Post by venezia4ever on Sept 19, 2007 13:23:41 GMT -5
Bowie fights 'injustice'
(Wednesday September 19, 2007 05:28 PM)
David Bowie has made a $10,000 donation to the defence fund backing a black American teenager involved in a controversial assault trial.
The imprisonment of Mychal Bell in Jena has prompted outrage in the US, where many believe he is innocent of attacking a white classmate.
Bell was convicted in June as part of the 'Jena Six', who all stand accused of being involved in the assault, and was reportedly tried as an adult despite being 16 at the time.
The conviction has stirred racial tension in the area, with 60,000 people expected to march through Jena tomorrow in protest.
The story has also prompted Bowie to make the financial contribution to Bell, who remains in jail as he is unable to meet the $90,000 required for his bail.
Explaining his decision, which was welcomed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Bowie said: "There is clearly a separate and unequal judicial process going on in the town of Jena.
"A donation to the 'Jena Six' Legal Defence Fund is my small gesture indicating my belief that a wrongful charge and sentence should be prevented."
(Wednesday September 19, 2007 05:28 PM)
David Bowie has made a $10,000 donation to the defence fund backing a black American teenager involved in a controversial assault trial.
The imprisonment of Mychal Bell in Jena has prompted outrage in the US, where many believe he is innocent of attacking a white classmate.
Bell was convicted in June as part of the 'Jena Six', who all stand accused of being involved in the assault, and was reportedly tried as an adult despite being 16 at the time.
The conviction has stirred racial tension in the area, with 60,000 people expected to march through Jena tomorrow in protest.
The story has also prompted Bowie to make the financial contribution to Bell, who remains in jail as he is unable to meet the $90,000 required for his bail.
Explaining his decision, which was welcomed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Bowie said: "There is clearly a separate and unequal judicial process going on in the town of Jena.
"A donation to the 'Jena Six' Legal Defence Fund is my small gesture indicating my belief that a wrongful charge and sentence should be prevented."
