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Archived coverage: Trouble in Jena

Tens of thousands poured into the Deep South town of Jena, La., to stage the largest nonviolent civil rights demonstration in years against what they regard as glaring racial injustices.

January 22, 2008

About 50 white separatists rally in Jena. La.

About 50 white separatists protested the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday yesterday in this tiny town, which was thrust into the spotlight months ago by 20,000 demonstrators who claimed prosecutors discriminated against blacks.

September 18, 2007

Blogs help drive Jena protest

There is no single leader. There is no agreed schedule. Organizers aren't even certain where everyone is supposed to gather, let alone use the restroom. The only thing that is known for sure is that thousands of protesters are boarding buses at churches, colleges and community centers across the country this week, headed for this tiny dot on the map of central Louisiana.

September 14, 2007

Appeals court overturns 'Jena 6' conviction

With the prospect of a major national civil rights protest looming next week in the central Louisiana town of Jena, a state appeals court on Friday abruptly vacated the felony conviction of a black teenager accused of beating a white student in a case fraught with racial tensions.

September 5, 2007

Part of 'Jena 6' conviction dropped; charges reduced

Ruling in a racially charged case that has drawn scrutiny from national civil rights leaders, a judge in the small central Louisiana town of Jena on Tuesday partially vacated the conviction of a black teenager accused in the beating of a white student while the district attorney reduced attempted murder charges against two other black co-defendants.

June 29, 2007

Louisiana teen guilty in school beating case

An all-white jury in the central Louisiana town of Jena swiftly convicted a black teenager Thursday for attacking a white student in an incident that capped months of racial unrest and attracted the scrutiny of civil rights leaders concerned about the application of justice in the town.

June 26, 2007

Charge reduced in 'Jena 6' case

The district attorney prosecuting a racially charged beating case in the small Louisiana town of Jena abruptly reduced attempted-murder charges Monday against a black high school student accused of attacking a white student, drawing cautious praise from civil rights leaders who contend the charges were excessive and part of a pattern of uneven justice in the town.

May 20, 2007

Racial demons rear heads

The trouble in Jena started with the nooses. Then it rumbled along the town's jagged racial fault lines. Finally, it exploded into months of violence between blacks and whites.