September 19, 2007 16:35

David Bowie donates $10,000 to defend US accused

Thin White Duke helps out 'Jena Six' as protests mount

David Bowie has contributed $10,000 to a defence fund for the ‘Jena Six’, a group of black American teenagers who many believe are innocent of the assault of a white classmate.

One of the teenagers, Mychal Bell, was convicted of second degree battery in June, although this verdict was later overturned by the Third Circuit Court of Appeal as he was sixteen at the time of the crime but was tried as an adult.

Despite this, however, Bell remains in jail, unable to raise $90,000 needed for his bail.

Commenting on his donation, David Bowie said: “There is clearly a separate and unequal judicial process going on in the town of Jena. A donation to the Jena Six Legal Defence Fund is my small gesture indicating my belief that a wrongful charge and sentence should be prevented."

It’s estimated that up to 60,000 protestors will march through Jena tomorrow (September 20) in protest at the affair and other cases of racial tension in the area. It’s not yet known whether charges will be brought against Bell again.

Julian Bond of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said: "We are gratified that rock star David Bowie was moved to donate to the NAACP's Jena campaign. We hope others will join him."