LaSalle Parish district attorney Reed Walters speaks during a press conference about the Mychal Bell case, one of the Jena Six, at LaSalle Parish Courthouse in Jena, La., Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. Walters said he had decided not to challenge a ruling that sent 17-year-old Bell's case to juvenile court. The case brought more than 20,000 protesters to the central Louisiana town of Jena last week.
Melissa Bell, second from left, leaves after a hearing for her son Mychal Bell at LaSalle Parish Courthouse in Jena, La., Friday, Sept. 21, 2007. A relative of one of the group of black teenagers known as the "Jena Six" said a judge denied bail Friday for Mychal Bell, the only one of the teens who is jailed in the December beating of a white classmate.
Some of the thousands of demonstrators march through Jena, La., Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, in support of the "Jena Six," six black teenagers initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of Justin Barker, a white classmate, in the small Louisiana town.
Melissa Bell, mother of Mychal Bell, wipes a tear during a rally in front of the LaSalle Parish Courthouse before a march in support of the "Jena six" in Jena, La., Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007. Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Jena in support of six black teenagers initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate. Mychal Bell is the only one of the group to be tried so far.
Protesters march up a street Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, in Jena, La. Thousands of chanting demonstrators filled the streets of the little Louisiana town Thursday in support of six black teenagers initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate.
A large crowd gathers in the heart of town during a march and rally in support of the "Jena Six" in Jena, La., Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007. Thousands of chanting demonstrators filled the streets of the little Louisiana town Thursday in support of six black teenagers initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate.
Radio personality Michael Baisden, second from left, walks with Rev. Al Sharpton, third from left, and Melissa Bell, mother of Mychal Bell, right, behind two Louisiana State Troopers during a march in support of the "Jena Six" in Jena, La., Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007.
Andrea Blalock, left, checks out a shirt for her husband Thomas Blalock, both from Stockbridge, Ga. as they prepare for a march in support of the "Jena Six" in Jena, La., Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007. Hundreds of people, from college students to veterans of the civil rights movements, headed for Jena and a rally in support of six black teens who were initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate.
Loris Boyd, of Marietta, Ga., makes signs before a march Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007 in Jena, La. With thousands of protesters expected to march through the tiny central Louisiana town on Thursday, schools in Jena were closed and many businesses in the town were shut down, as owners were concerned about whether the march will remain peaceful.
Louisiana State Police and other law enforcement officers arrive at the LaSalle Parish Courthouse in preparation for a march in support of the "Jena Six" in Jena, La., Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007. Students from schools across the country were en route to Jena on Wednesday to join the march.
Louisiana State Police stand in front of the LaSalle Parish Courthouse as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference talk to the media in Jena, La., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. Two marches are planned for Thursday in Jena.
Charley Arceneaux, owner of Whaler Customs signs and t-shirts, poses for a photograph after he placed "Free the Jena Six" shirts in front of his shop in New Orleans Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. Arceneaux had to print more of the shirts, which are selling for $10, as supplies dwindled. He planed to close his shop on Thursday to make the trip to Jena for the march in support of the Jena 6 in Jena, La.
A pick-up truck is painted in support of Justin Barker, the alleged victim of a beating by a group of black teenagers who have come to be called the Jena Six, in Jena, La., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. The streets around this tiny town's courthouse began filling with protesters and reporters Wednesday, a day ahead of a planned march in support of six black teenagers jailed in the December beating of a white classmate.
Charles Steele Jr., president & CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, speaks in front of the La Salle Parish Courthouse Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007 in Jena, La.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson answers questions from the news media on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, at Goodpine Middle School in Jena, La. Jackson spoke to about 200 people at the school where he urged the 3,000 residents of Jena to come together to demand equal justice.
Justin Barker in the hospital after he was beaten on Dec. 4, 2006, in Jena, La. Barker was treated and released from the hospital. The streets around this tiny town's courthouse began filling with protesters Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007 a day ahead of a planned march in support of six black teenagers jailed in the December beating of a white classmate.