Three Wrongs to Right

Three conflicts; three outcomes, with only one positive. That about sums up my feelings on the "Jena 6," the dust-up over the West End land deal and the Jim Moran controversy.

The 'Jena 6'

If the schoolyard fight had involved only white high school students or only black students, we wouldn't be reading about Jena, La. But it's not that simple.

A tree for white students only. Three hangman's nooses. Fights between black students and white students.

Enter, a white prosecutor out to put blacks in their place. White students were suspended. Black students were expelled, arrested and charged (as adults) with felonies.

The disproportionately heavy hand of the law on black males -- a story as old as America.

Sick and tired. Converge on Jena. Vigils. Wear black. Peaceful protest this time.

Next time -- and there will be a next time, unless that unfair prosecution is reversed and our unjust criminal justice system is changed -- there's no telling what an angry community acting in solidarity can and will do.

The West End Deal

Without fanfare, and after a little-publicized public hearing, the D.C. Council voted 12 to 1 in July to pass "emergency" legislation authorizing Mayor Adrian Fenty to negotiate a no-bid sale of the West End public library and surrounding city land to EastBanc, a private developer with an important link to Fenty's administration. The EastBanc official in charge of acquisitions is Joe Sternlieb, the husband of D.C. Attorney General Linda Singer.

Neighborhood leaders in Ward 2 went ballistic when they learned.

With opposition mounting, the bill's chief sponsor, Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), joined by Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large) -- both of whom are seeking reelection next year -- flip-flopped. They announced that they would ask the council to reconsider the sale at the next legislative meeting, on Oct. 2.

My interest is parochial.

The King family home occupied the West End library branch site at 24th and L streets NW from my time in grade school through my second year of college.