I have attached some information that any and everyone traveling to Jena, LA in support of the "Jena 6" should know in order to avoid adding what could potentially be hundreds of thousands of dollars to the economy in Jena, LA and the La Salle Parish. In example, if just 5,000 people show up and spend just $20 each, that's $10,000 added to support the community and political leadership. If we show up in a force 10,000 strong, and each spends just $10, that's $100,000 added to that community. Let's send not only a political message, but an ECONOMIC message to the people of Jena, the La Salle Parish and all the world watching as we unite in a manner we have not seen in far too many years.
Be prepared. Be patient. Be poised. Be powerful. Be proud.
This communication is intended to ensure that those traveling to support the “Jena 6” do not make this an opportunity for economic prosperity in Jena or the La Salle Parish as there is the potential to add hundreds of thousands of dollars to this community and its political leadership in a matter of 1-2 days. To avoid this economic burst for the businesses and political leadership in this town, you are encouraged to use the enclosed information to spend your money outside of the La Salle Parish.
Below you will find highway routing from various points in Louisiana and Mississippi leading to Jena, LA with points of interest highlighted in various colors. Please note, at the bottom of the page there is a color code for the routing in addition to some key facts about Jena and the La Salle Parish that travelers should be mindful of.
Primarily, as you travel toward Jena, you are encouraged to make your last purchases of gas, food, snack items, ice, etc., BEFORE you get the point in the routing that appears in RED.
On the return, you are encouraged to wait until you get back on the highway/road that appears in GREEN to make any such purchases. This will insure that little to no money is spent in Jena or the La Salle Parish.
Shreveport, LA to Jena, LA
1. Starting in SHREVEPORT, LA on TEXAS ST go toward MARKET ST - go < 0.1 mi
2. Turn LEFT on MARKET ST(US-71 S) - go 0.3 mi
3. Take ramp onto I-20 W toward I-20 E/US-71 S - go 1.0 mi
4. Take exit #17B/ALEXANDRIA onto I-49 S - go 120.0 mi
(38 miles to Jena, LA)
5. Take exit #86/FORT POLK/LEESVILLE/MACARTHUR DR onto US-165 N toward US-71 N/US-165 N - go 15.8 mi
6. Bear RIGHT on LA-8 - go 22.0 mi
7. Turn LEFT on S 1ST ST(LA-127) - go 0.2 mi
8. Turn RIGHT on E OAK ST(US-84) - go < 0.1 mi
9. Arrive at the center of JENA, LA
Distance: 159.7 miles; Time: 2 hours 35 mins (approx.)
Ruston, LA to Jena, LA
1. Starting in RUSTON, LA on W ALABAMA AVE go toward N TRENTON ST - go 0.1 mi
2. Turn LEFT on N VIENNA ST(US-167 N) - go 0.6 mi
3. Turn RIGHT on S SERVICE RD - go < 0.1 mi
4. Take ramp onto I-20 E - go 32.6 mi
(65 miles to Jena, LA)
5. Take exit #118/BASTROP/COLUMBIA onto US-165 S toward 118A/COLUMBIA - go 48.2 mi
6. Turn LEFT on LA-127 - go 16.4 mi
7. Turn LEFT on E OAK ST(US-84) - go < 0.1 mi
8. Arrive at the center of JENA, LA
Distance: 98 miles; Time: 1 hour 45 mins (approx.)
Monroe, LA to Jena, LA
1. Starting in MONROE, LA on LOUISVILLE AVE go toward LOUISVILLE AVE - go < 0.1 mi
2. Turn RIGHT on N 5TH ST(US-165-BR S) - go 0.2 mi
3. Bear LEFT on WINNSBORO RD(US-165-BR S) - go 0.6 mi
4. Continue on LEA JOYNER MEMORIAL EXPY(US-165-BR S) - go 0.2 mi
5. Take ramp onto I-20 E - go 1.1 mi
6. Take exit #118/BASTROP/COLUMBIA onto MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DR(US-165 S) toward 118A/COLUMBIA - go 0.9 mi
(64 miles to Jena, LA)
7. Continue to follow US-165 S - go 47.3 mi
8. Turn LEFT on LA-127 - go 16.4 mi
9. Turn LEFT on E OAK ST(US-84) - go < 0.1 mi
10. Arrive at the center of JENA, LA
Distance: 66.7 miles; Time: 1 hour 18 mins (approx.)
Vicksburg, MS to Jena, LA
1. Starting in VICKSBURG, MS on CLAY ST go toward OLD US-61 - go < 0.1 mi
2. Turn LEFT on WASHINGTON ST(US-80) - go 2.9 mi
3. Continue on OLD US-61 - go < 0.1 mi
4. Take ramp onto I-20 W - go 18.7 mi
5. Take exit #171/VIDALIA/TALLULAH - go 0.4 mi
6. Turn LEFT on US-65 S - go 55.3 mi
(46 miles to Jena, LA)
7. Turn LEFT on LA-15 S - go < 0.1 mi
8. Continue on US-65 S - go 6.1 mi
9. Turn RIGHT on US-84 - go 40.0 mi
10. Arrive at the center of JENA, LA
Distance: 123.4 miles; Time: 2 hours 19 mins (approx.)
