The NAACP Portland Branch will hold a rally in Portland tonight to show support for the Jena 6, the Louisiana high school students who were charged last fall with attempted murder.

The rally will be held from 5 to 7 at Tommy's Park in the Old Port. Coordinating the rally is the Black Bird Collective, a law collective formed recently to fight racism and injustice in the legal system.

The local event coincides with a massive rally ongoing today in Jena, La., led by family members of the six boys, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and NAACP leaders.

Last fall, after two black students at the high school in Jena sat beneath the "white tree" on campus, nooses were hung from the tree. There was no punishment for that action from the school, police or local prosecutors.

According to the statement issued this morning by the NAACP Portland Branch:
"A series of white-on-black incidents of violence followed, and the DA did nothing. But when a white student was beaten up in a school yard fight, the DA responded by charging six black students with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder."

People at the rallies are calling for Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco to get involved, and for District Attorney Reed Walters to drop the charges.