Theo Shaw, Jena Six defendant, heads to law school

Jena 6 defendant Theo Shaw is heading to law school.

Do you remember the Jena 6? 6 black young men from a small town in Louisiana that were charged with attempted murder after a fight at their high school.

The boys were written off as criminals in a town that had already had deep rooted issues with race.

A Louisiana prosecutor had one of the defendants Theo Shaw charged with attempted murder, alleging that he participated in an attack at Jena High School, a high school so boiling with racial tension that three white students there had hung a noose from a tree.

Although the white classmate they fought was soon discharged from the emergency room and felt well enough to attend a school event the next day, the six boys had to be taught a lesson. They wanted to throw away the key on them.

I remember the coverage so well. In New York City a radio host by the name of Michael Baisden campaigned to rally for support of those six young men. And as the news started to spread, thousands of people across the country went to Jena and expressed their anger at Louisiana’s attempt to permanently ruin the young men’s lives.

Theo Shaw, whose inability to post bail had left him in jail seven months, was eventually released. Though he insists that he played no role in the attack on the student, in court Shaw pleaded no contest to misdemeanor simple battery.

Almost eight years after the incident, Shaw is proving that his life did matter and will be breaking free from Louisiana.

Theo Shaw will be enrolling this fall at the School of Law at the University of Washington. Not only will he be enrolling, but he will be going on a full scholarship as he’s been chosen as one of the incoming class’ five William H. Gates Public Service Law Scholars.

Years later we wouldn’t be talking about Shaw’s accomplishment if the system was allowed to write him and the other five young men off.

Through the love and support, it took Shaw time to believe that he was as good as his supporters were telling him.

“I had to believe in their belief in me till mine kicked in,” he said. Now a law school in Seattle is expressing a similar belief.

“For a school to believe in you so much that they would just cover everything?” Shaw said. “I’m profoundly grateful.”

Congratulations Theo Shaw!