Yesterday, between 60,000 and 100,000 people across the nation (according to Facebook) took part in a demonstration supporting the act of freeing six black teenagers from Jena, La., known as the Jena Six.

After a series of ‘pranks,’ which would more aptly be called hate crimes, racial tensions flared when six black students knocked a white student unconscious and continued to beat him as he lay there. The six students, all under 18 years old, were initially charged with attempted murder as adults, despite the white student’s life not being in jeopardy (he was released from the hospital that night).

Since Facebook should never be considered a legitimate source for any knowledge, I checked several other news associations for more information on the events described and I found a troubling slant being taken on the story. The community has been split largely down racial lines, trials have been biased, and I think it is well within reason to say that the charges against all of the six students were blown far out of proportion.

There are two points that trouble me. The first is that Facebook is being used to polarize the topic and misrepresent the issue (potentially adding tension to a situation that already has enough). The second is the idea of justice that both sides of this tension are perpetuating. At no point does anything written by proponents of freeing the Jena Six express any regret that a student was thoroughly beaten, nor have I been able to find any indication that the Jena Six themselves express any regret over having beaten another student.

It’s irresponsible to claim, as protesters have, that they’re ‘symbolizing growth and surpassing hate’ when they are in fact justifying hate crimes that are being committed on both sides of the racial divide. Everyone involved should have to reckon with a fair justice system. The Jena Six have become an unfortunately politicized issue where both sides refuse to acknowledge their own shortcomings; what they reflect is a problem that we will not be able to solve until both sides are willing to actually believe in the justice they so eagerly call for.

I hate to mention, but still, I wonder, what would Facebook say and what would the response have been if roles had been reversed?