have the presumption of innocence,” he said.

Dillard’s has been accused racial profiling in lawsuits in Texas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Georgia. A Dillard’s store manager in Monroe referred requests for comment to Roger Williams in the company’s Little Rock, Ark., office. A spokesperson who answered the phone in William’s office said he would have no comment on the matter. Scott has not been contacted to represent Bell on the current charges.“I am predicting that once all the facts are established, he probably will not be guilty,” Scott said. “There has been more put on this young man than anybody can bear — people trying to provoke him, trying to make him react.“If he was going to break the law, I believe he would have done it before.” Source: The Newsstar

I also read that he shot himself in the chest, but the wound is non-life threatening. Now, this young man should behave himself and watch the company he keeps. I am reminded of Rodney King and the widespread support he received for the brutal police beating he endured. After the dust settled, Rodney King never really changed his ways. He continued to have brushes with the law. OJ Simpson also comes to mind. He was acquitted in the murders of his wife and Ron Goldman, but he just couldn't change his attitude. His sociopathic behavior helped to land him in prison for a long time. People are making excuses that this young man is marked, but what about personal responsibility? If you have had a brush with the law, conventional wisdom would dictate a complete paradigm shift and a more reserved lifestyle. You can't continue the same lifestyle that helped to get you in trouble in the first place. It is a shame and if this young man doesn't get his act together, he may very well end up behind bars for a longer stint.

Mychal Bell, Jena Six Icon, Arrested on Shoplifting Charges, Reportedly Shot Himself in Chest

After so many people championed the cause of Jena Six, the last thing I expected to hear was that Mychal Bell, 18, was in trouble again. According to the Newsstar, Bell is free on bond following a Christmas Eve arrest on multiple charges, including shoplifting, resisting arrest and simple battery, related to an incident at Dillard’s in Pecanland Mall. Bell was arrested less than one month after he completed a sentence for his role in the beating of a fellow classmate, Justin Barker, at Jena High School in 2006.

Police said Bell and an unidentified male were spotted Wednesday by store security after they placed $370 worth of merchandise in a Dillard’s shopping bag. After the two separated, Bell left the store, was followed by a security officer, and began running through the parking lot. Police said Bell was discovered under a vehicle in the Sears parking lot. Lt. Jeff Harris said Bell began “swinging his arms wildly” and delivered a glancing blow to the security officer with his elbow.

Bell was booked into Richwood Correctional Center and released on $1,300 bond. He will be arraigned at a later date. Each of the charges carries a possible penalty of up to six months in jail. Louis Scott who has represented Bell in the past said that preconceived notions on the part of Dillard’s employees may have played a role in Bell’s arrest. “Dillard’s has a tradition of being overly suspicious of young black males,” Scott said. Scott said that personal and court experiences have led him to that conclusion. “He should at least have the presumption of innocence,” he said.

Dillard’s has been accused racial profiling in lawsuits in Texas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Georgia. A Dillard’s store manager in Monroe referred requests for comment to Roger Williams in the company’s Little Rock, Ark., office. A spokesperson who answered the phone in William’s office said he would have no comment on the matter. Scott has not been contacted to represent Bell on the current charges.“I am predicting that once all the facts are established, he probably will not be guilty,” Scott said. “There has been more put on this young man than anybody can bear — people trying to provoke him, trying to make him react.“If he was going to break the law, I believe he would have done it before.” Source: The Newsstar

I also read that he shot himself in the chest, but the wound is non-life threatening. Now, this young man should behave himself and watch the company he keeps. I am reminded of Rodney King and the widespread support he received for the brutal police beating he endured. After the dust settled, Rodney King never really changed his ways. He continued to have brushes with the law. OJ Simpson also comes to mind. He was acquitted in the murders of his wife and Ron Goldman, but he just couldn't change his attitude. His sociopathic behavior helped to land him in prison for a long time. People are making excuses that this young man is marked, but what about personal responsibility? If you have had a brush with the law, conventional wisdom would dictate a complete paradigm shift and a more reserved lifestyle. You can't continue the same lifestyle that helped to get you in trouble in the first place. It is a shame and if this young man doesn't get his act together, he may very well end up behind bars for a longer stint.