New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. issued the following statement at a news conference today concerning the unfair treatment of six black students in Jena, Louisiana:

“I have been horrified and outraged by the racist and hateful behavior that has taken place in Jena, Louisiana. It is especially reprehensible that the school system and the justice system have been unfairly persecuting six black Jena High School students while issuing minimal punishments for those students who perpetrated these hate crimes. This case is an egregious and clear-cut case of racism. I join the call for justice for the Jena Six.”

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