A “Jena 6” activist and relative to one of the youths involved in the famous Louisiana civil rights case was convicted March 31 on three counts of distribution of a controlled substance and potentially faces decades of jail time.
According to the Louisiana Justice Institute blog, activist Catrina Wallace appeared in a Louisiana court on March 31. The case was prosecuted by Lasalle Parish District Attorney Reed Waters, who also prosecuted the “Jena 6” trial.
Wallace, 30, is the sister of Robert Bailey, one of the six youths charged with attempted murder following his involvement in a fight at Jena High School nearly four and a half years ago. The so-called “Jena 6” case gained national attention and prompted massive protests from individuals who believed the teens were charged too harshly for a crime originally incited by racial threats and tension.
Amid the controversy, Wallace and her mother organized sweeping protests and jump-started a community organization focused on assisting youth. Nearly 50,000 supporters of the teens marched through the town of Jena and officials later freed the young men. Most of the men in the famous sextet are now in college.
Wallace’s conviction is part of Jena’s “Operation Third Option,” an alleged plan implemented by Lasalle Parish Sheriff Scott Franklin to crack down on drugs. But according to The Huffington Post, some residents believe the move is retaliation against the Blacks in the community for their protest in the “Jena 6” case.
“This is racially motivated,” Marcus Jones, the father of one of the Jena 6 youths told The Huffington Post. “It’s revenge.”
Implemented in 2009, “Operation Third Option” called for SWAT teams and helicopters to arrest alleged drug offenders by surprise. The plan led to the arrest of and charges against more than a dozen people, including Wallace. Most of the arrests have resulted in long prison sentences, with the highest to date being twenty-five years.
While authorities didn’t seize any drugs following the raid, they claim to have video-taped evidence by police informant and convicted drug dealer Evan Brown.
Franklin has said he is seeking maximum penalties for those charged with largely small-time offenses. Critics say he has exclusively targeted African-Americans, as he sent his 150 officers only into the town’s Black neighborhood.
Wallace, a mother of three, told the Post that she was sleeping in her bed with one of her children when police broke down her door and pointed guns at the two of them, prior to arresting her.
Wallace is being held on $1 million bail and awaits sentencing later this month.