Freedom’s Journal
	Black Law Students Association Newsletter 9/24/2007
	Message from the President, Greetings BLSA, This is the second edition of our newsletter so please feel free to comment and add any suggestions that you feel will improve it. Just as an introduction I have included our chapter’s expression of support for the Jena 6 that was sent to last week. Also, if you are aware of any students that are interested in receiving information regarding the Black Law Students Association please put them in contact with me. Thank you, Robert Patillo --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Immediate Release September 17, 2007 Today, Six young men remain imprisoned in connection with events which evoke the darkest days of Jim Crow. Mychal Bell, 17, Robert Bailey Jr., 17; Theo Shaw, 17; Carwin Jones, 18; Bryant Purvis, 17; and a minor have become victims of a system which seeks to maintain racial separation and subjugation through discriminatory prosecution. Just as Will Brown in Omaha, Nebraska (1919); Dick Rowland in Tulsa, Oklahoma (1921); and Emmett Till in Money, Mississippi (1955), these young men were arrested in order to enforce the social status quo. These arrests were not motivated by a need to enforce the law, but rather a need to ensure that African-Americans in the community understood the consequences of stepping out of their "place." District Attorney J. Reed Walters has followed in the long progeny of Sheriff Jim Clark, Chief Laurie Pritchett, and "Bull" Connor as the enforcer of a communities social norms and the face of the "New South." But today, we join with others around this nation to voice support for these young men and the efforts to free them. On Sept. 20, thousands are expected to converge on Jena, La. and the LaSalle Parish Courthouse for the “March on Jena.” But, more important than the support shown at this march, we call for national pressure on District Attorney Walters to inject fairness and justice into these proceedings. In this season on politics we find it deplorable that no candidate for the Presidency of these United States, of either party, has stood up in strong defense of these young men. For this reason, we call upon all persons whom have a public mouthpiece and believe in social justice and equality to stand against this injustice. On Sept. 19th at Noon, Officials representing various organizations will present petitions to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen B. Blanco at the State Capitol. These petitions and the thousands of signatures which they contain signify the outrage of a nation concerning these young men and the incidents which led to their current situation. Individuals are urged to sign the petition found online at www.naacp.org up until that time. Robert Patillo President, Chicago Kent College of Law Black Law Student Association rpatillo@kentlaw.edu Office of the Treasurer, If we have not received your dues for BLSA.  If you do not pay your dues, you will not be able to participate in NBLSA job fairs.  Late dues payments also make it difficult for us to balance our accounts.  Please deposit a check for $25 (made out to Chicago-Kent) by AT THE LATEST TUESDAY at 5pm in the BLSA mailbox.  You may also pay via cash or money order in a sealed envelope with your name on it. If you believe you are reaching this email in error, please let me know.  If do not wish to be a member of BLSA, please let me know that also, and I will update the email list. Thanks, Chris Lutz (clutz@kentlaw.edu) Office of the Vice President, Midwest BLSA Academic Retreat in St. Louis, MO. Hello BLSA, I would like to inform everyone of the Midwest BLSA Academic Retreat in St. Louis, MO.  The retreat runs from October 12^th through October 14^th.  There is NO REGISTRATION FEE to attend the retreat.  The only cost would be for transportation to and from St. Louis and the Hotel rate of $85 per night.  Megabus provides roundtrip service to St. Louis for around $36-42 and Southwest also provides roundtrip service for around $100.  Registration is open until Sept. 28^th.  With that said, we would like to find out how many BLSA members would be interested in attending.  This retreat has a strong academic emphasis on 1L success.  One of the confirmed speakers is the author of the “Acing Civil Procedure” book.  Please review the attached materials for more information.  If you are interested please email me at dsteele@kentlaw.edu.  If enough individuals are interested in attending there may be a possibility for BLSA to subsidize transportation and/or hotel cost.  Take care, Derek A. Steele Office of Academic Support, RESCHEDULED!  RESCHEDULED!  RESCHEDULED!  RESCHEDULED! SUCCESSFUL REWRITES has been rescheduled. Tuesday, October 2 at 12 noon Room 270 Wednesday, October 3 at 5 pm Room 210 Any questions, please contact Juliette Gallegos at jgallegos@kentlaw.edu. RESCHEDULED!  RESCHEDULED!  RESCHEDULED!  RESCHEDULED!