Jackson, MS to Jena, LA
1. Starting in JACKSON, MS on S STATE ST go toward E PEARL ST - go 2.1 mi
2. Continue on US-51 S - go 0.8 mi
3. Continue on I-55 S - go 53.7 mi
4. Take exit #38/SOUTH BROOKHAVEN/NATCHEZ toward NARCHEZ/MEADVILLE - go 0.4 mi
5. Bear RIGHT on US-84 W - go 53.0 mi
(59 miles to Jena, LA)
6. Turn LEFT on US-61 S - go 3.5 mi
7. Continue on DEVEREUX DR - go < 0.1 mi
8. Bear LEFT on US-61 S - go 2.5 mi
9. Bear RIGHT on US-65 N - go 12.8 mi
10. Turn LEFT on US-84 - go 40.0 mi
11. Arrive at the center of JENA, LA
Distance: 168.7 miles; Time: 2 hours 47 mins (approx.)
Alexandria, LA to Jena, LA
1. Starting in ALEXANDRIA, LA on JACKSON ST go toward 3RD ST - go < 0.1 mi
2. Turn LEFT on 4TH ST(LA-1208-4 S) - go 0.4 mi
3. Turn RIGHT on WINN ST - go 0.2 mi
4. Turn LEFT on FOISY AVE - go < 0.1 mi
5. Turn LEFT on CASSON ST(US-167 N) - go < 0.1 mi
6. Take LEFT ramp onto US-167 N toward LA-28 E - go 4.2 mi
(33 miles to Jena, LA)
7. Take the ALEXANDRIA/MONROE exit onto US-165 N toward MONROE - go 11.3 mi
8. Bear RIGHT on LA-8 - go 22.0 mi
9. Turn LEFT on S 1ST ST(LA-127) - go 0.2 mi
10. Turn RIGHT on E OAK ST(US-84) - go < 0.1 mi
11. Arrive at the center of JENA, LA
Distance: 38.4 miles; Time: 49 mins (approx.)
Natchez, MS to Jena, LA
1. Starting in NATCHEZ, MS on N MARTIN LUTHER KING JR ST - go 0.1 mi
2. Turn RIGHT on MAIN ST - go 0.4 mi
3. Turn LEFT on S CANAL ST(US-84-BR) - go 0.8 mi
4. Turn RIGHT on JOHN R JUNKIN DR(US-65 N) - go 0.5 mi
5. Continue to follow US-65 N - go 9.9 mi
(40 miles to Jena, LA)
6. Turn LEFT on US-84 - go 40.0 mi
7. Arrive at the center of JENA, LA
Distance: 51.7 miles; Time: 1 hour 4 mins (approx.)
COLOR KEY
Blue = City pair
Green = Hwy/Rd to make last stop for gas, food, snack items, ice, etc. ideally BEFORE you get to the next step in the routing as you travel into Jena and on the return trip, don’t make any purchases until you get back to this point.
Purple = At this point in the routing, this is the remaining mileage for the trip to Jena.
Red = Make your last stop for gas, food, snack items, ice, etc. BEFORE you get to this point, if at all possible, as you travel into Jena.
Other Notable Facts:
• Jena is the seat of the La Salle Parish which also includes the following towns:
o Olla
o Tullos
o Urania
o Midway
• It is important to note that the entire La Salle Parish works as one unit both politically and economically, so spending money in any included town, is the same as spending money in Jena.
• Politically, the La Salle Parish is primarily a Republican parish and in the 2004 Presidential race, the La Salle Parish gave the Bush-Cheney electors 5,015 votes (80%) and the Kerry-Edwards electors 1,155 votes (19%).
• With a total population of just 3000 and only 360 of those being black, I don’t know that there are any black businesses in Jena that I can encourage support of, but I would appreciate assistance in identifying them.
• Keeping a back pack with small bags of chips, crackers, nuts, trail mix, bottled water, etc., will sustain you during this non-violent demonstration of support and keep you from making any purchases in Jena.
• If just 5,000 people show up and each spends just $20 over the course of one (1) day, that’s $10,000 added to the community.
• If 10,000 people show up and each spends just $10, that’s $100,000 added to the community.
• Be prepared. Be patient. Be poised. Be powerful. Be proud.
Sources: Yahoo! Maps and Wikipedia
I commend all of you going. Im' amazed by the lack of media presence. They are more focused on lynching the coon Oj. I swear I can't wait for the day whites all parish.
