Mychal Bell, the Jena, La teen at the center of the Jena 6 Movement is back in jail after being sentenced for a previous charges. Bell was in juvenile court Thursday expecting another routine hearing, said Carol Powell Lexing, one of Bell’s attorneys.

Instead, after a six-hour hearing, state District Judge J.P. Mauffrey Jr. sentenced him to 18 months on two counts of simple battery and two counts of criminal destruction of property, Lexing said.

“He’s locked up again,” Marcus Jones said of his 17-year-old son. “No bail has been set or nothing. He’s a young man who’s been thrown in jail again and again, and he just has to take it.” [SOURCE]

Just as Bell was sent back to jail, Essence has releases an interview with his mother based on the Jena 6 injustice...

Essence.com: Are you surprised by the support you’ve received from around the country?

M.B.: I feel very good about it. It’s encouraging to know that so many people are standing behind you and still believe in helping each other. It’s great to see all the civil rights leaders, people in high places and all the thousands of people who came to the march. You sometimes forget that people still love each other like that. We need more of that in the world.

Essence.com: How has this experience changed you?

M.B.: It opened my eyes to see that you can’t trust everybody because everybody’s not your friend. Things can happen to you in the blink of an eye. Your life can change in one day. It made me think about life more and getting my kids together and getting them right with God. We’re with God, but getting them straighter with God. And I realize that your kids can be taken from you with a stroke of a pen.

Essence.com: And what about Mychal? Does he seem different?

M.B.: Yes, but not a lot different. He still likes having fun, talking and laughing with his friends, but being locked up for nine months made him grow up a lot quicker and become a man, a better person. He just knows how to handle life better.

If you’re interested in contributing to the Mychal Bell Defense Fund, please send checks to P.O. Box 2856, Jena, LA 71342

Labels: Jena 6