Jeremiah Munsen pleaded guilty to federal hate crimes charges in connection to his display of a pair of nooses to marchers at the Jena Six rally. Munsen's sentencing is scheduled for August, and the teenager faces up to a year in prison for his role in the incident.CNN.com: Teen Pleads Guilty to Intimidating 'Jena 6' Marchers (April 26, 2008)
Fast Facts:
- Born: ca. 1990
- Hometown: Colfax, Louisiana
- Charges: Hate crime
- Offense: Public display of nooses in order to intimidate, oppress, injure, or threatenABC News: Feds Indict Teen for 'Threatening' Noose (January 24, 2008)
- Case prosecuted by U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney's Office
Background
At the Jena Six rally on September 20, 2007, Munsen and a juvenile passenger drove from Alexandria to Jena with the express purpose of displaying the nooses. Munsen's unnamed juvenile passenger admitted to tying the nooses to the truck, and also admitted that he and his family were members of the Ku Klux Klan. Munsen drove the truck slowly by marchers. Tens of thousands of marchers had gathered in Jena to protest charges of attempted second degree murder filed against several black Jena High School students in connection with an attack on white student Justin Barker in December, 2006.CNN.com: Man faces charges over nooses on truck at Jena march (January 24, 2008) Munsen had initially pleaded not guilty to the hate crimes charges in February, 2008, but reversed his plea in April.International Herald Tribune: Louisiana Man Pleads Not Guilty to Hate Crime (February 7, 2008)
