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Bowie supports US race row teens | Bowie supports US race row teens |
(about 7 hours later) | |
David Bowie has made a $10,000 (£4,981) donation to a legal defence fund for six black teenagers charged with assault on a white student in the US. | David Bowie has made a $10,000 (£4,981) donation to a legal defence fund for six black teenagers charged with assault on a white student in the US. |
One of the teens, Mychal Bell, was found guilty of second degree battery in June by an all-white jury before the case was overturned by an appeal court. | One of the teens, Mychal Bell, was found guilty of second degree battery in June by an all-white jury before the case was overturned by an appeal court. |
The court said Bell, 16 at the time of the alleged incident in December 2006, should not have been tried as an adult. | The court said Bell, 16 at the time of the alleged incident in December 2006, should not have been tried as an adult. |
Five others face charges. Bowie said Jena's judicial process was "unequal". | Five others face charges. Bowie said Jena's judicial process was "unequal". |
"A donation to the Jena 6 Legal Defence Fund is my small gesture indicating my belief that a wrongful charge and sentence should be prevented," said the 60-year-old in a statement published on his website. | "A donation to the Jena 6 Legal Defence Fund is my small gesture indicating my belief that a wrongful charge and sentence should be prevented," said the 60-year-old in a statement published on his website. |
The other students accused are Robert Bailey, 17, Theodore Shaw, 17, Carwin Jones, 18, and Bryant Purvis, 17. | The other students accused are Robert Bailey, 17, Theodore Shaw, 17, Carwin Jones, 18, and Bryant Purvis, 17. |
A fifth teenager was booked as a juvenile and charges have not been made public | |
Racial tensions | Racial tensions |
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which is supporting the group's defence case, said it was pleased Bowie had got involved. | The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which is supporting the group's defence case, said it was pleased Bowie had got involved. |
"We are gratified that rock star David Bowie was moved to donate to the NAACP's Jena campaign," said Julian Bond, chairman of the organisation's board of directors. | "We are gratified that rock star David Bowie was moved to donate to the NAACP's Jena campaign," said Julian Bond, chairman of the organisation's board of directors. |
"Mr Bowie shares our outrage. We hope others will join him," he added. | "Mr Bowie shares our outrage. We hope others will join him," he added. |
Thousands are expected to march in protest through the small town of Jena on Thursday. | Thousands are expected to march in protest through the small town of Jena on Thursday. |
The Reverend Al Sharpton has helped organise the march and will later visit Mr Bell, who remains in jail because he cannot raise the $90,000 (£44,900) bail money. | The Reverend Al Sharpton has helped organise the march and will later visit Mr Bell, who remains in jail because he cannot raise the $90,000 (£44,900) bail money. |
The alleged assault followed a series of racial incidents between black and white students which began at Jena High School last summer. | The alleged assault followed a series of racial incidents between black and white students which began at Jena High School last summer. |
A black student asked the school's principal whether he was permitted to sit under the shade of the school courtyard tree, a place traditionally reserved for white students only. He was told he could sit where he liked. | A black student asked the school's principal whether he was permitted to sit under the shade of the school courtyard tree, a place traditionally reserved for white students only. He was told he could sit where he liked. |
The following morning, when the students arrived at school, they found three nooses dangling from the tree. | The following morning, when the students arrived at school, they found three nooses dangling from the tree. |
The school's head recommended the noose-hangers be expelled but the governing board overruled him and the three white student perpetrators were briefly suspended. | The school's head recommended the noose-hangers be expelled but the governing board overruled him and the three white student perpetrators were briefly suspended. |
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