A historic moment took place on Thursday when thousands of people from across the country rallied in Jena Louisiana demanding equal justice. A march of that magnitude had not taken place since the civil rights movement.

Six months ago Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were in Selma, AL commemorating the civil rights march that took place there over 40 years ago, telling the people how much they support civil rights and civil liberties for blacks. Senator Clintons senate website states:

One of our nation’s greatest assets is the respect the Constitution affords civil rights and civil liberties. I have strongly supported, through original co-sponsorship, comprehensive civil rights legislation, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, also known as the "hate crimes" bill, which strengthens the federal government's ability to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.

What I would like to know is where was Hillary Clinton during this rally? Did she make a statement regarding the Jena 6? I didn’t see her on television making a statement. Did I miss her? I think not.

Where was Barack Obama? Yes, he made a statement on the Steve Harvey morning show but did he make a statement on television? Did I miss him? I think not.

Where were the Republican presidential candidates on this issue? The only candidate I heard make a statement was Governor Huckabee on a talk radio show and his viewpoint was that the rally was hurting the boys and the people should allow the court system to work it out. Is he out of his mind!?

If no one spoke up in defense of Mychal Bell he could have been sentenced to 22 years in prison. If no one spoke up in defense of the Jena 6 the District Attorney would not have dropped his charge from second-degree attempted murder to second-degree battery. These young men’s lives would have been ruined.

I am not saying the candidates needed to come out and say the DA was wrong and the kids were right. No one condoned the behavior of the six teens and everyone agrees that they should suffer some kind of consequence for their actions. However, the candidates could have made a statement in support of equal justice. It could have been as easy as “I don’t know all the facts of the case but a charge of second-degree attempted murder does seem a bit extreme for a high school fight where no serious injuries occurred”

Once again this shows that the democrats are all about politics as usual, got to keep the image up, and the republicans just don’t care enough.

I am a republican, I am a conservative, I am an African-American and I am disappointed.

Who really believes in equal justice? Who really believes in equality for all no matter what race you are? The political candidates who, all of a sudden, couldn’t find the words to speak? The media who hyped this entire story as blacks against white because it made a sensational story? The media who wouldn’t take a second look until the black community scheduled a march of thousands? The conservative talk show hosts who constantly talk about the constitution and the rights we have under them but said “If Jesse Jackson is involved it must be race baiting”?

It seemed to me, based on what I saw on the news, heard on the radio and read in the on-line newspapers, that most of America saw this rally as the black people getting “all up in arms” again about something. Next thing you know, some Americans probably thought, they’ll be screaming for reparations.

CNN kept showing the white residents of Jena saying “We all get along. Our kids all go to the same school. We have never had any problems.” They failed to mention the local barber who wouldn’t cut a black persons hair because it would upset his white customers. This is 2007 isn’t it?

How come the issue of the nooses in the trees was so easily dismissed? I can understand the white residents dismissing it. They have to keep up their image as a nice, country town. However, the justice department actually said the nooses were in no way related to the fight. Are you kidding me? Those three boys who hung those nooses knew how powerful the message would be otherwise they wouldn’t have hung them. They wanted to let the blacks know that regardless of what that principle said, they were not welcomed under that tree. Regardless of the cause of the fight, the nooses were the catalyst for the tension that caused the fight in the first place. A noose, to a black person, has the same emotional impact as a burning cross or a KKK hood. I can guarantee you that the image of those nooses was in the minds of the kids when the fight occurred.

Even after the rally, as the protesters were leaving Alexandria, LA, heading for Tennessee, the police arrested two men who were continually circling around town, repeatedly driving past the protesters with nooses tied to their truck. When they searched the truck they found an unloaded gun and brass knuckles that belonged to the 18-year-old driver. The passenger, a 16-year-old boy, said his family belonged to the KKK and he had KKK tattooed on his chest.

Will you hear about this on mainstream media? I think not. I know white America wants to believe that racism no longer exists but these events in Jena should be a wake up call. Though we have made a lot of strides since the 60’s, we have a black Secretary of State, black movie stars, black Miss America, etc. we still have a lot of work to do. It seems that the Civil Rights movement passed by Jena, Louisiana. How many other small towns have been passed by? How many urban cities have regressed?

Racism has always existed and will always exist. We will never be able to create a utopia. The fight for equality will continue until the day Jesus returns.

To all my white friends who still can’t understand what all the hoopla is about, just know that you can’t understand because you are not black and, therefore, will never experience racism. Give the person who says racism exists the benefit of the doubt because it is still out there.

With all that said, I still believe America is the greatest nation on this earth and I was blessed by God the day I was born in this country.